Beating the Heat: 10 Ways to Keep Kids Moving this Summer
Summer is right around the corner, and with it comes those blazing 90-degree days, high humidity, and the inevitable question: How do we keep the kids active when it’s just too hot outside?
When the kids are home and the heat is soaring, it is incredibly tempting to let the TV or video games take over, especially if you are trying to balance working from home. Let’s be completely honest: we have all used screen time to our advantage, and that is totally okay! A lazy, air-conditioned movie day here and there is a summer rite of passage.
However, regular daily movement is so important for growing minds and bodies (and honestly, for our own sanity as parents, too!). To help your family get up, get moving, and beat the heat, we’ve put together 10 active ideas for the summer months:
1. Start with a Morning Walk
Beat the sun by heading out early. Starting your day with a brisk morning walk gets everyone’s heart rate up and clears the mind before the temperature climbs into the 90s.
2. Take an Evening Swim
Avoid the peak heat of the day and the highest UV levels (which usually clock in between 10 AM and 2 PM). Instead, head to the pool for an evening swim just before or after dinner. It’s a great way to burn off that last bit of daytime energy.
Don’t have a pool in your neighborhood? Google your city’s Parks and Recreation department for a list of aquatic centers. Here are the links for Knightdale and Raleigh public pools. They’re usually inexpensive, especially if you reside in the same city.
If you’re feeling fancy, sites like Swimply allow you to rent out private pools and other amenities by the hour for as little as $20 in some areas. Be sure to read the fine print so you understand the all-in costs!
3. Plan a Family Wheel Day
Break out the bikes, balance bikes, scooters, rollerblades, or any other personal movement vehicles. Strap on your helmets and explore your neighborhood or a nearby shaded greenway together.
4. Head Out on a Nature Scavenger Hunt
Turn a simple walk into an interactive mission. Print out a free list from a site like Doing Good Together and check off items as a family. This is another fantastic activity to save for the cooler evening hours!
5. Pack a Sunset Picnic
Pack up your favorite snacks or easy dinner, grab your water bottles, and head to a local park. You can enjoy an evening stroll, a picnic on the grass, and some open-ended play. Just don’t forget the bug spray!
Looking for something more stylish? Check out our friends at Southern Picnics, perfect for families with older teens or adult children, to enjoy a luxurious picnic experience complete with flowers and fresh charcuterie, if you desire.
6. Cool Off at a Splash Pad
Did you know that these interactive water play areas are now present in all 50 US states? They are a phenomenal, free-spirited way for kids to burn off energy while staying cool. If you go during the middle of the day, be sure to lather on the sunscreen, pop on a hat, and grab a UPF shirt! The best part about splash pads? They’re usually free, so you can come and go as you please.
7. Host a Living Room Dance Party
When it is simply too scorching to step foot outside, bring the movement indoors. Turn up a high-energy playlist, turn down the lights, and host a family dance-off. It’s a zero-prep way to get your heart rate up and spend some quality time together.
8. Build an Indoor Obstacle Course
Channel that creative energy by letting your kids build their own indoor movement course. Using loose parts like couch cushions, painter's tape lines on the floor, and cardboard boxes, they can design a path to crawl under, jump over, and balance across. It keeps their brains and bodies working.
9. Shadow Tag or Flashlight Tag
If you want to get outside but need to wait for the sun to go down, try a nighttime game of flashlight tag in the backyard. Never heard of it? In flashlight tag, the person who’s “it” closes their eyes and counts to 20 while the other players hide. The “it” person tags the other players by shining their flashlight on them and calling out their name. The last (or first) person to be tagged becomes the next “it” person.
If you’re out during the late afternoon, play shadow tag where you have to step on each other's shadows to pass the "it" status!
10. Ice Cube Science & Movement Play
Freeze small plastic toys or colorful shapes inside large blocks of ice (use a silicone loaf pan for easy release!) Put them in a bin in the shade outside and give the kids spray bottles, child-safe tools, or salt to "excavate" them. The physical action of spraying, scraping, and moving the ice keeps them active and cool while tapping into basic science concepts!
Looking Ahead to Summer 2027
While we love finding creative ways to stay active during these hot months, we also know there are days when the humidity is too high, the rain won't stop, or you just need a break from the sun entirely.
Coming to Knightdale in early 2027, STEAM Station will be the ultimate indoor play and movement center designed specifically for kids to get their wiggles out, rain or shine.
Our space will focus on active, open-ended play that perfectly blends movement with creative STEAM principles (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math), all in a cool, comfortable, climate-controlled environment. We can't wait to give your family a place to move, learn, and play together.
Until then, stay hydrated, stay active, and enjoy the summer!
