Summer is approaching, and the school year is coming to a close. I’m sure summer comes with mixed feelings for most parents. The kids are out of school, so now what? How do we keep them entertained, active and having fun? Create a summer bucket list with your kids! My kids will be spending the summer with my partner and me, and we can’t wait to connect with them through these fun and affordable summer activities.

Summer bucket list for kids

Get cozy under the stars

Summertime in the northern hemisphere offers the opportunity to catch a glimpse of meteor showers! Warmer nights make it simple to set up a night post for stargazing if you can get away from the city glow. To create excitement leading up to the activity, watch a related documentary, read a story or listen to Moshi’s audio story Across the Swooniverse. Shooting stars may be a bonus!

Spend some time outside

Books, such as What to look for in summer (or any in this series), are great and will likely include your children’s unique interests. For my kids, I ask them to spot a new insect, plant or bird. And maybe, since we are close to the ocean, I’ll have them spot a new fish, too. We do this to make them realize that offscreen time isn’t necessarily a punishment. Jokes aside – I think that if I had an internet connection alone in my childhood, I would not have seen the light of day. That is without considering the plethora of online entertainment available for children now. Be resourceful and use screens and books to help you get your kids out there!

Pick up some cooking skills

It feels unfair to propose this as I was a professional chef for quite a few years, and I still possess a passion for cooking. I cannot emphasize enough, though, how simple (and easy) some recipes can be. I encourage you to celebrate the simplicity of Italian cooking! Pasta with a simple sauce can be a great starting point, and there’s a job in there almost for everyone. From filling the pot of water to fetching the ingredients from the cupboard or picking the herbs, delegate jobs according to age and skill level and have fun.
My best friend, who graduated from Italy’s most prestigious art schools, said cooking is the ultimate art form. BE an artist and cook something delicious with your kids.

Fly a kite

If you feel inclined to do so, even build a kite. I like to keep things simple. Nowadays, you can pick up a decent kite for a relatively small amount of money. I spent several hours in the Jakarta suburbs flying kites as high as possible. I’m still quite partial to some kite-flying at the ripe age of 39. Our sedentary lifestyles have us looking down a lot these days. Flying a kite can offer an opportunity to loosen the shoulders and upper back. And for those with kids who love kite flying, Moshi has a very cute bedtime story about kites and friendships called Breezy and Honey’s Twilight Kite Flight.

Music appreciation day

I’m so thankful for my dad gently forcing Pink Floyd on my young ears to the point of inevitable appreciation. Find an album (or more) that’s important to you and age-appropriate for your kids and listen to every song in order. Do this in more than one sitting and discuss why this record is so meaningful to you. I plan to create a soundtrack of the summer, lock this record into their memories, and associate it with a (hopefully) lovely summer.

Enjoy the sunset

I know, more looking at the sky. But hear me out – I clearly remember the first time I observed the sunset with the attention it deserved. I was eight years old, somewhere with my mother, and she told me to look at the sunset together. She described the color and why she liked it so much. I’ve been hooked on sunset gazing since! And that memory lives to this day. In a 2017 study, T A Bedrosian and R J Nelson looked at how light exposure affects our mood. At sunset, the amount of red light becomes more prominent, making the sky particularly beautiful. I encourage you to give it a try with your kids if you haven’t already.

Stefano Ceppi

Neurodivergent father of two, and here to share what I've learned thus far! Qualified 200h RYT, AIMS Global Level 1 Mentor.