Now that you know how to plan your summer activities, let’s discuss a few activities that most 7-9-year-olds (and their parents) will really dig. They are broken up into three different groups – the basics, which are those activities that almost every parent participated in; the educational, which provides a continuing educational experience which supports what your children have learned in school and the creative, which inspires out of the box thinking skills and fun for everyone.
The basics – (quick tip – pick no more than three a summer unless your kids want more)
Vacation Bible school. This is a great opportunity for kids to learn about religion in a fun, fast-paced setting. They will come home singing songs, telling stories and bearing gifts they made each day. Sign them up at your local church, or if you don’t attend church, almost every community church offers this program, and announces it in your local newspaper or their Web site.
Summer camp. There are several summer camps available for kids ages 7-9. Some are faith-based, while others are activities-based. You can choose from day camps or overnight camps – which ever one your child is most comfortable with. These are also listed in your local newspaper, or visit different Web sites – for example, Boy or Girl Scouts, YMCA or local state parks.
Sports camps. Your child can work his or her sports skills whether they love baseball, soccer, swimming, football, horseback riding or even archery. These are great for the sports-minded kids who already play the sport, or have never played but always wanted to. The sports camps are usually listed in your local newspaper or on your community’s sports organizations Web sites.
Reading camps. Almost every community library holds a reading camp for children. This can be done several different ways based on the age of your child – they may have a week camp that offers arts and crafts based on books they read each day, or they may provide a book list for your child to read before and discuss during the camp. Either way, this is a perfect opportunity to keep your child’s reading skills at a maximum while entertaining their critical thinking. Visit your local library to find out more.