30 Simple Ways to Connect With Your Kids This Summer
Summer is almost here.
And every year, I notice the same thing. The weeks go fast, the screens creep in, and before I know it, the holidays are over and I'm left wondering… did we even slow down?
This year, I decided to do something about it. Not for my clients first. For my own family.
Why I Made This
We're not traveling much this summer, and honestly? I'm glad. It's giving me space to be more intentional about the slower, quieter kind of togetherness, the kind that doesn't require a big trip or a full calendar.
Because here's what I keep noticing as a parent. Between full school days, chores, errands, and all the daily rushing around… my kids and I don't actually have a lot of time to just be together. Summer is one of the rare pockets where they're fully home. And I didn't want to let it slip by again without really being in it.
So I made a simple checklist. 30 low-screen, low-stress ways to connect and play this summer.
As my kids are growing, I'm fast recognizing how little unstructured connecting time we actually have together through the year. Summer is when that can change — if we're intentional about it.
What's on the List
The activities are simple on purpose. Nothing that costs money. Nothing that needs advance planning or a special trip. Just small, ordinary moments that are meaningful for the family.
Here's a taste of what's inside:
Morning rituals — Making breakfast together with no particular rush. Sitting outside with a morning drink and just listening. Drawing or journalling for ten minutes with no agenda.
Outdoor and nature — Slow neighbourhood walks. Collecting sticks and leaves and making something from them. Backyard camping, or camping in the living room if the weather doesn't cooperate.
Playful and creative — Kitchen dance parties. Blanket forts. Family art walls. A scavenger hunt that takes just ten minutes to set up.
Food and kitchen — Making popsicles together. Letting kids plan and cook one whole meal. Setting up a picnic on the living room floor.
Connection and conversation — Playing ‘rose, thorn, bud’ at dinner. Asking your child to teach you something they know. Looking through old family photos together.
Slow-down rituals — Putting devices in a basket for one afternoon. Doing absolutely nothing together, on purpose. Ending the day by sharing something you're grateful for out loud.
A lot of these we already do in bits and pieces in our family. But this summer, I want to be a little more deliberate about it. Less drifting into the days. More choosing how we spend them.
This Isn't a To-Do List
I want to name this clearly. This checklist is not pressure to do it all.
It's not a standard to meet or a box-ticking exercise. Some families will resonate with the morning rituals. Others will head straight for the outdoor activities. Some might only try three things all summer. And that's completely okay.
Think of it as a menu of possibilities. A gentle nudge toward the moments that tend to matter most, even when they feel small.
Because the truth is, kids don't need elaborate holidays or packed itineraries. They need us. They need us to be present, unhurried, willing to sit on the floor and build a fort, and actually enjoy playing with them rather than thinking “what should I make for dinner tonight?”.
Download Your Free Copy
I'm sharing this as a free printable for any family heading into the summer holidays, whether that's now or in a few weeks.
Download the free checklist here
Print it out in color, stick it on the fridge, or just save it to your phone. Use it however works for your family.
And if there's one activity on the list your family already loves, or one you end up trying for the first time this summer, drop me an email at lina@raisingthrivingfamilies.co or DM me on Instagram. I’d love to hear how this works out for you.
Here's to a slower, sweeter summer.
In your parenting corner,
Lina
Lina is a parent coach and Positive Discipline Parent Educator at Raising Thriving Families. She works with parents of children ages 0 to 14 who want to raise connected, emotionally healthy kids — without losing themselves in the process. Learn more about working with Lina by booking a free discovery call.
