Tag Archive for: summer activities

Meaningful Summer Activities for Your Kids

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By Maggie Robertson, MSW, LSW – May 13, 2026 –

Summer can be stressful and chaotic for some families. When kids are out of school, it can be difficult for parents and guardians to keep them busy all day. Having a plan or a “bucket list” for the summer can be helpful for families. Meaningful summer activities for kids don’t have to be expensive or overly structured. The key is to give them chances to grow, explore, and feel capable.

Here are some strong ideas:

1. Reading challenges or library programs – These programs help prevent the “summer slide,” where kids lose academic skills. Reading also builds imagination, focus, and confidence, especially when kids get to choose what they read. Get involved with your local library’s summer programs, which are usually free and have activities planned for different age groups.

2. Outdoor play and nature exploration – Think about exploring parks, hiking, gardening, or even just enjoying unstructured backyard time. These activities support physical health, reduce stress, and help kids develop creativity and problem-solving skills without constant adult direction. A do-it-yourself (DIY) scavenger hunt can be easy to throw together and completely free. The more time kids spend outside, the better it is for their mental health and overall mood.

3. Chores and responsibility-building tasks – Giving kids regular responsibilities (laundry, cooking simple meals, helping with younger siblings) builds independence, accountability, and life skills they will use. Create a chart to hang on the refrigerator, with different chores and responsibilities for their specific age each day. It can be as easy as “making your bed” or “taking out the trash.”

4. Creative projects (art, music, building, journaling) – Creative outlets allow kids to express emotions, build patience, and take pride in finishing something. It’s also great for kids who may not thrive in traditional academic settings. Creative outlets may include designing and creating a journal for them to write in every day, painting rocks, or a simple craft in the dollar section at Dollar General. For extra creativity points, use items you already have at home to build or create something unique.

5. Community service or helping others – Volunteering, helping neighbors, or doing small acts of kindness teaches empathy, perspective, and a sense of purpose beyond themselves. While you’re at your local park, take a break from playing and pick up trash or volunteer at the local library, checking out books or restocking. Help a neighbor with yard work. Nursing homes and assisted living facilities usually welcome guests to interact with their residents or even eat lunch with them. 

6. Social time with peers – Playdates, camps, or team activities help kids practice communication, conflict resolution, and teamwork—skills that don’t come from screens. It’s as easy as inviting a friend over or registering for your local summer camp.

7. Learning a new skill – This could include cooking, riding a bike, coding, or even starting a small business (like a lemonade stand). Learning something new builds confidence and shows kids they can learn through effort.

8. Family time and shared experiences – Game nights, day trips, or even cooking together strengthen relationships and give kids a sense of security and belonging. Whatever you are doing, doing it as a family can be beneficial.

What makes these activities important isn’t just that they keep kids busy; they build independence, emotional skills, and real-world confidence in ways school sometimes can’t.

Maggie Robertson, MSW, LSW, is a Youth First Mental Health Professional at North Daviess Jr-Sr High School in Daviess County. Youth First, Inc., is a nonprofit dedicated to strengthening youth and families. Youth First provides over 100 highly trained mental health professionals (primarily master’s level social workers), prevention programs, parent engagement coordinators, and bilingual support personnel to 130 schools across 14 Indiana counties. Over 55,000 youth and families each year are served by Youth First’s school-based social work and community programs that promote mental health, prevent substance misuse, and maximize student success. To learn more about Youth First, visit youthfirstinc.org or call 812-421-8336.

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Summer Resources for Tri-State Families

By Sarah Laury, LCSW, May 22, 2018 – Courier & Press

The countdown to summer has officially begun.  There are only a few short weeks until school is out for the summer.

Many families look forward to the days of swimming, relaxing, and vacationing.  Most are also excited about sleeping in, staying up late, and taking a break from the daily grind of homework and packing lunches.

For some families, though, summer break can come as a financial and logistical hardship.  During the school year many families rely on the national school lunch and breakfast program.  With this program, families can take advantage of subsidized school breakfasts and lunches to help lighten the financial load that comes with feeding their families.

In addition to the meal programs, many families count on afterschool programs to provide a safe and structured environment for their kids in the afternoons.   This time of year many families are scrambling to make arrangements for child care and making financial preparations for the increased cost that comes with kids being home for the summer.

Our community has several resources in place that families can access to help alleviate some of this strain and hopefully allow for a more relaxed and enjoyable summer.

The EVSC has a free summer lunch program for children ages 18 and under that runs Monday – Friday throughout the summer.  From May 30 – June 30, lunch will be served at Cedar Hall, Dexter, Evans, Fairlawn, Glenwood, Lodge, and Tekoppel.

Lincoln and McGary offer breakfast and lunch from May 30 – June 23, and Lincoln will serve lunch only from June 26 – July 28.  Vogel will serve breakfast and lunch from May 22 – July 28.  Times vary by site.  Adult meals are available for purchase.  See this link for locations, dates, and times:  https://district.evscschools.com/acadprog/summer_lunch_programs

Warrick County School Corporation offers a summer meal program for children ages 18 and under.  Adult meals are available for purchase.  Dates and locations are as follows:

  • Loge Elementary School: July 16 – July 27 – Lunch Monday – Friday from 11:00 – 12:00.
  • Tennyson Elementary School: July 16 – July 27 – Lunch Monday – Friday from 11:00 – 12:00.
  • Chandler Elementary School: June 4 – July 27 – Lunch Monday – Friday from 11:00 – 12:30.  In addition to lunch, breakfast will be served between 8:00 – 9:00 am Monday – Friday during the following dates at Chandler Elementary School:  June 4 – June 29 and July 17 – July 27.

Boys and Girls Club of Evansville is open during the summer – Monday-Friday from 9:00 – 4:00 at two locations.  The One Main Unit on Bellemeade Avenue serves children ages 6 – 17, and the Fulton Square Unit serves children age 5 (must be enrolled in kindergarten) – 14.  Annual membership is $10 per child and a payment plan can be arranged if needed.  Activities include game rooms, tech lab, and arts and crafts.  See website for application and additional information or call 812-425-2311. http://bgclubevv.org/

YMCA of Southwestern Indiana offers free summer programming for school-aged children Monday – Friday throughout the summer at their Caldwell Community Center location.  See brochure for additional information or call 812-492-6716. http://www.ymcaswin.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/CommunityOutreach14Corrected-1.pdf

K Camp is a free 4-week kindergarten readiness program sponsored by the United Way and EVSC.  The program runs from June 4 – June 29 at two different locations – Lodge Community School from 9:00 am -12:30 pm and Caze Elementary School from 8:45 am – 12:00 pm.  To register, call 812-421-7274. http://unitedwayswi.org/k-camp/

Showplace Cinemas 2018 Family Film Festival – Eight weeks of family- friendly movies for $1 per person and concession specials at multiple Showplace Cinemas locations.  For exact dates and show times, see http://wkdq.com/showplace-cinemas-announces-2018-1-summer-movie-schedule/

Evansville Parks and Recreation City Pools offer weekly family nights at two different locations.  On family night, 2 adults and up to 4 kids can swim for $5.  Family night at Mosby Pool is on Wednesdays from 6-8 pm and at Rochelle-Landers Pool on Thursdays from 6-8 pm.

Have a great summer!

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Avoiding Summer Boredom

Summer fun

By Dena Embrey, LCSW, Courier & Press, June 7, 2016 –

Summer break is here, and families often look forward to sleeping in and not rushing through the morning routine. Maybe you have a vacation planned, or your child is looking forward to summer camp.

For families with school-aged children, making the transition from the highly structured routine of the school year to the relaxed feel of summer can be difficult. Before too long you start to hear those dreaded words, “I’m bored,” or “There’s nothing to do.” Soon siblings start fighting and everyone’s stress levels go up.

Planning ahead and keeping a schedule can help you avoid this being your summer reality. A schedule brings order to your days, giving your child needed structure and reducing anxiety.

It’s good to have set times for waking up, meals, chores and preferred activities. Display your daily schedule for the whole family to see and review together. Include your children in the process, letting them have some say in what activities are included.

As a parent, you have to be prepared for unexpected changes and those days when things just don’t go as planned. Rainy days, illnesses or canceled play dates will inevitably get in the way. Having a list of fun ways to engage your children as a backup plan could be a life saver.

Here are some activities you may want to include on your list:

1. Go outside to play and explore. You can keep it as simple as taking a bike ride, blowing bubbles, visiting a playground, watering the garden or taking a walk around the neighborhood.

2. Go on a hike at a nearby park.

3. Plan an outdoor scavenger hunt and create a scrapbook of everything you find.

4. Visit a nature preserve and get a guided tour.

5. Set up a tent in your backyard and camp out with a bonfire, s’mores and stargazing.

6. Go old school and teach your kids some of your favorite childhood games. Hide and seek, monkey in the middle and tag are always good go-to games.

7. Look through old photos and compare your child’s baby pictures and your own or create a family tree together.

8. Spend some time in the kitchen making old family recipes.

9. Work a puzzle or build a fort out of blankets and cushions.

10. Get creative with your kids by busting out the play dough (or make your own).

11. Use sidewalk chalk to make an outdoor mural.

12. Create art using only materials found in your recycling.

13. Write and illustrate a story together, or turn your favorite book into a play, acting it out with costumes and all.

14. Have a family talent show or karaoke party.

15. Do something nice for someone else — visit a nursing home or elderly person and read to them. Plan and prepare a meal for a family who is going through a difficult              time, pick up trash at a local park or volunteer at an animal shelter.

16. Go through old clothes and toys and donate items no longer needed. Take lemonade and cookies to your local fire station.

Following a schedule during the summer teaches children time management, responsibility and organization, all healthy life skills. How loose or rigid your schedule needs to be will depend on your family’s needs. Finding the right balance of structure and relaxation will help create the peaceful and fun summer your family deserves.

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