Activities and Snacks to Entertain Kids This Summer
by Sarah Schlichter, MPH, RDN for the North Carolina SweetPotato Commission
Whether schools and daycares are closed for the summer months, or you’re continuing to work from home, you’re likely to have more time to spend with your little ones. Our schedules and routines change with kids home in the summer months, so how do you keep them from constantly raiding the kitchen pantry, but at the same time, keep them entertained?
Having a flexible schedule or routine can be helpful for kids. Kids thrive on routines, because they like to know what is going to come next, whether it’s snack time, time for a walk, or play time.
Taking some time to figure out a routine that will work for your family can be beneficial for setting some structure around your day. Once you have a routine, you can work on filling it with different activities and snack-tivities for little ones.
Here are some of our favorite ways to make snack time fun, and some great kid friendly options to cool off.
SweetPotato Nachos – Cut sweetpotatoes into a nacho or coin shape and lay them out on baking pan that is greased. Top the sweetpotatoes with your favorite “nacho” toppings, ranging from poultry to beef to beans, tomatoes and peppers, and top with cheese. Bake in the oven or in a skillet until the cheese is melted and the sweetpotato coins are cooked through. Serve with avocado, salsa or hummus.
Make A Petri Dish Parfait – Spread plain yogurt in a small open faced oval container (similar to a petri dish). Spread chia seeds in the yogurt, and add any nuts, seeds or berries too. Have kids use tweezers to pick the fruit and seeds out to eat and enjoy.
You can use different flavored yogurts to add new colors, or switch the fruits you add in.
Make Smoothies or Popsicles – Smoothies and popsicles are great ways to cool down from the summer heat, and they count towards your daily hydration needs!
Some of our favorite smoothies include colorful fruits and veggies, like a sweetpotato beet smoothie or a ginger orange sweetpotato smoothie, or can even be served in a bowl.
Plant a Garden – There is no better way to expose kids to new fruits and vegetables and responsibility than through starting your own backyard garden. It can be a fun adventure for children and adults, as well as help to introduce children to responsibility, care taking and cooking.
Children can help plant seeds, water crops, and pick the produce when it’s ready. Having some herbs on hand can also make great “decorations” for cooked meals, like pastas, salads, macaroni and cheese and more. Taking responsibility for their own “projects” can be very empowering and can help you too, as a parent!
This resource shares how our NC farmers go through the sweetpotato growing process!
Tour A Local Farm – Kids love animals and teaching them how animals produce different foods can be an eye-opening experience. Some farms let kids view and help milk cows. Or, see some eggs that chickens have laid. If you don’t have any farms nearby, even going to the zoo can be a fun experience with animals.
Decorate Mini Pizzas – Most kids love pizza, so having kids help with the process can be a fun activity. Have them roll the dough, spread the sauce, or sprinkle the cheese and toppings. You can even use sweetpotatoes to make a sweetpotato pizza crust for a healthier option.
Decorate Mini Pizzas – Most kids love pizza, so having kids help with the process can be a fun activity. Have them roll the dough, spread the sauce, or sprinkle the cheese and toppings. You can even use sweetpotatoes to make a sweetpotato pizza crust for a healthier option.
What are some of your favorite summer kid-friendly activities?