Play in summer

CEBU, Philippines - Well, school is over for our kids and two months can drag on when trying to keep our kids entertained all summer. Here are some creative summer activity ideas to keep boredom off your ever-active kids.

Outdoor play is still the best for our kids this summer.  This means putting down all those video games and turning off the TV once and for all.

We asked Aina Lacson, early childhood educator and owner of Playseum, and Marivic Bathan of Children’s Paradise, for suggestions on what kids can do during summer.

With Cebu’s weather, they recommended the following:

1. Simple water play days

This can be done using a batya or palanggana (pail) with water filled with water bottles and small cups kids can play and get wet with.

2.  Bubble play

Using mild shampoo in a pail of water, kids will surely enjoy all the bubbles they can make.

3.  Garden walk

Kids can collect leaves and twigs for a “collage”.

4.  Visiting museums, local zoo

There are a lot of places in Cebu where you can bring your kids for them to experience Cebuano culture, heritage, and even wildlife, such as Crocolandia.

5.  Swimming lessons is always great

You may enroll your kids in different art school or those that offer lessons in swimming and other relevant skills.

6.  Go outdoors

One of the most inexpensive ways to enjoy summer is to invite your neighbors or kids’ friends to go outdoors, like the town plaza or public playground.

7. Baking/cooking lessons

This can be as simple as making calamansi juice or fixing a sandwich at home.

8. Involve your kids in the daily chores at home

Children, even toddlers, can already practice setting the table and sweeping the floor. Keep in mind that the size of the utensils and cleaning equipment should be manageable for kids to handle.

9. Storytelling

Parents can share their childhood experiences to their children by having a “walk through my childhood life” activity.  Parents can take their children to where they lived before, share how life was when they were a child, their daily routine, ground rules at home, etcetera.