This year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, our usual summer profile has changed rather drastically. Many of us find ourselves staying put rather than embarking on our much-anticipated vacations. While this can aid our financial health, it can take a toll on our mental well-being. It becomes crucial, therefore, to devise innovative solutions to not just combat the sweltering summer heat, but to also create memorable experiences. The good news is, there are numerous economical techniques to escape the summer sultriness while having a blast!
1. HYDRO ADVENTURES
One effective way of warding off the scorching heat is to indulge in water-based activities. Kids, in particular, tend to be quite keen on them. Who doesn’t enjoy a refreshing water game in the open, after all?
The simplest, not to mention the most economical, indulgence is through the utilization of your garden hose. Whether you have additional resources or not, greening each other with the hose can be heaps of fun. Moreover, if you possess a sprayer with varied settings for your hose, you can even improvise and personalize your water escapades.
Another option that your hose allows is the incorporation of a mist stand attachment. This device can be set up near shaded spots, providing you a cool misty ambience while you socialize.
For an exciting twist, try attaching a sprinkler splash pad at the end of your hose. This setup will ensure hours of cooling fun for kids and grown-ups alike.
For an extra dose of excitement, splash out with water guns. We recently bought a four pack of water guns and the family fun they offer is immense! I and my partner use the larger blaster guns, while the kids enjoy the smaller ones.
Regardless of how you plan your water fun, it’s a sure-fire way to stay cool and spark joyful laughter.
2. CHILLED DELIGHTS
Another effective method to tackle summer heat is to savor some icy delicacies, popsicles being a popular example. Kids absolutely relish these, and the beauty of them is their cost-effectiveness. Homemade versions can be healthier and pocket-friendly.
Pour juice and diced fruits into a fun popsicle mold and voila, you have a unique, creative treat each time. Alternatively, creating flavored ice cubes can add a pleasant surprise element to your lemonade or seltzer drinks.
Prepare a variety of family-friendly “mixed” drinks, another enjoyable task in which my daughter takes particular pleasure. Her imaginative beverages always intrigue us. She uses ingredients like flavored seltzer water, sparkling Italian soda, lemonade, limeade and bitters, resulting in a refreshing drink that also fuels her creativity.
3. MOVIE MARATHON
Finally, a blissful way of beating the heat is to arrange a family film day. We plan such days usually when thunderstorms roar outside.
We encourage the younger members to select a movie appropriate for all ages, which serves as an engaging task given the diversity of our age group, ranging from 8 to 15 years. Meanwhile, we take charge of snack preparations. The choice of treats depends on what’s available, but if homemade popsicles are ready, they tend to be our first choice given their cooling qualities.
Other treats that we often include are air-popped popcorn, homemade peanut butter cookies, ice cream sundaes, frozen chocolate-covered bananas and non-alcoholic “mixed” drinks.
We find the cosy ambiance of our ground floor perfect for our movie marathon. It’s typically cooler on that level, and we can always switch on the ceiling fan for added comfort. Regardless of the chosen movie or treats, these film days are cherished, allowing us to relax and foster closer family bonds.
In conclusion, although we’re predominantly homebound this summer, there are ample ways for us to chill during the sunny days without straining our budget. These strategies may vary considering your location, available resources, and kids’ ages.
However, some of our top choices remain indulging in water activities, preparing cooling treats, and holding movie days. Even though we’re missing out on travel this summer, spending quality time with family domestically is turning out to be a delightful experience. Not only are we saving money, but we’re also devoting extra time to our children. It’s definitely a win-win! We’d love to hear of any ingenious cooling solutions that you’ve discovered this summer.
