Family First Summer Activities: Week 6

This final week of the Family First Summer is packed with summer activities that your whole family will enjoy.

The Final Week of Family First Summer

This week marks the culmination of the Family First Summer, and if you’ve been following along, you’ve no doubt reaped the benefits.

Your family has laughed together at game nights and indoor or outdoor campouts.

You have watched movie marathons and whipped up delicious recipes.

Even if you don’t have an artistic bone in your body, you have created chalk drawings and nature collages.

You have had a fantastic summer!

If you joined halfway through the Family First Summer, this week doesn’t have to be the last.

You can circle back to Week 1 and enjoy those summer activities together.

If this is your final week, make the most of it!

Family First Summer Activities for Week 6

From adventurous scavenger hunts to peaceful stargazing, this week of summer activities for families will be the best one yet!

Day 36: Scavenger Hunt in the Neighborhood

Your neighborhood is an adventureland!

Design a scavenger hunt that takes place in your neighborhood.

The scavenger hunt can be general or personalized.

Create a quick checklist or use a free BINGO card generator to turn it into a BINGO-style scavenger hunt.

Here are some ideas for your scavenger hunt:

a mailbox with the number 7 on it
a driveway with two cars in it
a dog
a “For Sale” sign
a bike
a flag
a pinecone
a red flower
a house with a white fence
a fire hydrant
a squirrel
a basketball hoop
a garden statue

You can work together as a family to complete the list or divide into two teams and compete against each other.

Make it a photo scavenger hunt or just check off the items you find.

Day 37: Paint Rocks to Hide in the Community

Have you ever spotted a painted rock and wondered who painted it and why?

Now you can be a part of that mystery.

Paint rocks as a family, but incorporate inspirational messages on them.

If you live in a place with smooth rocks, use those! Otherwise, you can buy some ideal rocks for rock painting.

You can use simple craft paint with fine-tipped brushes, but for extra precision, try paint pens.

Here are some inspirational messages (that will also fit on a rock!):

Think happy thoughts.
Laugh more.
Be yourself.
Be silly.
Be kind.
Be honest.
I am thankful.
Live, Laugh, Love.
Hold on.
Be yourself.
Cultivate kindness.
Dream big.
Be real, not perfect.
Stay strong.
Good days ahead.

Day 38: DIY Kite Making and Flying at a Local Park

Can you make your own kite? Absolutely! (And it’s not that complicated.)

Here is what you need:

2 Sticks, each about two feet in length
String or twine
Fabric or kitchen-size garbage bag
Long ribbon or fabric strip
Scissors
Swiss army knife
Tape, glue, or stapler

Make the kite by following these easy steps:

Prepare the Sticks

Dowels from the hardware store are the easiest to use but feel free to use what you find.

One should be four inches longer than the other (e.g., 20″ and 24″).

Cut a notch one inch from each end of the sticks using the knife. Each notch is where you will slide the string or twine.

Make the Frame

Place the longer stick vertically and the shorter stick horizontally across it to make a lowercase “t.”

Secure them by wrapping them together with twine (or gluing them).

Start at the bottom of the “t” and run a piece of twine around and through each notch, making a diamond shape.

Make the Sail

Lay the frame on top of the garbage bag or fabric.

Cut the garbage bag around the shape of the frame, leaving an extra inch of margin.

Fold the margin over the twine and secure it with tape, glue, or a stapler.

Assemble the Kite

Attach the long ribbon or fabric strip to the bottom of the kite (this will help it balance in the air).

Tie a 3-foot length of twine to the bottom of the kite. Tie another 3-foot length to the top of the kite. These are called the bridle lines.

Tie both bridle lines to the long piece of twine that you will use to fly the kite.

Fly the Kite

You are ready to fly your kite! If you have a little wind, head to a local park today!

If not, wait for the next perfect kite-flying day and watch your DIY kite soar.

Day 39: Family Workout Session

Today you will complete a family workout together.

This doesn’t need to be marine-style training. Keep it simple and doable.

You can select simple exercises, like jumping jacks, toe touches, or lunges.

Try some simple cardio, such as speed walking, bike riding, or dance aerobics (aka a family dance party!).

You can also try family yoga. Yoga works well for people of all ability levels; you don’t need to be super flexible to do it.

Need more inspiration? Check out these family fitness activities.

Day 40: Create a Family Recipe Book

Create a family recipe book of your favorite dishes.

These can be your go-to meals or your holiday favorites.

You could have each member nominate the recipes for inclusion.

Everyone can participate, from writing (or typing) the recipes to illustrating the pages.

When you are finished, assemble them in a binder.

Go the extra mile and use the scanning app on your phone to keep an electronic copy (which you can then share with family and friends).

Day 41: Make a DIY Sensory Bin with Rice or Beans

If you think sensory bins are just for little people, think again.

Everyone loves to experience different textures and shapes.

Create a sensory bin with dried rice or beans. (Or you can get creative and try some of these ideas.)

You can add caps and small containers to the bin to pour and hold the sensory material.

You can hide tiny toys or objects in the sensory material.

Do you have older children? Play charades, hiding the clues inside the sensory material.

You must dig through the sensory bin to draw your clue.

Day 42: Stargazing Night in the Backyard

Stargazing at night is rewarding. Even in the city, you can still see some stars and planets.

Keep it simple tonight, and stargaze from your backyard.

Do a quick search to find out which celestial objects will be visible tonight from your location.

You could also get a stargazing app on your phone that helps you identify what you see.

We recommend Star Walk 2, as it is ideal for beginners and has links to articles that provide more information about what you see.

As you gaze at the stars, talk about your favorite memories from the summer. It’s the perfect wrap-up to a Family First Summer.