While only children can thrive, they can sometimes get lonely. There are no siblings to play with, and some may not have cousins or other family nearby. Also, if both parents work during the day, finding opportunities to play with neighborhood kids can be difficult. As a working mother to a tween, I am currently dealing with this myself. School has just let out, and my son is already bored. So, I decided to put together a list of ideas for families with only one child this summer.
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Some of these ideas are completely free, while some require supplies or equipment to be purchased. You can pick the activities that work best for your family.
Outdoor Activities Ideas
- Start a garden that he or she manages
- Geocaching
- Backyard camping night
- Flying a kite
- Learn to fly a drone (this one looks similar to the one my son has)
- Scavenger hunt
- Frisbee golf
- Build a backyard obstacle course
- Backyard golf
- Backyard games such as Tic Tac Toe
Tech Ideas
- Learn to code with programs like Scratch
- Make private vlogs for family (YouTube style)
- Design a game for Roblox
- Minecraft build challenges
- Create a podcast together
- Create digital art with programs such as Procreate
- Gaming tournaments between you and your kid
- Robotic kits
- STEM Kits such as Snap Circuits
- Raspberry Pi starter kit for kids
Crafts
- Summer journal or scrapbook
- Write short stories
- Paint or art set
- Model car set
- Origami kit
- Marble maze kit
- Build and paint toy cars
- Make slime
- Lego sets
- Pottery kit
Family Activities
- Weekend family drives to new cities
- Picnic
- Evening family walks
- Game night
- Movie night
- Try different hiking trails
- Try different recipes for dinner or dessert
- Learn a new hobby together
- Start a family band
- Tie-dye t-shirts
Children look forward to the summer, but the days can sometimes feel incredibly long for only children. Hopefully, these ideas help make the season fun and memorable.
Also, remember that there may be other resources and communities available to you. Vacation Bible School, playgrounds, and trampoline parks can be free or low-cost options. You can also look into day camps. You can see if your or your spouse’s employer offers any benefits or discounts that can assist with those costs. And don’t forget your local recreation center, the YMCA, Boys & Girls Club, or local library.
Your kid doesn’t need a perfectly packed summer schedule. Most kids just want something to look forward to.
