Spend Your Summer Vacation at Home

Vacations are times to explore the world around you, experience new things, and make lasting memories. You achieve this, even if you’re staying at home this summer. You might just discover that you can have a lot of fun from the comfort of your own home!

Steps

Getting Outside

  1. Walk, run, or take a bike ride. Summer is the perfect time to head outside. You can enjoy the great outdoors (and get in some cardio) while walking through your neighborhood or running around the block. If you have a bike and a helmet, consider taking a daily bike ride instead.
    • Look online for a kid-friendly “30-Day” walking or running challenge. This will give you something to work towards every day!
  2. Set up a frisbee golf in your backyard. Can’t make it to the putting green this summer? Play frisbee golf instead! Set up a course around your house or neighborhood and assign a par to each hole. You and your friends will spend hours competing for the best score.
    • In your spare time, design a course map and score cards.
  3. Play games. Before tvs, computers, and tablets, kids spent their summer days playing games, like tag, outdoors. The next time you get together with friends, consider playing:
    • Red rover
    • Sharks and minnows
    • Wiffle ball
    • Four-square
    • Kick ball
    • Capture the flag
    • Hide and seek[1]
  4. Camp in your backyard. Who needs a campground when you have a backyard? Spend the night or weekend at your backyard campsite. After you’ve pitched the tent, sit around the fire (or grill) toasting marshmallows and stargazing.
    • Ask your parents for permission and help.[2]
  5. Exercise indoors to beat the heat. Sometimes it is just too hot to be outside. On these occasions, move your workout indoors. You can check-out a workout dvd from your local library or use one of the numerous free online exercise videos.[3]
    • This is also a great way to try new exercises!

Exploring Your Creativity and Imagination

  1. Document the summer. Spend your summer capturing and sharing memories. While you may snap pictures or film the memorable moments of your vacation, you could explore other methods of documentation. Set down your phone, pick up a sketch pad, and draw the world around you. At the end of the summer, you may share your work with friends and family.
    • Compile your film and pictures into a documentary.
    • Make a scrapbook.[4]
    • Turn your home into a gallery for your sketches.
  2. Write. In the summer, your writing is not limited to the five-paragraph essay. You are free to experiment with different genres of writing, like linked short stories or found poetry. Other genres include children’s books, plays, and creative non-fiction.[5]
    • Reading other people’s work is an excellent way to familiarize yourself with different forms of writing and expression. Check out volumes of poetry, stacks of comics, or a series of short essays from your local library.[6]
  3. Create. Spend your vacation making something—anything! The possibilities are endless.
    • Invent your own fantasy world
    • Build a table or shelf
    • Design clothing or home decor
    • Put together a costume for cosplay[7]
    • Make up a new board game

Planning Events

  1. Organize an at home film festival. Film festivals are often organized around a theme or series. For example, you could watch all of the movies in the ‘’Rocky’’ franchise, view a selection of films starring Marilyn Monroe, or watch all of the animated shorts nominated for an Oscar last year. Once you’ve settled on a theme, select the films, create a schedule, and invite your friends.[2]
    • Don’t forget to buy popcorn!
  2. Host a backyard olympics. Throughout the summer, you and your friends can train for and compete in your very own olympics. You can adapt the traditional events to the space you have access to, the equipment you own, and the number of people participating.
    • Your local park can serve as the gymnastics arena
    • Replace golf with frisbee golf
    • Have a free throw contest instead of hosting a basketball game
    • Instead of running a marathon, sign up for a local 5K or fun run
    • Schedule a 3-v-3 volleyball tournament
  3. Start a book club. During the school year, it is often challenging to find time to read for fun; during the summer, you have plenty of time to pour over the pages of wonderful books. Compile a list of must-read books with your friends or siblings. After you complete a book on the list, get together to share your opinions and questions.[6]

Learning New Skills

  1. Teach yourself a new language. Are you taking a new language next fall? Have you always wanted to speak Spanish, French, or Mandarin? Are you curious about computer programing languages? If so, summer is a great time to learn a new language. There are several ways to guide and structure your studies:
    • Download an app or computer program
    • Purchase a workbook
    • Work through an online tutorial (this is especially helpful for coding!)
    • Hire a tutor[6]
  2. Master a new craft or hobby. Spend your summer immersed in a new hobby. Potential hobbies include:
    • Crocheting, sewing, or knitting
    • Fixing up an old car or bike
    • Cooking or baking
    • Painting nail art
    • Gardening
    • Dog training
    • Piano
  3. Get ahead for next the school year. When the final school bell rings, it is very tempting to keep your textbooks shut for the entire summer. Instead of looking back on the previous school year, look ahead to the next one. Spend your summer vacation reading the books and practicing the skills you will learn in the Fall. This preparation will definitely pay off.[8]

Tips

  • Pamper yourself. Facials, massages, relaxing baths. Splurge on yourself. The day is young, and this summer is yours!

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ http://fun.familyeducation.com/neighborhood/games/66332.html?page=1
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 http://www.livingwellspendingless.com/2014/03/07/staycation-ideas/
  3. ↑ http://makeyourbodywork.com/how-to-exercise-at-home/
  4. ↑ http://www.greatschools.org/gk/articles/summer-learning-activities-that-are-practically-free/
  5. ↑ https://www.care.com/a/101-fun-things-to-do-with-kids-this-summer-1305030150
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 http://www.onlinecollegecourses.com/2009/08/12/100-productive-ways-to-spend-your-summer-vacation/
  7. ↑ http://www.cosplaytutorial.com/guides/startingacosplay.php
  8. ↑ http://www.publicschoolreview.com/blog/how-should-students-spend-summer-vacation

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