Not yet ready to take the family to resorts, amusement parks, and public beaches for a good time? It’s understandable if you don’t feel safe about going out yet, especially with new COVID-19 cases continuing to emerge.

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This doesn’t mean that you and the kids have to miss out this summer because lots of fun can be had right in the comfort and safety of your own lawn or yard. Here are some of the best ways that you can transform your outdoor space into your family’s happy place this summer.

1. Stay on top of your lawn care tasks.

With mobility restrictions easing up, you can now take advantage of professional services for lawn care in Champaign, IL (and most parts of the country). Get the experts to whip your outdoor space into shape so you can stage a variety of activities outside, especially when the weather’s great.

But don’t stop with lawn care. Since you have no intention of going on expensive out-of-town trips and traveling to different places, why not dedicate the budget for those trips to your outdoor space? Experts in landscaping in Champaign, IL say that a landscaping job can create a design and layout for your outdoor space that will make it not just a thing of beauty, but also utility.

2. Make watering the plants an opportunity for the kids to cool off.

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Remember those old TV commercials featuring kids in their swimsuits running around the lawn while the sprinklers are on? Give your children the same experience. This wholesome fun will make daily watering, which a garden badly needs, something that the little ones can look forward to. It will give them a chance to cool off on a scorching day.

3. Create a lawn or yard seating area.

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Breezy afternoons are perfect for simply hanging around outdoors. The kids could take out their art materials and get into arts and crafts. You could serve afternoon tea and snacks at 4 p.m. and just relax and exchange stories with the family. Outdoor seating in the garden offers the perfect space for winding down right before dinner.

Remember, this is an activity that many people used to do back in the day when work didn’t take over most adults’ daily schedules. Give it a try and grow an appreciation for traditional ways.

4. Set up a fire pit.

Fun summers definitely require a bonfire. Some people prefer to go to the beach for this, but you can have your own at home as long as you have a firepit.

There are kits that you can buy online from local hardware stores. If you have a small grill, this should be good enough as a small fire pit for a bonfire. When a hot day is transitioning to a cold night, gathering around the fire is such an enjoyable thing. Prepare ingredients for s’mores and hotdogs on sticks, and it’s like the family has gone camping.

5. Set up a campsite in your yard.

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Backyard camping is a fantastic idea when you can’t head out to national parks and actual campsites. Set up a tent and cook outdoors. At night, watch the stars and exchange stories with each other, and of course, sleep in your tents.

But the best thing about making your lawn your family’s summer campsite is that all the conveniences of home are just a few steps away. Overall, you still get the camping experience, but you don’t have to deal with most of the discomforts of the true outdoor adventure such as the freezing cold during the wee hours or sleeping a full night on a cold, damp ground.

6. Invest in different lawn games.

Go on an online shopping trip to find the best lawn games for the family. Buy a few ones and spend afternoons playing everything from putt-putt golf to badminton, Krokay, lawn bowling, corn in the hole, double-dutch, and so much more.

All these lawn games can bring countless hours of fun for the entire family. They’re absolutely perfect for weekends (and Independence Day) when parents get a break from work. But, it’s important to mention that if you will be using the lawn for games, give it some care first. Clean up the space and mow the lawn; doing this will create the perfect environment for a day of friendly competitions among family and friends.

7. Bring out a video projector and a plain white sheet for outdoor movie-watching.

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Create your family’s own Instagram-worthy moment by watching a movie in your yard. If a few of your children’s friends wouldn’t mind wearing a mask on a summer day and maintaining social distance in the yard, treat everybody to a late afternoon outdoor movie-viewing experience. Just make sure to mow the lawn so everybody can comfortably sit on the grass or even lie down.

For kids, a lot of Studio Ghibli classics are ideal, and it would be a delightful learning experience for them to see a different culture and time through an animated movie. Top recommendations are “My Neighbor Totoro,” “Spirited Away,” “Kiki’s Delivery Service,” and “Whisper of the Heart.”

8. Create an outdoor stage.

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If you have a really big lawn or yard, perhaps the family can build a small outdoor stage. This summer, a lot of kids will be missing out on summer enrichment programs at community centers. If you have children who are a little disappointed by this, bring the enrichment program to them. They can just watch the lessons online, but have a stage for recital performances.

Also, with an outdoor stage for the family, you can put together plays or perhaps even lead a neighborhood workout session. Demonstrate your community spirit and get everybody on their feet for some exercise. It’s good to have a stage for this as well as a well-tended lawn, especially if you don’t mind a few neighbors coming by to work out.

Not going to different places during the summer vacations can be a bummer, especially for the young ones. But with these ideas for turning your garden or lawn into a happy place shared above, your family can still have a wonderful and memorable summer.