Hi everyone and happy end of the school year to all of our teachers and parent friends! Summertime is an exciting time of the year! For many of us it’s a time to unwind, a time to relax, spend time with family, friends or even to take time for yourself. Many of us plan vacations, or even stay-cations! But sometimes it can be difficult to find things to do that the whole family will enjoy. For many parents the pressure is on to plan what to do. Will the kids have fun? Can we afford to take a trip? Can we fit it into our schedule? So we thought we’d share some ideas of things to do on your summer break. We know that not everyone can fit a whole week (or more) vacation into their schedule or budget, but we’re going to share some things that everyone can do. So let’s dig in!
One thing we have always loved to do as a family is planning a game night! Together, we choose a night, usually on the weekend, and order pizza and play our favorite board games! There are so many to choose from but here are a few we love to play: Sorry, Shut the Box, Scrabble, HEDBANZ, Jenga, Bop It, Tapple, Taboo, Sequence, 5 Second Rule Jr. and Ring It On! are all so much fun! We also love card games like UNO, Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza, Charades, Go Fish and Cards Against Humanity Family Edition (for older kids). As our kids get older, they don’t always want to play at first, but as the night goes on, you’ll all end up laughing and enjoying each other’s company!
Another tradition we enjoy is family movie night. Whether you watch a favorite you’ve seen a million times or rent something you’ve never seen, this is the perfect stay at home family activity everyone can enjoy! During the summer we really love to watch movies in our backyard and all it takes is a sheet or a wall to project on! You can also check out your city website for movies in the park. These are usually FREE and sometimes have pre show activities for kids! So grab some blankets, pillows and popcorn and enjoy a movie with your family!
One more budget friendly activity we really enjoy doing is cooking and baking together! We know not everyone likes to cook or bake, but the fun is in the togetherness! There are so many great cookbooks out there that are themed and have pictures so that kids of all ages will be interested in what they’re making. Or you can search together for a fun recipe online. Baking cookies or cupcakes that the kids can decorate is always a winner! However, as the weather gets warmer maybe your family would enjoy making something cool like a fruit parfait cup, fruit smoothies or even put together an ice cream sundae bar!
If you are looking for a day trip and enjoy the water, why not go to the beach? One of our dear friends is a mom to two amazing boys and they love going to the beach! Newport Dunes is one of their favorite beaches and is open to the public! It offers a variety of water activities including rentals for paddle boarding, kayaks, and there is an inflatable playground (that includes life jackets) for kids 5 and up. There’s a beach area for swimming and building sandcastles and a picnic area so you can pack your own lunch or snacks. Didn’t pack food? No problem! A patio style restaurant where you can order pizza, burgers, ice cream and more is also there! Family friendly movie nights on the beach started in May and go through October!
*Have someone in your family that is sensitive to sand on their feet? Our friend reminded us of the “baby powder” trick. Dry off with a towel then rub powder on your feet to help remove the sand!
For families who want to spend the day at an amusement park, Southern California has so many to choose from. Of course, Disneyland is a favorite and is worth every penny to make those lasting memories! But for families with family members who have difficulty waiting in long lines and being around crowds this can be stressful. The park offers accommodations in the form of a DAS pass (Disability Access Service) which is similar to their “Lightning Lane” pass. It allows the person and 3 people in their party to reserve a return time so they don’t have to wait in the standard line. Regulations are changing this June. Check their website for more details. We strongly suggest planning days if not weeks ahead of your visit to read about the changes to DAS so you can make the most of your day at the park!
If you are looking for an amusement park with water and rides, we’ve heard that Sesame Place is fun for all ages! There are characters, rides and a lazy river to name a few! This park is located in Chula Vista near San Diego and is sensory friendly! It is the first theme park to be designated as a certified Autism center. One of the amazing features are the sensory rooms, for kids of all ages, with adjustable lighting and comfortable seating. Another feature is each of the rides have signs posted that rate sensitivity levels. The park also offers a special access with priority boarding for people with specific accommodations and up to 3 additional people in their party.
With the 4th of July coming up, we want to also talk about people who have sensory sensitivities. Fireworks are cool and are a tradition on this holiday. However, for many people of all ages, it can be scary, cause anxiety and fear and can be the worst part of the festivities for them. We can’t control the sound or the unexpected anticipation of fireworks. All we can do is try to prepare those we love, the best we can. Earplugs and noise canceling headphones are a great self-regulating tool we use and recommend. You can even find noise canceling headphones that have Bluetooth capability so they can listen to music or a movie while the fireworks or any loud noises are happening.
Get the whole family involved by creating a list of what each person would like to do. Have everyone write down their ideas on a piece of paper, fold and place in a bowl or jar and take turns to pick one activity every week!
We hope you found some inspiration to add to your summer fun! If you have ideas that you and your family enjoy, please share them with us! We’d love to hear what everyone is doing! No matter what you plan, we hope you have fun, stay safe and make the most of every moment with your loved ones!
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