Activities The Whole Family Will Enjoy All Summer Long!
Now that your children are out of school, there are many things you can do to keep them busy, engaged, and learning while creating fun new memories. To help out, I have put together a list of activities you can do at home or within the community that is FREE or low cost.
TALK
As you get started with any activity, make sure to talk to your children about what you will see and do. Name the things and people you will look for, such as animals, gardens, buildings, and service workers. Always talk with your children about safety rules.
READ
Tell a story or read to your children daily. After you finished reading, ask your children to tell you what they remember about the story.
Give your children the opportunity to imitate reading to you from a book, newspaper, or magazine. Ask an older child or family member to read to a younger child and to you.
Create a book with your children by asking them to come up with a theme, such as an “animal book” and help them cut out pictures from a magazine and paste them onto white paper. Dictate their story and bind together the paper to create their book. Have them share the book with others.
Take advantage of your local public library and summer reading programs. In case you didn’t know, libraries offer so much more than just books. I encourage you to visit the library and learn about all the wonderful programs they offer for the whole family throughout the year. I promise you will be amazed!
Register for the 2019 Summer Reading Program: https://www.sandiego.gov/public-library/kidsandteens/summerreading/
Fitness and Outdoor Activities:
Explore the outdoors. There is so much to see and learn about the world around us. Take a walk around your neighborhood, visit your local parks, playgrounds, community centers and other local resources that are fun and educational for everyone in the family.
Get some outside time each day for some exercise, fresh air, and fun. You and your children will have more freedom to move around outdoors to jump, skip, hop, walk, look, and listen. Talk about all the things you see in the sky, near your home, and around your neighborhood. While you are at it, help your children find animals and insects and talk about where they live and what they eat.
Hiking trails. There are many beautiful trails of canyons, flowers, lakes, and ocean views.
Check out the link below for information on the 20 best kid-friendly hikes in San Diego: http://redtri.com/socal/best-san-diego-hikes-for-kids-under-5/slide/1
Freeze Dance – There’s nothing more fun than inviting your child to dance along to your favorite tune. Change things up and make it a “Freeze Dance” by pausing the music periodically, freezing your body in place, and dancing only when the music plays.
Free Summer Movies:
Summer Movies in the Park:
Enjoy FREE summer movies in the park while you relax and spend some nice family evenings under the stars. Have a picnic and don’t forget to bring a blanket.
2019 Summer Schedule: http://www.summermoviesinthepark.com/wp-content/uploads/2019-MITP-Schedule.pdf
Summer Movie Express:
2019 Regal Summer Movie Express is just $1 on Tuesdays & Wednesdays featuring movies the whole family will enjoy. For showtimes, visit: http://www.regmovies.com/movies/summer-movie-express
Free Museums:
San Diego museums offer FREE and/or discounted admission so your family can spend the day visiting fun attractions and cultural activities. Make sure you check out the venue for details before you head out: https://savvycalifornia.com/san-diego-museums-free-days/
Check out more free and low-cost family activities at http://redtri.com/socal/free-or-cheap-things-to-do-in-san-diego/
Sports and Recreation:
For information about sports and recreational activities, please visit or call your local recreation center. Make sure to ask about scholarship opportunities. https://www.sandiego.gov/park-and-recreation/centers
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I hope you find this information useful. Please feel free to contact me if you need additional information or resources at 619-427-4411 ext. 1416 or by email at jordinario@cdasd.org
Sincerely,
Jenny Ordinario
CDA Family Resources Coordinator