Summertime is upon us, a season for camps and camping, the pool and parties. Whether you’re hosting family or hitting the road, those of us with kids in school are facing the annual expanse of 5-10 weeks of freedom and wondering: What do we do now?
In an effort to get ahead of rainy days and boredom-induced bickering, here are some ideas for using tech to find family fun.
Getting Out
Before you leave the house, you’re probably checking your phone for a quick weather update. Consider instead your very own local weather center.
Local weather “stations” can now be found at Home Depot or on Amazon and offer an array of tools such as rain gauges, wind sensors, and lightning detectors. Bright displays can show your hyper-local rainfall amounts, display barometric changes, and humidity levels — inside and out. Make an adventure out of selecting and installing one in your yard, then start following the data. Younger kids will get the basics, and older kids may really appreciate the extra info.
Once you know what to expect outside, you’re ready to hit the road. But if you’re having a hard time getting motivated to leave the AC, it might be time to download (or re-download) Pokémon Go.
This game for mobile devices lets you move through a digital world matching your real world landscapes and landmarks. Swing by PokéStops and check in to get Poké Balls, which will let you collect characters. Use the game to take specific routes or track your walking distances. And swing by Gyms to battle for control and extra bonuses. Share the fun with kiddos or battle alongside those with their own devices.
Staying In
We all know board games are a great way to entertain kids. Ideally they’re challenging and help build teamwork and creative problem-solving skills. But what to do when you’re bored with your options? Make your own games.
Generative AI tools like Claude, ChatGPT, and Gemini are great tools for helping develop ideas and game mechanics. Come up with a theme, or even have the AI models recommend a few to get started. Next up: Take those rules for a spin with a quick prototype. Look for ways to improve — it’s YOUR game! — or get creative designing a board or pieces. You can also go in a D&D direction and have the AI help you develop an adventure the whole family can go on, right from the kitchen table.
Your kids may not be old enough to do this themselves, but you can make interacting with the AI a family activity that can also be instructive. And while I know no one wants homework for the summer, these games can be a good way to throw in some curriculum refreshment before back-to-school time.
Saving the obvious for last, the Nintendo Switch 2 came out earlier this month and is flying off shelves. But there’s nothing wrong with the original Switch, especially if you can pick one up at a deep discount while others are upgrading.
Grab a copy of Mario Kart, or another competitive adventure, and snag some extra controllers. Your rainy day will fly by in a blur of coins, mushrooms, and trash talk.
Pro tip: There are educational video games, too! Check out BodyQuest, Eat Your Letters, Big Brain Academy, or Little Mouse’s Encyclopedia to sneak in a smidge of school.
Good luck, and may the best team win!
