Get them outside! At that age they have a lot of energy but can lack the confidence or motivation to get off their PlaysStations and try something new.
Summer is a great time to get them in to all kinds of activities because simply being outside is invigorating. Add to that an interesting activity and they will be entertained for hours.
You could take a picnic to the park and have your lunch sitting on the grass under the sun. If you live near the coast, head to the beach with your hamper. Don’t forget to take a ball. You don’t need to be a pro or even interested in sports to enjoy kicking or throwing a ball to each other.
You can play if there isare just two of you but there may be opportunities to get other kids of the same age involved which will help your boys and girls to interact with new people and build their confidence.
A walk is always a good idea but you can make it more interesting by taking a camera and asking the kids to take pictures of flowers and trees to decorate your home. Another way to get them walking would be to bake cakes or cookies and then suggest they hand-deliver them to their friends.
There are plenty of activities that you can do at all times of the year in your home that you can simply relocate to your garden in the summer. The children could learn to knit, bead some bracelets, read books or write poems in the yard.
Swimming is a great activity at any time of the year but in the summer, find an outdoor pool, a lagoon or the sea. If they prefer to stay out of the water, you could also take them fishing.
Similarly, the cinema is a popular choice for 12-year-olds but in the summer, you could find a drive-in movie theatre which could be a new experience for them.
Summer is a great time to get them in to all kinds of activities because simply being outside is invigorating. Add to that an interesting activity and they will be entertained for hours.
You could take a picnic to the park and have your lunch sitting on the grass under the sun. If you live near the coast, head to the beach with your hamper. Don’t forget to take a ball. You don’t need to be a pro or even interested in sports to enjoy kicking or throwing a ball to each other.
You can play if there isare just two of you but there may be opportunities to get other kids of the same age involved which will help your boys and girls to interact with new people and build their confidence.
A walk is always a good idea but you can make it more interesting by taking a camera and asking the kids to take pictures of flowers and trees to decorate your home. Another way to get them walking would be to bake cakes or cookies and then suggest they hand-deliver them to their friends.
There are plenty of activities that you can do at all times of the year in your home that you can simply relocate to your garden in the summer. The children could learn to knit, bead some bracelets, read books or write poems in the yard.
Swimming is a great activity at any time of the year but in the summer, find an outdoor pool, a lagoon or the sea. If they prefer to stay out of the water, you could also take them fishing.
Similarly, the cinema is a popular choice for 12-year-olds but in the summer, you could find a drive-in movie theatre which could be a new experience for them.
