Celebrate Summer Solstice with Kids
On June 21, 2023 it will be Summer Solstice- the longest day of the year, and the first day of summer. If you are looking for some fun ways to celebrate the solstice as a family, I’ve rounded up some favorites for you here!
What is the spiritual meaning of Summer Solstice?
Summer is the season of the Sun and the solstice is the day each year when we get the most sunlight- it calls us to shine the light on our desires and also on what is no longer serving you. It’s a time to think about what LIGHTS you up and how you can shine your own inner light brighter to serve the greater good. Traditionally, summer is the season of abundance and the time of year we spend the most time outdoors in nature.
Celebrating the solstice is really just about connecting your spirit with all things SUMMER. Going to the beach, laying in your yard in the sun, sitting around a bonfire, making lemonade, picking wild flowers, eating stone fruit - all of that counts! If you love crystals like I do, gather your citrine, carnelian, garnet and sunstone for a celebratory grid.
Here are 5 things you can do with your kids
to celebrate the Summer Solstice!
Get Creative- soooo much fun to be had with the whole family here! You can do any artwork that celebrates the sun! You can find some great art project ideas on my Summer Lovin’ pinterest board . This year we are going to be making some tie-dye shirts (a Solstice craft that doubles as Father’s Day gift making, homeschool mamas know how to multitask!!) and making flower crowns! Last weekend we spent time in the desert and captured the vibe of our trip with water colors and some haiku writing. It’s also the perfect time to make friendship bracelets, make some art with chalk, make a dream-catcher or make a new mala! Really anything artistic that aligns with the vibes of the sunny season ahead works perfectly.
Connect with Nature- of course we try to do this every day- but on the solstices and equinoxes it’s even more crucial to really deepen that connection by adding mindful awareness to your time outdoors. My 5 year old pointed out how fortunate we were to be in the hot sun this past weekend in the desert and not trapped at the hospital (out of the mouths of kiddos) really- she’s right. SO many people have been through SO MUCH this year. Humanity has been hurting and getting outside, into the sun, with bare feet on the ground is so restorative. This is a great weekend to garden, plant wildflowers, hug a tree, take a swim in the ocean- do anything you can outdoors.
Journal- oh yes, it’s always on my list! This is such a fun habit to get your kids started on as soon as possible. Numerous studies have shown that journaling helps organize your thoughts, helps lower anxiety and stress, inspire creativity and boost memory function! How awesome is that!!! Times like Summer Solstice- I like to journal about the season past and my intentions/what I’d like to manifest in the coming season. The kids draw and free write- though I do offer prompts like “what’s one thing you want to do this Summer? How does Summer make you feel? What’s your favorite part of Summer?” etc.
Fire Ceremony - this one is always my son’s favorite, and who am I kidding, mine too! This is something we always do at the changing of the seasons. For our Solstice ceremony we write down the things from Spring we don’t want to carry forward into Summer- this can be anything!! Homework, self-doubt, snow, being stuck at home…. One of my favorite authors Cara Alwill tweeted: “make a list of the people you think you need to impress. Then go burn that sh*t”- and that’s exactly what I’m talking about. It’s the ultimate letting go. We have a fire pit in our backyard, but a beach bonfire is SO perfect for this part of the ritual if you can swing it. Whatever you do- safety first. My son is headed into his third year as a Scout and teaching and practicing fire safety is EXTREMELY important- so use this as an awesome opportunity to do so!
Have a Feast- This is a time to gather loved ones, friends and family to come together and share a meal, stories, songs and celebrations, ideally outdoors. I love focusing all of our food choices for solstice celebration on seasonal favorites- watermelon, cucumbers straight off the vine, stone fruits like cherries, nectarines and peaches, grilling, making gorgeous salads, even visiting a local farmers market this weekend if you can, then preparing a meal that really captures Summer is an awesome and delicious way to celebrate!
As always with rituals and celebrations- make it YOU, do what you find your family loves the most! I hope this was inspiring and gave you a few ideas of how to kick off this bright new season in fun and delicious ways!! Happy Summer!! You can learn more about how Summer Solstice has been celebrated through the ages HERE.