I absolutely love summer. I’m a sunshine, vacation, outdoor fun kind of mum. Every year around this time, I start to get sooo excited for summer. But, I’ll be honest, it is a little intimidating to keep my little ones entertained in the summer months! My kids feel the same way I do in the summer — ready to get out there and enjoy each and every day! Their excitement is so precious, but it means I’ve got to be ready with summer activities at a moment’s notice. This is my summer 2023 mood board: a collection of summer vacation ideas, activities, and products to make this summer the best one yet!
You can shop the full list of products on my Amazon Storefront.
Make Backyard Memories
Backyard Movie Night
You’ll need an inflatable screen, projector, and projector stand.
One of my favorite summer vacation ideas is having big screen movie nights in our new home this summer. I feel like this is a great way to celebrate, relax, and make memories as a family.
Backyard Camp Out
You’ll need a tent, camping chairs, and a fire pit.
Camping in actual nature with a toddler and a baby is not for the faint of heart! However, camping in the backyard with easy access to the potty? Now that’s my idea of a camp out! I saw this tent that pops up and has a really easy set up inspired me to plan some backyard adventures this summer. Just don’t forget the bug spray!
Mess-Free Backyard Water Park
You’ll need reusable water balloons and a family splash pad.
My kids are still a little too small for an epic water balloon fight, but if you’ve got older kids, you’ll be happy to know that they make reusable water balloons now! No more picking up balloon shreds in your yard for the whole summer. If you’ve got little ones or fur babies, you’ll love a family splash pad. All the fun of the water park without all of the germs.
Beach Vacation
I absolutely love a beach vacation. There is just nothing better than a warm summer day in the sand. Of course, traveling with kids makes it a little bit more complicated, but that’s nothing a little preparation can’t fix. Here are some things I’ll get to prepare for the beach this summer:
You can find more travel essentials for kids here!
Indoor Activities for a Rainy Day
It can’t be sunny every day of the summer. In fact, some of my favorite summer memories with my family are being stuck inside together, waiting for the rain to stop. I’m trying to avoid constant screen time this summer, so here are some indoor activities I’m planning for summer vacation this year:
Get Creative!
I love to prioritize my kids’ creative growth. Imagination and creativity can help boost their critical thinking skills and keep them engaged. I love toys and activities that help my little ones build their fine motor skills, creativity, and resilience. My kids are still a little young for traditional legos, so I opt for larger magnetic building sets. Traditional puzzles also tend to have really small pieces, so I love these big wooden block puzzles. For something we can do as a family, I really like these gardening kits. These also help build a little bit of basic science knowledge. For tons of quick activities, I can do with my little ones throughout the summer, I turn to the Montessori Book for summer vacation ideas!
Family Game Time
I’ll be honest, I didn’t even know that they made games for toddlers! I just assumed I’d be waiting 5-10 more years before board games were a part of our lives! However, there are definitely options for toddlers and younger kids that often focus on development and fun. Peaceable Kingdom makes a lot of these games including Feed the Woozle, Monkey Around, and Snug as a Bug in a Rug.
Stay Cool
One of the biggest challenges for kids in the summer is overheating. Heat can affect kids’ physical and emotional state, so it’s really important to help them stay cool. A couple of things I’ll get to prep for the summer heat are:
I hope you and your family make some incredible memories this summer!
xoxo Fil
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