The following is guest post by Karen Trempe, Lifestyle Merchandise Manager, zulily
The kids are out of school, the sun is shining and summertime is here. But if you’re like many parents, myself included, those blissful summer musings quickly turn to panic at the realization that all those hours have to be filled.
When we were kids, summer meant long bike rides with friends, trips to the nearest lake or pool for a dip and good old fashioned lemonade stands. Maybe those classic outdoor activities that we enjoyed so much growing up can still compete with the all-consuming technology culture that we live in today. I’d like to think so.
With these ideas and tips, you may just be able to win the screen battle and fill your family’s summer with outdoor fun.
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1. Win them over with wheels. Summer is a great time to get the whole family biking. Create adventure by planning weekly bike trips to new spots in your neighborhood. Even the little ones can partake with balance bikes, for ages 18 months to three years. One of my favorites is Spring Fever Smart Balance Bike from Smart Gear (Retail: $100, on zulily for $49.99 June 17-19).
2. Get out the sleeping bags. Whether it’s far off in the woods or in your own backyard, camping is a great way to unplug and reconnect with your kids. Summer is also the perfect time to explore the parks in your town or plan a visit to a National Park. On August 25, all National Parks have free entry and all year long, the National Park Service has programs specifically tailored to kids.
3. Transform your backyard into a fun place for the kids to hang out and get some exercice. Lawn games, kiddy pools, water tables and sprinkler toys are easy options. For a little family adventure, create a treasure hunt by geocaching in your backyard or neighborhood. I love the Geomate Jr. GPAS & Hide It Starter kit that contains a GPS with 250,000 preloaded geocaches, a guide and even a container to hides (Retail: $125.00; on zulily for $74.99 June 18-20)
Get creative! Ask the kids to help plan fun and affordable outdoor games and actives like a mini field day complete with water balloon tosses. You can even do your own science experiments outside. A quick search on Pinterest for outdoor science experiments turns up a wealth of ideas and how-tos like creating a daily weather chart or how to make smores with just foil and sun
zulily Outdoor Week starts June 17 with sales all week long on everything you need to get outdoors.
Karen Trempe oversees Sports and Recreation, Electronics and Health & Beauty at zulily. An active and busy mom of two, Karen is always on the lookout for fun, easy, solution-based products and activities for moms and their children. Karen has over 15 years of experience in home goods industry. In her spare time, she loves to get outdoors with her kids, riding bikes, coaching soccer and gardening.
