Summer is here! For most families, schooling has come to an end, the weather has warmed up, everyone wants to be outside. Each week it seems more and more cities are opening up but it’s still important to be safe and practice social distancing, wear our masks, and sanitize. Whether you’re venturing to the beach or parks, or just spending more time in your backyard, we’ve curated a handful of outdoor ideas that are both safe and fun. Grab your family and get ready to kick off summer with us!
TAKE A HIKE
Whether it is going for a walk as a family along the beach, checking out a new hiking trail or climb to your favorite lookout point, hiking can be a great summer bucket list item. Try not to overwhelm yourself or your family. It is better to start with something achievable and a hike that everyone can get excited about so that they will want to do it again. Don’t forget to protect your skin! Coolibar is a great option whether you are hanging out going for a hike or having a BBQ out in the yard. From dresses and shirts to hats, they make a wide range of clothing with UPF 50. One in five Americans will develop skin cancer in the course of a lifetime — there is a 300% increase in skin cancer incidences over the past 40 years!
Make sure to check ahead for any restrictions that the parks might have. Some have parking restrictions or certain areas still closed off due to social distancing measures. We have also found it helpful to remind the kids before we leave that they can roam as long as they don’t see others, but to “stick together,” so that it is easier to pass people and still remain socially distant.
We also love their Be Brave shirts. From riding around the neighborhood to hiking our favorite trails, the shirts are light and made from the softest material and all proceeds from the sale of their BE BRAVE collection, yes 100%, will go to the Melanoma Research Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The UPF 50+ZnO SUNTECT® is super soft against the skin, lightweight, cool and comfortable with the highest quality zinc oxide protection.
SPLISH SPLASH
You may not be able to do a cannonball at your favorite pool quite yet, but there are lots of other ways to have fun with the water. From running through the sprinkler to water balloon fights, and even just splashing in the kiddie pool or water table, beating the heat has never been so fun. Fortunately we have the beach in San Diego and we’re thrilled restrictions just lifted so the whole family can now enjoy a day of digging in the sand and catching waves in the ocean. But regardless of where you splash, it is always fun to match! We fell in love with this matching sibling swimwear from the British award-winning children’s clothing brand Rachel Riley. They are known for their quality and prints designed in-house — like these simple sailboats and enticing ice cream cones. They’ve been dressing royal babies, and have been a celebrity favorite, for the past 25 years. Plus another benefit of matching is that if you do hit the beach, even with social distancing in place, the sand can get crowded. The matching swim attire makes it easier to spot your kids, and helps the lifeguards to more easily identify which family they belong to should you get separated, making your kiddos stylish and safe.
HOLE IN ONE
We love that mini-golf has this equalizer effect in that the best athlete or the fastest person isn’t always the winner at mini-golf. You can create your own obstacles with a mini golf set and items you find at home. Asweets has this gorgeous wooden mini-golf set. The kids love the bright colors and we love that it is wood so it is more durable for our rough and tumble toddlers. It comes with clubs, balls and the cutest obstacles including ramps, holes, windmill and even a rainbow tunnel. We like that the set gives us the flexibility to play inside too on those days where we need to stick closer to home or it rains. Play in the backyard or in an open space. We love competing but also the creativity that comes out when the kids have to create their own course. They are problem solving, practicing their geometry and physics AND having fun. Adding a little more exercise, and learning, check out Asweets hopscotch mat to get your kids jumping and applying their math skills, all while enjoying the outdoors.
BRING THE ISLANDS TO YOU
Aloha! Your trip to the tropics may have been cancelled this year, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the flavors of the islands in your own home. Hawaiian Shaved Ice makes it easy with their machines, syrups and cones. There is something about a cool treat on a hot day that is so satisfying and Hawaiian Shaved Ice immediately puts us in vacation mode. From freezing your own ice blocks to simply pushing a button to shave the ice, the whole family will enjoy the crisp, delicious taste of fluffy, flavored snow. And did we mention they have more than 100 flavor options, including our favorites Pineapple and Pina Colada. We had to pick Blue Hawaiian too because the kids love the bright blue color!
SHARE A BRIGHT MESSAGE
There is so much going on in the world right now that it can be hard for little ones and adults to process it all. Art is a great therapeutic release. A fun idea is to make your own chalk paint. You simply take one cup cornstarch, add one cup water and add food coloring and you are set to paint. We love putting it in a muffin tin so you have your palette at your fingertips. Mix colors to create an entire rainbow palette. You can paint a positive message on the sidewalk to encourage neighbors. You can create a mosaic or stained glass effect by taping off a design and painting or you can just do a little spatter paint. The best part is that it is inexpensive and it washes away.
