Summer break has been an American tradition for schools dating back to colonial times when it was necessary to have more hands on the farm during peak growing season. Although most children no longer spend their days providing labor on the family´s farm, we have kept the tradition of a long summer break between grades. It is meant to serve as a time where people can travel and see their families without missing school and a time where children can rest their minds and enjoy being a kid in the beautiful summer weather that begs children to be outside. However, as we have progressed well into the digital age, many students seem to trade in their school books for video games immediately following the year’s final dismissal bell. While leisurely time is important, summer vacation is meant to be a time where kids can be kids and frolic out of doors while the sun is shining. At school, most children are afforded recess as well as a physical education class to help exert some energy as well as get the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommended 60 minutes of physical activity daily. To help you and your kids avoid becoming couch potatoes this summer break, here are some ways to help keep your kids active this summer.

Turn off the screens.

While the act of limiting screen time, in itself, is not physical activity, it does help encourage kids to engage in activities that are much more active. It is recommended to limit television and computer time to an hour or two each day. If there are a few days where this becomes more —illness or bad weather, for instance— encourage the children to do jumping jacks during commercials or something to keep them at least a little active while doing sedentary activities. When screen time is limited, kids tend to seek out other activities and even something like playing house, dress-up, playing in a sandbox is much more active.

Start a family garden.

Getting outside to plant flowers or vegetables, water the plants, and weeding them encourages both you and your children to get outside in the sunshine. Depending on the size of your garden and the extent of required yard work, you and the children may have quite the active workload in! Growing a garden is a great way to show children the products of hard work and gives them something to get excited about rather than trudging through the chores of yard work.

Make exercise a family event.

Children are a lot more likely to be active if they have positive, active role models. Since exercise is just as important for you, make it a family event. Exercise doesn’t have to be popping in a Jane Fonda video and sweating to the music, get creative! You can go for a walk or a bicycle ride in your community, take a pool day, challenge each other to a game of basketball, go to a local trampoline park, or check out what the local rec center has available.

Enroll your children in a summer day camp.

If your children are out for the summer, but you still have to work, enrolling your kids in a summer day camp is a great way to keep them active as well as providing a watchful eye while you are away. If your town has them and your children are interested, a summer away camp is also a great option. Summer camps are offered through local daycares, churches, rec centers, and scout troops. Even your local library or museum may offer a week-long summer day camp.

A sedentary summer is a recipe for disaster. Not only has a sedentary lifestyle been linked as a contributor to childhood obesity, but it can also stunt the developmental growth of your children. Help keep your children happy and healthy this summer vacation, by keeping them physically active. Another added benefit is tired kids are well-behaved kids and will sleep better at night! So get them actively playing every chance they get. If you are looking for a summer day camp in Chicago, check out our program at Just For Kids, LLC. Contact us for more information or to enroll your kids today!