Make Summer Fun Even When It’s Crazy Hot Outside
Any time I talk about summer online, I get a slew of messages saying “I hate summer because I live on the face of the sun!”
And whoa, do I get that.
I grew up in Las Vegas and then have lived much of my adult life in Phoenix and Texas, so I know about summers where the sidewalks burn your feet at 10 p.m. at night.
I love messages like this “I grew up in Henderson, NV. I’m raising my kids here now and summer is my FAVORITE season. We have access to pools and spend more time outside than the rest of the year swimming. We lean into the awful and do the things you do in summer- swim, library, movie theaters, travel to the beach/ mountain when we need a little break. The smell of sunscreen and chlorine brings back so many good memories and I now have those with my kids. I can’t imagine swimming in weather under 110- that’s not hot enough!”
And another favorite?
“Phoenix resident- my motto is do it sweaty. So I just do all the things and get sweaty. But staying active and continuing to enjoy life really helps me not hate summers here.”
And one more, because I can’t help myself:
“I live somewhere hot, and I’ve always loved summer. I think it’s important to acclimate yourself to your climate. Don’t keep your house cool at 65 or so in the summer. Let your body get used to the heat and plan fun activities in cooler morning or evening hours. Some of my favorite memories are going out getting all wet and a sprinkler and then spending the afternoon watching a fun movie and eating popcorn or popsicles.”
I asked families who live somewhere crazy hot to share how they make it work because everyone deserves to love summer, no matter the temperature!
Here is the advice that came in:
Live in the Water
When temperatures soar, water is the ultimate summer survival strategy. Pools, splash pads, sprinklers, water parks, lakes, beaches, and backyard water play were some of the most-mentioned ways families beat the heat. One mom shared, “We swim a lot, kids play in the sprinklers, and we bought one of the inflatable backyard waterslides!”
If you live somewhere that feels like summer lasts nine months of the year, investing in a fun sprinkler, backyard pool, or pool membership might be money well spent. When we lived in Arizona, we picked a house within easy walking distance of the HOA pool and we used it constantly.
Become an Early Bird (or a Night Owl)
Many families shift their schedules during the hottest months, saving outdoor adventures for early mornings and evenings. One mom shared that her family loves taking “night walks” with flashlights, while another summed up her strategy: “Outside early, hibernate in the day, outside late.” We stayed with my parents for a summer in Las Vegas and a 6:30 a.m. trip to the playground in their neighborhood saved my sanity (my kids were waking up early anyway, so we’d just head to the park first thing while they were still in their pajamas).
Make Friends with Air Conditioning
Libraries, museums, movie theaters, bowling alleys, trampoline parks, malls, and indoor play spaces become summer lifelines. One mom admitted, “We go walk around in a mall with AC when desperate,” – sometimes that kind of low-effort outing saves the day! (Boy did I become good friends with the IKEA kids play place when we lived in Arizona).
Create a Summer Membership Strategy
Many families recommended investing in one or two memberships or passes that make frequent outings easy and affordable. One mom said, “We try to pick an indoor special activity each summer and buy a summer pass to it.” Having a go-to destination can take the pressure off planning and provide an easy answer on those days when it’s simply too hot to be outside.
Ideas for memberships included:
- Pool memberships
- Museum memberships
- Bowling passes
- Summer movie programs
- Trampoline parks
- Zoo memberships
Escape to Cooler Weather
If you have the flexibility, sometimes the best way to beat the heat is to leave it behind for a few days. Many families plan trips to cooler destinations throughout the summer, whether that’s the mountains, a lakeside cabin, the beach, or even a nearby town with milder temperatures. One reader from the South joked, “Everyone leaves for a huge chunk of the summer – we call it Tex-odus” while another shared, “We can drive an hour and a half and be in the pines.” Even a quick weekend getaway can provide a much-needed break and give everyone something to look forward to during the hottest stretch of the season.
Lean Into Libraries
Libraries were one of the most frequently mentioned summer survival strategies, and of course that made me ridiculously happy. While the books are reason enough to visit, families also raved about summer reading programs, storytimes, craft events, free activities, and, best of all, the glorious air conditioning. It’s hard to beat a destination that’s fun, educational, budget-friendly, and cool all at the same time.
Stock Up on Frozen Treats
Sometimes a popsicle really does solve a lot of problems. One mom’s advice was simple: “Always have popsicles and ice cream in the freezer.” Other families mentioned keeping sno-cones, frozen lemonade, and homemade popsicles on hand as an easy way to cool off and make an ordinary afternoon feel a little more special.
For our family, homemade ice cream is a tradition that makes it feel like summer has officially arrived. (I have a blog post about other summer traditions if you need more ideas.)
Build an Indoor Activity Arsenal
One of the best ways to avoid the dreaded “I’m bored” is to have a supply of indoor activities ready before you need them. One mom suggested keeping “craft supplies, LEGO, and other quiet activities” on hand, especially when kids are feeling overstimulated from too much time with friends or too many activities. Another parent shared that she likes to alternate between high-energy and low-energy activities, or hot and cool ones. After a morning spent running around outside in the heat, it can be the perfect time to cool off with a movie, curl up with a good book, work on a puzzle, or dive into a LEGO project.
If you need some ideas, the most popular indoor activities recommended were:
- Puzzles (I have a big list of favorites here)
- Board games (all my board game recommendations here)
- LEGO
- Crafts
- Audiobooks
- Reading
- Sensory bins
- Movie marathons
Create Weekly Summer Traditions
One popular way to beat the summer heat is having special summer traditions or simple recurring activities that give kids something to look forward to each week or throughout the summer. One family said, “A tradition we have is to start a series to watch each summer. Last year was Modern Family, the year before all the Marvel movies, and the year before was Star Wars.” Another mom started “Treat Day Tuesday: every Tuesday we picked a new treat spot to try.” (I’ll go along with this!) Whether it’s a weekly ice cream outing, a summer movie marathon, or a standing library day, these little traditions make the heat more bearable and a lot more fun.
Other ideas for reoccurring traditions included Library Mondays so everyone started the week off loaded up with books, Craft Fridays, and family puzzle nights.
Keep a Loose Summer Rhythm
Having a simple schedule (without overscheduling) helped everyone enjoy summer more for many failies. One mom shared: “Schedules or ‘fun formulas’ help a ton.” A predictable rhythm of outings, quiet time, swimming, reading, and screen time can make long hot days feel much easier. Figure out what works for your family, working around jobs, nap times, and other standing appointments.
Embrace Summer Hygge
While for some families it is great to have a more serious summer schedule, others love the laid-back nature of summer and really embrace that. One mom shared, “We love to sleep in, create and play, see friends, do snacking lunches. We thrive on a break.” Instead of constantly chasing activities, it might work better for your family to dig in to simple pleasures like reading on the porch, listening to audiobooks, lingering over easy meals, enjoying family movie nights, spending time in the backyard shade, and taking evening walks once the temperatures cool down.
In fact, one reader even recommended leaning into the idea of summer hygge (the warm-weather version of cozy living): “There’s a great podcast with episodes about summer cozy and summer hygge — The Girl Next Door podcast! They’re Arizona girls and know what they’re talking about.” Definitely going to listen to some of these this summer!
Make Summer More Fun for Yourself
And kids shouldn’t have all the fun – I really believe that parents should enjoy summer too. I love the mom that said “I started focusing on how to make it more fun and bearable for ME.” and another that said “The other thing I just thought of that makes summer a little more bearable for me is springing for the good sunscreen. The stuff that feels good on my skin and smells like summer!” Another parent said “Having weather appropriate cute/comfy clothes that keep me cool, fun beverages like sparkling waters and iced coffee supplies, And I focused on very simple dinners that wouldn’t take too much effort or heat up the house even more.”
Take a little time to think about what would make summer feel more enjoyable for you and do what you can to make at least some of those things happen!
And it doesn’t have to be fancy – one mom said summer is better for her “knowing a cool shower (usually two a day in the summer) is waiting for me before getting in bed.”
Reframe Summer as a Reverse Winter
Several readers pointed out that in very hot climates, summer functions a lot like winter in colder states. One mom said“Most places have an unfavorable time of the year. In most of the US, that’s winter. In the southern states, that’s summer. If you reframe summer as a time for other (indoor) activities and then focus on outdoor activities when the weather is actually nice, it’s a much better experience year round!” Instead of fighting it, try treating summer as the season for indoor activities, slowing down, and enjoying the outdoors when temperatures are reasonable. (I never felt like more a genius than when we lived in Arizona and it was January and we were hanging out in t-shirts at the playground).
Lower the Pressure
One response summed up what many REALLY parents dread about summer: “It’s not a heat thing. It’s the expectation of having to do all the things.” Summer doesn’t have to be packed with lake days, elaborate outings, and Pinterest-worthy adventures. Sometimes the best memories come from popsicles on the porch, library trips, puzzles, and swimming with friends.
Any other suggestions for how to make the most of summer even when you live somewhere super hot? I’d love for you to share!
