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Great Family Activities For Only Children

great family activities for kidsIt’s far more common now for families to have an only child than it used to be. In fact, the number of families with one child is growing faster than any other type of family unit in the U.S.  If you have an only child, you’re in good company.

When it comes to family activities, the sky is the limit. You and your only child can engage in virtually any  activity a larger family would, and sometimes, you have even more flexibility since you aren’t dealing with children in a range of ages. Here are a few great family activities for only children.

Take A Hike

Most children love nature. Why not take your family for a walk or a hike? If you have a park nearby, you can make a day of it. Take a camera along to capture the views.

Help your child find interesting plants and wildlife. Stop and have a picnic lunch and talk about everything you’ve seen. You’ll get fresh air and exercise, all while enjoying your child’s wonder at the natural world.

Ride Bikes

If your children are old enough, you can ride bicycles as a family. Whether it’s just around the neighborhood or perhaps on a nearby bike trail, bicycling is a good way to get exercise as a family.

Make sure your child wears an appropriate helmet and safety gear, and teach him or her how to be safe around traffic if you’ll be near roads. Then, go out and have a blast!

Go Camping

If the weather is warm, a camping trip is a great way to bond as a family. It’s also a possibility in colder weather if you have cabins nearby.

When you camp, you can leave all the hustle and bustle of everyday life behind for a day or two. You’ll work together as a family to pitch the tent and cook meals. Plus, what’s more fun that roasting marshmallows over a campfire? No doubt the memories will last for years to come.

Visit A Museum

There is some evidence to suggest that only children are more creative than their counterparts with siblings.  One study published in Brain Imaging and Behavior found that only children showed higher flexibility (a measure of creativity) than did children who had siblings. Why not engage that creativity by introducing your children to the arts?

Many cities have wonderful museums, where your children can view art from different periods in history and different cultures. You could also opt to visit a science museum instead, or a museum specifically geared toward children. Often, museums have interactive exhibits that allow your children to learn kinesthetically, in addition to visually.

Make Art and Crafts

If your child is the creative sort, you can have some family fun doing arts and crafts together. Some families enjoy organized events, like Paint Nights or ceramics classes. Alternatively, you can enjoy arts and crafts at home.

Try painting picture frames and putting photos of your favorite memories inside of them. Make holiday decorations together, or play a game of Pictionary. Art provides a lovely outlet for expression, and you’ll be able to hold on to some of your child’s handiwork as keepsakes, too.

Go Swimming

Whether at the beach, in a pool, or at a waterpark, swimming can be great family fun. Ensure your child has the skills he or she needs by enrolling him or her in lessons. Every child should know how to swim and know survival skills that will help if he or she ever falls into water or experiences difficulty while swimming.

At Bear Paddle Swim School, we offer Family Swim to the families of our active swimmers. You can take advantage of the year-round comfort of our indoor pool to swim with your child and engage with other families.

If you’d like to learn more about swimming at Bear Paddle Swim School, click here to contact us.

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