By: Mona Ismaeil

Like most Canadians, you probably had big plans for the summer. With school out, and the weather looking gorgeous you likely had a whole bucket list of things to do, places to go, and people to see. 

With the current situations, many of those plans may have changed. If you planned a trip overseas or even just across Canada, you may have been forced to cancel. If you had guests coming to visit, you may be waiting a bit longer to see them. As many places are still closed and might be still closed for the foreseeable future, it’s time to get creative and make your summer vacation a summer staycation. 

Here are 10 ideas for fun activities you can do at home this summer! 

  1. Scavenger Hunts: These are so much fun and the level of difficulty can range from a neighbourhood walk looking for flowers, animals, and other signs of summer with your kids to whole city adventures finding major landmarks and exploring the history of your home.
  2. Picnics: Nobody ever says no to a fun picnic. Bring a basket lunch or bbq at a park. Pack up a soccer ball, frisbee, bubbles, and bikes and get out with some friends or family.
  3. Get Wet: Nothing says summer like running through the sprinkler. Water Balloon fights, water guns, and backyard pools will help everyone cool off and get in some good laughs.
  4. Show Your True Colours: Give your neighbourhood some colour and get arts with sidewalk chalk. Stumped what to write or draw?
    1. Riddles 
    2. Jokes
    3. Inspirational quotes or words
    4. Funny pictures
    5. Bright colourful pictures
    6. Hopscotch for the neighbours to try out
  5. Use Your Green Thumb: Grow flowers, vegetables, or herbs. Don’t have a garden? No problem! All you need are a few planters, or you can even try an indoor garden!
  6. Movie Nights: Make some popcorn, get some treats, get comfy, and enjoy a great movie as a family. Always a winning idea!
  7. Dance Party: Throw on your favourite playlist and dance the night (or day) away! Try adding new songs from different cultures into your list and try out traditional dances from different countries.
  8. Game Nights: You know that pile of board games you haven’t touched in years? Now is your chance. Board games are a great way to bond, with some friendly competition. Maybe you can play as teams and have a fun prize too.
  9. Day Trips: If you are still wanting to get out, why not do some day trips? Head to neighboring towns, get out to the lake, check out a great provincial park nearby.
  10. Backyard Camping: If you can not make it to a campsite this summer, bring the campsite right to your backyard. You can use sleeping bags, in the tent or under the stars. Roast marshmallows and scary stories.

There is an infinite number of things you can do this summer right in your town or city. All you need is a bit of creativity. 

What are some ideas you have for us?

 About the Author

Mona Ismaeil: Mona Ismaeil is the Associate Editor Muslimmoms.ca.  She is a modest fashion blogger, writer and community organizer.  Mona advocates for Muslim women and promotes their civic engagement, builds interfaith bridges, and is passionate about bringing awareness about Islamophobia to light in public forums. A trained teacher and seasoned educator, Mona lectures on a variety of subjects across the province, including Islamophobia, bullying, building acceptance, and multiculturalism. Her favourite things to do are to travel and spend time with her 2 children enjoying all Edmonton has to offer!