What Parents Are Really Doing This Summer

Summer with kids can be fun, but it's also a lot of hours to fill. And when it's hot, everyone's off their usual schedule, or you just don't have the energy to plan a big outing, the simplest ideas are usually the ones that save the day.

This month, we asked:

You shared so many good ones, especially the kind another parent could read and try that same week. The ideas below came from your responses, but they're shared as a roundup rather than direct quotes. Similar suggestions have been grouped together to make everything easier to skim.

Get out of the house without making it a whole thing

Sometimes everyone just needs a change of scenery. These outings give the day somewhere to go without requiring a huge plan.

• Pack a picnic and head to the playground. Pizza at the park, sandwiches on a blanket, or even a snack plate outside can make an ordinary meal feel more fun.

• Check the local library calendar. Families shared everything from story time and sensory play to ice cream socials and other free programs. The air conditioning got mentioned more than once, for very understandable reasons.

• Try a summer movie program. One family has been going to dollar movies, bringing snacks from home, and enjoying older movies on the big screen. It gets everyone out of the house without spending much.

• Walk around a farmers market. Let kids look at the stands, try samples, and help choose something to bring home.

• Move an errand to the middle of the day. One family turns Costco into an outing when camp is closed. The toddler helps shop and people-watch, the baby looks around from the cart, and an errand that already needed to happen fills part of the day.

• Head to the mall before the stores open. A parent in Texas shared that the mall is often open early for walkers, giving kids a cool place to move around before the crowds arrive.

• Look for indoor drop-in programs. Community centers, museums, and early-childhood programs can offer new toys, sensory play, and other kids to interact with when it's too hot to stay outside.

• Take an after-dinner walk or bike ride. It's usually cooler, everyone gets some movement, and it can make the transition toward bedtime a little smoother.

Keep it cool and simple at home

Water was clearly doing a lot of heavy lifting for families this summer. Just a quick reminder with all of this: any water play, even a kiddie pool or water table, still calls for active adult supervision. Drowning can happen fast and quietly, even in just a few inches of water.

• Bring painting outside. Put down a tarp and use finger paint, paintbrushes, paper, or a canvas. When everyone's finished, clean up with the hose, sprinkler, or kiddie pool.

• Use whatever water setup you already have. Families mentioned sprinklers, water tables, splash pads, hoses, small dog pools, buckets, and inflatable slides. It doesn't need to be elaborate to keep kids busy and having fun.

• Add a toddler slide to a small pool. One parent sets hers up under an umbrella and pulls the slide right over. Her one- and four-year-olds ask for it almost every day.

• Fill the bathtub on especially hot days. Bath play doesn't have to wait until bedtime. Add cups, bath toys, or scoops and let it become the indoor version of water play.

• Never underestimate bubbles. They came up again and again, especially for toddlers. Sometimes bubbles really are the activity.

• Make homemade popsicles. Families shared strawberry, chocolate, and sugar-free versions as an easy snack that also helps everyone cool down.

• Save craft kits for a heat wave. One parent puts away the small craft kits and stickers that come home from parties and holidays. When everyone's getting stir-crazy, they pull out something that feels new.

• Turn a hot car ride into a game. Count unusual-colored cars, like yellow or purple, or pick something else to look for along the way.

Make an ordinary summer night feel special

Some of the sweetest ideas weren't big activities at all. They were simple routines that gave the family something to enjoy together.

• Have a picnic dinner inside. Make sandwiches, spread a blanket on the family-room floor, and call it a picnic. It feels special to kids without creating more work for you.

• Choose a weekly treat night. One family gets ice cream after preschool every Friday. It's also become a weekly daddy-daughter date while their daughter goes through a strong mom-preference phase.

• Plan a standing midweek playdate. One parent gets together with the same group every Wednesday night. The adults eat dinner, the kids play, and everyone has something to look forward to halfway through the week.

• Play board games after dinner. A parent of kids ages 14 and 11 shared that they've been choosing bike rides and board games over everyone retreating to separate screens.

• Stay outside while one parent handles cleanup. One family heads into the backyard with the hose, sprinkler, splash pad, or water table after dinner. The kids stay cool and occupied while the other parent cleans the kitchen.

• Add one small thing to bedtime. A later bedtime, one extra story, or a neighborhood walk can make summer evenings feel different without throwing the whole routine out the window.

Final thoughts

What stood out most in your responses was how simple these ideas were. You were finding small ways to make the day easier, cooler, or a little more fun.

Some days it's pizza at the playground. Other times it's bubbles in the driveway or a Costco run because camp's closed and everybody just needs somewhere to go.

Hopefully there's at least one idea here that makes you think, "oh, we can try that this week."

Thank you to everyone who shared what's working for your family this summer. The winner of this month's giveaway has been notified by email, and we'll share another Real Talk question in an upcoming Q&A newsletter.

Thank you for being part of our incredible community ❤️

PedsDocTalk Monthly Recap

Check out the PedsDocTalk monthly recap of the most-viewed and talked-about content on Instagram, YouTube, and the podcast. From early discipline and toddler defiance to bed-sharing and safe sleep, these topics have sparked important conversations. Take a look at what’s been catching your attention this month!

On Instagram

This reel explains why discipline can start as early as 9 months and why it’s less about punishment and more about calm, consistent teaching. It covers setting clear boundaries, modeling the behavior you want to see, and following through without adding more intensity to the moment.

This lighthearted reel celebrates finally meeting fellow pediatrician Dr. Beachgem in person after years of connecting online. Sometimes the internet really does bring great people together.

On YouTube

This video breaks down why toddlers and preschoolers say no so often and the four different types of “no” parents may be seeing. It also shares practical scripts for handling food refusal, bedtime, transitions, and power struggles more calmly.

On The Podcast

This episode takes an honest, nonjudgmental look at bed-sharing, safe sleep guidelines, and why parents need space to talk openly about what is actually happening at home. Dr. Mona and Dr. Michael Milobsky discuss the risks, the Safe Sleep Seven, and how a more nuanced conversation can help families make safer, more informed choices.

In The Media