Summer is a great time to slow down, reconnect and strengthen family bonds. As a marriage and family therapist, I believe in the power of shared experiences to build lasting memories and a more cohesive family unit.
With the kids and grandkids out of school and many workplaces offering more relaxed schedules, now is the perfect time to intentionally bring your family closer together.
By approaching the next few months with a little planning and a lot of intention, you can create a season that’s not only fun but also genuinely enriching for everyone.
Activities for families with children and teens
With fewer school obligations, summer gives your family additional time to build shared positive experiences that foster a strong sense of “us.” Shared adventures create collective memories that reinforce your family’s unique history for years to come.
1: Embrace the outdoors
Turn a simple walk in nature into a learning adventure. Identify plants and animals, discuss environmental awareness and bring notebooks to write down or sketch what you see. Level up the experience by downloading a geocaching app and searching for hidden containers in the woods.
2: Turn vacations into educational journeys
If you’re planning a family trip, involve your children in the planning. When kids help plan what to do, they will learn more and be more invested in the experience. During our family’s epic vacation to the Pacific Northwest nine years ago, both of our daughters found unique restaurants for us to try: a family-friendly piano lounge tucked away in a Portland neighborhood, and a science- and lunchbox-themed sandwich cafe in Seattle.
3: Make reading a family habit
Regular trips to the library, summer reading programs or family reading challenges can foster a love of reading and provide shared quiet time.
4: Cook and learn together
Involve everyone in preparing meals. Younger children can help with simple tasks, while older kids can experiment with recipes. This teaches practical skills, promotes healthy eating and creates a fun, collaborative environment. Bonus points if you challenge the family to shop at a farmers market and make a meal based on what they find.
5: Start a family garden
Planting and caring for a garden together teaches responsibility and patience and provides a direct connection to nature. Even a small container garden or terrarium can be a rewarding family project.
6: Explore the night sky
On a clear summer night, head outside for some stargazing. Learn about constellations, identify planets or simply marvel at the vastness of space together.
Activities for grandparents and grandchildren
Summer often brings unique opportunities for grandparents to connect with their grandchildren, whether for an afternoon or an extended stay. These interactions also foster intergenerational bonds, allowing for the transfer of wisdom, values and family history. As a grandparent, you can offer a unique sense of security and unconditional love, which contributes to a child’s emotional development and sense of belonging.
1: Share family stories and traditions
Dedicate time to telling stories about your family history, your own childhood or significant family events. This helps grandchildren understand their roots and reinforces their identity within the family system. Pull out old photo albums, teach them a cherished family recipe or pass on a family tradition like quilting.
2: Visit local attractions
Take advantage of local museums, parks, historical sites or a new playground. Exploring new places together creates fresh memories and can spark fascinating conversations.
3: Teach life skills
Summer is a great time to teach practical skills like basic sewing, fixing something around the house, simple car maintenance or how to change a tire. These experiences build competence and offer valuable one-on-one time.
4: Plan a theme day
Pick a country, a historical era or a favorite book and plan activities around it – cooking a relevant meal, watching a related movie, going on an outdoor scavenger hunt or reading stories. This engages their curiosity and creates a memorable experience.
5: Host a cousins’ weekend
If you have multiple grandchildren, bring them together for a weekend (or week) of backyard campouts, group games and collaborative crafts that encourage teamwork and laughter.
My sister and her husband hosted an annual cousins camp when their grandchildren were old enough to be away from Mom and Dad and young enough to not have work or extracurricular obligations. These weeks became the highlight of everyone’s summer.
Activities for couples
Summer offers unique opportunities for couples, whether you’re without children or empty nesters. Focusing on your relationship can significantly enhance your emotional intimacy, renew your shared purpose and create new positive relational patterns.
1: Rediscover shared hobbies
Think back to activities you both enjoyed before life got so busy. Did you love hiking, painting, playing a sport or visiting museums? Summer provides the perfect chance to pick up those passions again, creating new shared memories and rekindling old sparks. This helps re-establish a sense of fun and playfulness in the relationship.
2: Plan a vacation
Is there a destination you’ve always wanted to explore together, or would you like to revisit a beloved spot that holds special meaning? How do you want to spend your time – exploring historical sites, trying new cuisines, relaxing by the water or all of the above? Travel can help strengthen your bond as a couple.
3: Get away for a day
Explore a nearby town, try a new restaurant, visit a local festival or take a scenic drive. The key to a day trip is to break routine and experience something new together, which fosters novelty and excitement in the relationship.
4: Enjoy an outdoor concert or festival
For those of us in the Midwest, summer is the peak season for outdoor music events and festivals. Pack a blanket and picnic basket, and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and live entertainment together. It’s a simple way to create a fun, shared experience.
5: Try a new outdoor activity
Ever wanted to try kayaking or pickleball? Summer is the perfect time for you and your partner to try a new outdoor pursuit together.
Learning a new skill as a team strengthens bonds and may create funny memories. My wife and I still laugh about the time we capsized a canoe and lost our paddles, forcing us to paddle back with a shallow Revere Ware dish (which we found bobbing in the water) for the rest of our journey.
6: Host a relaxed summer gathering
Invite close friends or family over for a casual backyard barbecue, a potluck on the patio, or a simple dessert night. Enjoying the company of loved ones in a relaxed summer setting can strengthen your social circle as a couple, enhancing shared enjoyment.
The lasting impact
A summer well-spent focusing on family connections will leave you with more than just good memories. It will build stronger bonds, improve communication and equip your family with shared experiences that will resonate long after the days get cooler and the leaves start to turn.
What shared experience will you plan with your family this summer to bring you closer?