“I’m bored…” The dreaded words parents don’t want to hear, especially after such a challenging year. Whether your child isn’t quite old enough to go to a camp or you are trying to figure out what to do the rest of the day, we share some fun activities for the whole family to break summer boredom. From park hopping with your pod to pumping it up on the bike trail, here are some of our favorite tips and gear that make it easier and stay safe.
TEAR UP THE TRAILS: PREVELO BIKING BOOM
Bicycling trips skyrocketed 26 percent at the height of the COVID-19 bicycling boom. Rather than have it be something people just did for the pandemic, why not keep that momentum going over the summer and turn it into a great active outlet. Whether it is exploring a new trail, cruising along the beach or learning how to ride a bike for the first time, summer time is a great time to take a family bike ride. There are over 20 mountain bike trails in San Diego county alone. It can be fun to pick out a new trail or spot and make a day trip out of it. Just make sure to research the trail before you ride as some are smooth and others will require a mountain bike. Prevelo bikes are a great option for those that are hitting the trails.
When our boys were first learning how to ride, we researched first bike options and came across Prevelo Bikes. We were immediately impressed because while the majority of kids bikes are heavy and clunky, which actually makes learning how to ride a bike more difficult, Prevelo Bikes are made with the type of components you would see on a quality adult bike, like light and strong aluminum alloys and sealed bearings. By being closer to the ground and being lightweight, Prevelo bikes are constructed so they are easier to learn on. There are five sizes ranging from balance bike to 24-inch bikes and nine models. Our boys didn’t have to use training wheels. They were up and riding their Prevelo bikes confidently within a few hours and cruising around the block by the end of the week.
We love getting to meet the families behind the brands and Prevelo is no exception. It started when Jacob’s oldest son was learning how to ride a bike. Jacob developed an unhealthy obsession with making him confident on the bike. He learned a lot and became the neighborhood dude that people would bring their kids to to learn to ride. Through the process, it became apparent to him that whoever was designing the bulk of the kids bikes being sold in the US didn’t share his obsession. It would have just been a fleeting idea that withered away in his head, but when he told his wife, Sarah about it, she was totally into it and as a result, Prevelo Bikes was started.
OLYMPIC EXCITEMENT! GO FOR THE GOLD WITH YMCA
After an extra year of anticipation, all eyes will be on Tokyo later this month as the Summer Olympics kick off and you can bet your kids are going to want to get in on all the action too… especially when they learn that athletes competing are from their hometown, and even better the Magdalena Ecke Family YMCA has THREE members going for gold this summer!
How can you not get excited and follow our local stars — Michael Andrew (Swimming), Amy Dixon (Paratriathlon) and Bryce Wettstein (Skateboarding) — and of course our kids want to learn from the YMCA of San Diego County where these top athletes did too. From swim lessons to sports camps, the YMCA of San Diego County provides kids the opportunity to participate in programs that keep them happy, healthy and having fun all year-long. At the Y, youth sports programs are more than just a game. Not only will kids learn new skills and gain self-confidence, they will learn how to be healthier athletes – on and off the field.
A family favorite Olympic sport to watch is gymnastics. Gymnastics is one of the most comprehensive lifestyle exercise programs available to children. This fun and challenging sport combines strength, flexibility, speed, balance, coordination, power and discipline. The instructors and state-of-the-art equipment give participants a better experience in a variety of activities, including dance, tumbling or cheer. Depending on the age and skill level of your child, the YMCA offers private, semi-private and group gymnastics programs.
Now we’ll all be bouncing off the couches and flipping on the floor (literally) as we cheer on our locals!
PARK HOP WITH YOUR POD
With over 340 parks in San Diego, summer can be a great time to explore a new park or two. When we were younger our moms would meet up with other moms and “park hop” and now as moms we love continuing this tradition. Sometimes one family would pick out a new park and everyone would meet there for the day and other times each kid would get to pick a park and the group would spend an hour at that park and rotate to the next park. Either way, it is a fun way to keep things lively, check out new parks and of course have fun with friends. We have found that a new park often helps break the boredom because there is new equipment to explore and new challenges to overcome.
Another fun thing you can do is bring some activities to do at the park with friends. This can be great if you have older kids who might not want to play at the park but aren’t quite old enough to stay at home. The library is hosting lots of great STEAM classes and reading activities all summer long. You simply register and you pick up the supplies at your local library. From making robots to creating crafts that go along with your favorite books, there are so many fun options. You could even pack your favorite library book and have an outdoor reading time when you need a break from the playground.
Summer can often mean it is cold in the morning or at night and hot in the afternoon. We love Cub Coats! They are plush animals that transform into hoodies. From your favorite Marvel and Disney characters to your favorite sports teams and animals, they start out as a plush and then transform into a jacket or pullover. As parents we love the idea of a transforming jacket, it makes being on the go so much easier. Whether it’s sitting by the campfire or going to an evening baseball game, Cub Coats keep our kids warm, stylish. Our kids are smitten with the idea that they have a friend to snuggle that turns into a cozy hoodie to keep them warm on all their adventures. We think these are especially great for kids going to camp. They can put them in their backpack and they serve a dual purpose. They can be a lovey at night or during the day for nap and then a jacket/hoodie for those cool summer nights.
STAY SAFE IN THE SUN WITH COOLIBAR
As a coastal city you can bet most of our summer is spent at the beach! And when we’re not at the ocean we’re still outdoors and active, under the bright San Diego sun. It was pretty shocking for us to learn that one in five Americans will develop skin cancer over the course of a lifetime, and there is a 300% increase in skin cancer incidences over the past 40 years! So sun protection tops our list as we play.
And while our kids have gotten pretty good about putting sunscreen on their faces, the whole family loves the sun protective clothing from Coolibar. With UPF 50+ built into the fabric, we know we are staying safe while also looking stylish. Tested more than any other brand, endorsed by experts worldwide and recommended by dermatologists, Coolibar industry-leading fabrics block 98% of UVA/UVB rays to provide you with ultimate UPF 50+ protection guaranteed for the life of the garment as set by ASTM/AATCC standards. The protection also won’t wash out or lessen in the chlorinated water.
Plus we love the feel of the fabrics and the ease at which we can still do everything from play soccer to chase bubbles, ride bikes and build sand castles. And Coolibar is only for the kids! We love the father-son matching polos and whether we’re golfing, playing tennis or running to the store, our Coolibar is a staple in our closet too!
