Cultivating healthy summer habits: a pediatrician's guide to activities for kids
Learn how unplugging and enjoying the outdoors can build healthy habits and strengthen family bonds this summer. Get tips for fun family activities.
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00:00Many parents are constantly looking for ways to keep their children busy, active, and happy during the summer months.
00:07For some, maybe that means finding an outdoor activity, like here at the playground.
00:11Getting outside as much as possible I think is important in the summertime.
00:15It helps with our moods, it helps with our vitamin D levels, and I think it's good to get some of that energy out.
00:21When the weather is nice, encourage your children to get outside.
00:24Outdoor play is essential for kids.
00:27Activities like swimming, hiking, and biking are fantastic ideas.
00:31They not only provide great exercise, but also help kids connect with nature.
00:36If they're playing at a park, it gives children a chance to be active, while also allowing them to socialize with others.
00:43Sometimes the parents get involved a little bit too, because we need our exercise and we don't just have to sit on the bench and watch the kids play.
00:50We can get up and start playing with them.
00:52But if you've already found yourself doing a number of these activities, sometimes asking your child what ideas they have may be a good place to start.
01:00Talk to your kids about what they want to do.
01:02Sometimes you think, oh this will be fun, and your kids have no interest, but there's something just as much fun.
01:07It's just not something that you thought of before.
01:10If the weather doesn't allow to bring your adventures outside, there are plenty of indoor opportunities too.
01:16Arts and crafts are great for creativity.
01:18Cooking together is another fun activity that teaches valuable skills.
01:21And taking your child to the library and letting them pick out a book can also help cure summer boredom and keep their minds sharp over break.
01:29Although many children just want to use a phone or tablet to pass the time, it's important to set limits for them.
01:36You can use your screens for entertainment, but I also think you should set limits ahead of time.
01:42It's easier to say you get this much time than it is to stop kids in the middle of something.
01:47Ultimately, finding time to put away those phones and tablets and get outside as a family can help cultivate healthy habits for everyone this summer.
01:56For AccuWeather in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, I'm Allie Reed.