30 ideas for Summer fun (that Respect Physical Distancing)

It’s that time of the year again. Parents are desperately looking for activities to keep children busy. You can focus on exciting activities but remember, it is also a good idea to work on special areas of development that can enhance our children’s physical, emotional, and spiritual selves. This might include opportunities for community service, activities to sharpen skills and enhance creativity, improving our bodies physically, strengthening family ties, and increasing attention to worship. Since there are still areas of the country where movement is limited, parents will have to think about safety and think outside of the box.

Here are some ideas that can round out the lineup. Any and all can be molded or shaped for every age group. And the best possible course is working on these areas together as a family.

Opportunities for Community Service

Make a donation at a food bank.

Offer to go to the grocery store for a neighbor.

Clean up around your local masjid. Organize a Go-Fund-Me page for someone in need.

Be an advocate for social justice (check out our Justice for All website for the latest action alerts.)

Activities to sharpen skills

Learn a new language.

Watch a how-to video each week. Listen to a TEDEd talk (this is one of our favorites - The Chemistry of Baking Cookies). Read a book and publish a review online. Check out an engineering video at Joseph’s Machines.

Enhance creativity

Explore your hand at creative writing. Read a book of poetry.

Create your own superhero and draw a comic strip.

Try your hand at painting.

Find a pattern and make your own masks.

Improve your body physically

Start a daily exercise regime.

Take a bike ride around your neighborhood. Head out into the sun for some Vitamin D (but be careful not to overdo it). Watch your water intake daily.

Cut out sugary treats and replace them with fruits and nuts.

Strengthen your family ties

Plan a family BBQ and ask everyone to bring something to share.

Take turns making dinner (and try new things).

Dig out old photos and reminisce about times past.

Pick a “family game night” and take turns choosing what to play.

Tackle a jigsaw puzzle and set a deadline to finish it!

Increase attention to worship

Make a habit of reciting the morning Adkhar (prayers).

Pledge to make Fajr prayer on time daily. Set a goal to learn a new Surah each week. Listen to a recitation of your favorite reciter of the Quran.

Perfect your Salat by improving your pronunciation and by learning the meaning. And finally, as this last suggestion touches all of these areas above, check out Adam’s

World Club and Colors of Islam Club online classes. Our hosts use music, arts, storytelling, and humor to engage children in an exploration of their world through a very special Islamic lens.

Adam’s World Club classes are designed for children 4 to 7 years and are held weekdays from 4 to 4:30pm EDT. Please register for them here.

Colors of Islam Club classes are geared for children 8 to 12 years and held on Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 1pm EDT. Please register for them here.

Hope you have an exciting and productive summer together. Be safe!

Zahirah Lynn Eppard is Sound Vision’s Director of Religious Education

Source: soundvision.com/article