Outdoor Summertime Fun

The end of school is here, albeit a very different end of school this year.  For many families the end of the school year came in March when schools closed, and learning shifted to the home.  For others, school continued in some fashion until the end of May or early June.  Now that school is officially over, it is time to think about summer.  

COVID-19 still has us concerned about catching the virus, spreading the virus, or otherwise being at risk or putting others at risk. Perhaps we’re worried about grandparents, young children, or those with health issues.These are valid concerns.  Even though Wisconsin has ‘opened up’ and the state is no longer on restriction, many families are choosing to remain so to some degree to keep themselves safe and healthy.  That is a perfectly fine decision; however, how do we keep our kids busy this summer with many traditional summer activities now considered at-risk behavior, and many events, such as summer camps and programs, cancelled?  After all, gifted kids have minds and/or bodies that never stop.

Below is a list of activities to not only keep youngsters (and adults) occupied, but also to work on building their bodies and minds while outside.  Below the list of activities are links for websites with even more outdoor ideas.  The lists could be endless so there are only a few activities and resources listed.  I encourage you to investigate your favorite places online; better yet, ask your gifted student to do the investigating and inform the family of what they learned. Many of these links have unique activities and ideas for the summer that do not include actually being at the location. You may even start some new traditions with some new activities.

Always remember to follow CDC guidelines and practice social distancing if playing with others outside your own family.  Wear a mask,  wash hands a lot,  use hand sanitizer when soap and water are not available, and disinfect equipment after use to limit the spread of germs (balls, chalk, gardening tools, jump rope, etc.).
Here are some guidelinesHow to Protect Yourself & Others, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).


Enjoy the summer months together with your family.  It is sure to be a summer as unique as this year has been.


Activities to Build the Body and Mind

Fine Motor (Small Muscles) Skills
Dig in dirt or sand
Scavenger hunt
Sidewalk/driveway chalk art
Blow bubbles with bubble mix you make
Play with a ball (catch, basketball, softball, dodgeball, badminton)
Gardening
Collect leaves, rocks
Make mud pies
Wash the car
Stacking cups
Fishing



Gross Motor (Large Muscles) Skills
Climb a tree
Play in water
Kick ball
Jump rope by yourself or with family members, reciting the rhyme you created (see Creativity below)
Hopscotch
Play with a ball
Sidewalk/driveway bowling
Exercises (jumping jacks, lunges, squats, run in place)
Bike ride
Skateboarding
Scooter ride
Rollerblading
Walking


Field Day Activities
100-yard dash
Distance runs (run around the perimeter of the yard)
Ball throw (shot put)
Long jump (short jump)
Frisbee throw (discus)
Hurdles (use a box or something with age appropriate height)
Relay Run


Creativity Skills
Pretend play
Make up your own games 
Make new rules for well-known games
Create the rhyme to recite while jumping rope
Sidewalk/driveway chalk art
Obstacle course
Write letters to family or friends 
Birdwatching


Calming Skills
Read a book (many libraries have curb-side pick-up, or are open for limited use, and for eBook checkout online)
Write a short story or book
Keep a journal
Create art
Meditate
Yoga


Websites with Activities

Keeping Kids Active and Safe During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Johns Hopkins University
https://hub.jhu.edu/2020/04/20/keshia-pollack-porter-keeping-kids-active-during-covid-19/

Nature-Based Activities to Do While Practicing Social Distancing
University of Minnesota Extension
https://extension.umn.edu/natural-resources/nature-based-activities

Keeping Children Active During the Coronavirus Pandemic (free PDF)
American College of Sports Medicine
https://www.exerciseismedicine.org/assets/page_documents/EIM_Rx%20for%20Health_%20Keeping%20Children%20Active%20During%20Coronavirus%20Pandemic.pdf

How To Keep Kids Engaged During COVID-19
Wisconsin Public Radio, Central Time Podcast
https://www.wpr.org/how-keep-kids-engaged-during-covid-19

Playing It Safe While Getting Cooped-Up Kids Outside, National Geographic
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/family/2020/04/playing-safely-outside-coronavirus/

National Park Resources, National Geographic
https://www.nationalgeographic.org/idea/national-park-resources/

Junior Ranger Online, National Park Service
https://www.nps.gov/kids/junior-ranger-online.htm

Family Activities to Try During Closures-COVID-19 Checklist 
Ohio, Department of Health
https://coronavirus.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/covid-19/families-and-individuals/coping-with-covid-19-anxiety/Family-Activities-to-Try-During-Closures-COVID-19

101 Ideas to Keep Your Kids Busy During Coronavirus Closures, Forbes
https://www.forbes.com/sites/tarahaelle/2020/03/15/101-ideas-to-keep-your-kids-busy-during-coronavirus-closures/#1fb4b68874a4

Explore.org Animal Live-Cams, World’s Largest Nature Network
Live cameras of wild and domestic animals around the world.
https://explore.org/livecams

Explore.org Free Nature Lesson Plans
https://explore.org/education

How to Make These Next Few Weeks A Little Easier, Courtesy of Birds
All About Birds, The Cornell Lab, Cornell University
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/how-to-make-these-next-few-weeks-a-little-easier-courtesy-of-birds/

CESA 6 COVID-19 Resources
CESA 6, Curricular and Instructional Support (click links of subjects for resources)
https://www.cesa6.org/covid19.cfm

CESA 6 Websites and Lesson Ideas (including extended learning for GT)
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Ql86a9eUg04PzUrOmCYpN0iMkxCE7CBqm-tqIJbwT_g/edit

COVID-19:  Travel, Wisconsin Department of Health Services
https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/travel.htm


Keep Children Healthy During the COVID-19 Outbreak, CDC
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/children.html

Physical Activities Guidelines for Americans, 2nd edition
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
https://health.gov/sites/default/files/2019-09/Physical_Activity_Guidelines_2nd_edition.pdf