Summer is a special time of year for kids. It's a time for spending time with family and friends. The days and nights are full of opportunities to make memories.
This summer will look a little different than any one before it. With concerns about the health crisis still looming around the country, everything feels uncertain. For many of us, it will be a summer of change.
Change is uncomfortable and necessary at times like this. We have to adapt to the fact that we can't do all the things we might during any other year. For some families, that can be scary, which is completely understandable. There's still so much we don't know.
Other families are rising to the occasion. They're recognizing this summer as an opportunity to think outside of the box. When you think about it, a socially distanced summer gives you a lot of opportunities to bond with your family.
You have time to explore activities.
Summer offers a lot of fun, but trying to pack all that fun into a tight schedule is tough. Most summers, you have camps and plans to contend with. This summer, your family will be open to doing whatever, regardless of how time-consuming. It may be tough to fill the long days, but your options are opened up by that extra time also.
You can let your kids explore their individual interests.
When you have multiple kids, you'll often find yourself trying to come up with activities that everyone will enjoy. This summer, you can let the kids focus more on their individual interests when they'd like to take a break from playing together. The balance of those two things alone will add a lot of variety to your days.
You can figure it out as you go along.
This situation is constantly evolving. Information may make you feel better or worse about spending time in public. Summer is free of the pressures of the usual grind. You don't have to feel so chained to a schedule. You can talk to your family and figure things out one day at a time if you're not into planning out every moment of the day.
You have the opportunity to explore.
A lot of your summer usuals will be closed. You may not be able to go to the park and grab ice cream from an ice cream truck, for example, but that doesn't mean you can't enjoy some ice cream outdoors. Grab your own ice cream and take a walk around your neighborhood (while wearing masks) or another nearby area exploring the unknown.
You'll save money.
Vacations and long days and nights out are fun, but their cost quickly adds up. You'll be saving money but keeping your kin close this summer. You might be able to use that money to invest in something that will be fun for everyone, like a splash pool or a game system.
You can try new things.
If you're a family who shares a very specific passion or hasn't really had the chance to explore interests, chances are there's a lot out there you haven't tried. There's definitely going to be a spike in socially distanced outdoor activities like archery, badminton, and fishing. Learning something new with your kids is a great way to bond.
You can get your friends involved in activities in a new way.
It's hard to plan trips with other families considering that everyone's circumstances are different. You may actually get more togetherness out of getting together for virtual activities. You may also be able to get more people involved than usual when things are as simple as clicking a link!
You can discover new favorites.
Your family can discover new favorites with more time together. A certain song will always bring you back to a certain moment, for example. You can try to cook a new food you never made before and discover a new family staple. There are so many chances for memories in breaking out of the routine in some of the simplest ways.
Your kids can still enjoy virtual classes and camps.
If you're looking for something to fill kids' time for the purposes of working, there are so many virtual options available. Not only are there a lot of free offerings, but there's a wider variety than ever. Your kid can easily find a different new thing to try every day of the summer and then some.
You can enjoy activities from yesteryear.
People are looking back in time to see how summers were spent in simpler days. Resurrect your favorite summer activity and share it with your kids. Drive-in movies are just one of many throwbacks you'll be seeing again in the age of social distancing.
You know you'll be doing your part to stop the spread of the virus.
There's something to be said for doing things for the greater good. In tough times, remember that what you're doing can save countless members of your community. You're doing your part to stop the spread of the virus, and that's no small feat.
You're keeping your family safe.
Whether you find yourself at home because your state is still shut down or you find yourself at home because that's where you're more comfortable, you're doing what you need to do for your family. As parents, we're constantly reevaluating what's best for our family. Stick to what makes sense to you, regardless of how anyone else feels about it.
