I’m not sure about you, but at the end of every year in high school, I always had the words of 70s rock singer Alice Cooper in my head. In fact, I distinctly remember blaring “School’s Out” from my little four-door sedan as I left the school parking lot my senior year. I felt supremely cool as I drove off the lot, with my windows rolled down and the song pouring from my car. I was the furthest thing from being cool in high school, but I loved the idea that I could be considered cool or even dangerous just by playing Alice Cooper.
Some schools have let out for the school year, which means summer vacation for thousands of kids in the Albuquerque metro area. Thankfully, now that the state is reopening, this is giving many stressed parents options on what they can do with their kids this summer. This will be a huge relief, as opposed to last year when it didn’t really matter that school was out because the state experienced waves of COVID spikes.
With the vaccine readily available to any adult who wants it, the state reopening, and the CDC guidelines loosening up, this summer should be amazing for everyone in New Mexico.
Summer Is Here! Time To Get Outside!
I’ve admitted in past blogs that my son isn’t in school, so we haven’t had to go through the pain and struggles of parents who are homeschooling their children and working from home at the same time. But I do sympathize with trying to find ways to occupy my son’s time and attention while I work.
Now that summer is here, and my son is going outside again, I’m looking for more ideas of things to do with our time together and to keep him busy. He’s older and getting to a point where we can do more things together as a family. He wants to do more, and that’s forcing me to get creative. Luckily, I found a bunch of ideas online, and hopefully, some of these will help you too.
Go outside. Go for walks, take up bird watching, or even plant a vegetable garden with your kids. They will love helping you plant and water the seeds. I mean, what kid doesn’t love to be a helper?
While you’re outside, you could make fairy homes. Sure, they’re not real, but the kids will have fun using their imaginations and creating the perfect home for a fairy.
Have fun with water and buy a Slip ‘n Slide or enjoy water balloon fights in the front yard. Just make sure to slather on some sunscreen, so you don’t get sunburned.
What Are Summer Activities Perfect For Rainy Days?
What about those rainy days during the monsoon season? Those are perfect opportunities to snuggle with your kids and watch movies on DVD or VHS (if you’re kickin’ it old school) or something new on Netflix. You could also build a fort out of blankets and pillows in your living room. Even better than that, let the kids play with their smart devices and take a nap in their fort. Or cuddle with them in their fort and read a book together.
My personal favorite, which my son has come to love as well, is having breakfast in bed. I love to do this on any day of the week for any reason. We will lay in bed together, watching movies on Netflix, and enjoy breakfast in bed. It’s so relaxing and a great way to spend quality time with my kid.
Venturing out of the house is most likely going to be the most popular choice this year. This will include checking out local restaurants, food trucks, and parks. Also, concerts are being scheduled again, and there’s so many to look forward to this summer. Drive-in movies made a triumphant return in 2020 thanks to the pandemic, which included old and new movies. That’s an experience that most people should have at least once in their life.
If you’re looking for more ideas to keep your kids busy, check out this website: https://www.verywellfamily.com/summer-fun-ideas-kids-and-parents-3542627
The team with Albuquerque Plumbing Heating & Cooling is thrilled that summer is here and that we’re able to get out of the house again. Our kids are especially excited, and we can’t wait to take them places and create new memories with them. Have fun with your kids this summer, and make sure to take plenty of pictures.