Summer is a fun time of year. Every year children look forward to the summer season. Why do you ask? The most popular answer summer break, no school! During summer people can go swimming, go to the beach, and enjoy other outdoor activities. The summer months are often referred to as the dog days of summer. Learn more with these amazing summer facts for kids.
What is Summer?
Summer is one of the four seasons. The four seasons are Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall (Autumn). Summer begins on the Summer Solstice which occurs on or around June 20th or June 22nd in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is summer in the months of June, July August, and some of September. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is summer in the months of December, January, and February. The word solstice comes from the Latin words sol meaning sun and sistere meaning to stand still. The longest day of the year occurs on the Summer Solstice. The Summer Solstice is when the Earth’s axis is tilted toward the sun.
During Winter the Earth’s axis is tilted away from the sun. Summer ends on the Autumnal Equinox in September.
What Happens During Summer?
During summer the days are longer and the weather is warm. Children are typically off from school. Families can enjoy outdoor time and participate in activities including bike riding, playing sports, swimming, or going to the beach. Throwing frisbees in the yard, park or beach is a popular summertime pastime. Pie plates were the first frisbees.
Many families go on vacation during the summer. Popular family trips include action or waterparks, beach vacations, and tropical destinations.
Animals tend to be more active in the summer. You may see animals taking care of their babies that were born in the Spring.
The U.S holidays Independence Day or 4th of July and Labor Day are celebrated in Summer.
The hurricane season starts in summer and stays active through the fall
Popular Summer Foods
When people think of summer they often think about BBQs. In the U.S barbecues are a summer staple. BBQs are family gatherings where the foods are cooked outside on a grill. Popular BBQ foods include hamburgers, hotdogs, ribs, potato salads, and watermelon.
Ice Cream is one of the most popular summer foods. In the U.S the most ice cream is sold in the month of July. The most popular ice cream flavors include vanilla, chocolate, mint chocolate chip, cookies, and cream, chocolate chip cookie dough, and buttered pecan.
Fruits are also popular summer treats. The most popular summer fruit is watermelon. Did you know that watermelon is mostly water!
Amazing Summer Facts for Kids
When it is Summer in the Northern Hemisphere such as the United States it is winter in the Southern Hemisphere such as Australia.
In the U.S the hottest days of the year take place between mid-July through mid-August.
The month June got its name from the Roman goddess Juno queen of the gods and patroness of weddings and marriage.
The month of July was named after Julius Caesar. August was named after Caesar’s son Augustus. September got its name from the Latin word septem meaning 7. On the Roman calendar, September was the 7th month.
Early Native Americans performed ritual dances in summer to honor the sun. The Sioux People would perform sun dances where performs would wear red to symbolize the sunset, blue to symbolize the sky, yellow to symbolize lighting, and black to symbolize the night sky.
The Eiffel Tower in France can grow up to 6 inches during the Summer! How? The Eiffel Tower is made out of metal iron. The heat from the hot summer days causes the iron to expand making the tower stretch up to 6 inches.
Kids you need to thank Horace Mann. In 1840 educator/politician Horace Mann started School Summer Vacations! He believed that overstimulating the minds of children could cause them stress and that they needed a break. The kids thank you, Mr. Mann!
Top Summer Activities for Kids
When the weather is warm, and school is out there are so many fun things to do. Here is a list of the absolute best activities in the summer.
- Spend the day at the beach.
- Swimming, you can go swimming at the beach, pool, or lake (remember never go swimming without an adult)
- Play with your friends outside. There are so many fun games to play outside with friends. Check out our article on outside games here.
- Jump Rope: Playing jump rope is so much fun, check out these jump rope rhymes here
- Go for a bike ride
- Eat Ice Cream from the ice cream truck
- Go on a boat ride
- Open a lemonade stand. Don’t like lemonade? No problem, you can sell fruit punch, iced tea or any drink of your choice.
- Run through the sprinklers
- Draw with chalk and blow bubbles
- Have a driveway car wash. Make signs and offer to wash cars that pass by.
