Fun Summer Activities for your Kids and Teens!
Coming out of the pandemic, are you and your family in need of unique summer activities to foster connection, fun and joy? For our mental and physical well-being, think of this summer as a time to restore, rejuvenate, laugh and connect. To help, our team offers ideas for kids and teens - from creative art projects to exciting games and outings. Enjoy and savor this time!
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Learn More About Your Family
While Having Fun
Truth or Dare: Family Style!
- Play truth or dare with family topics using appropriate and safe dares. See what happens and what you learn about each other!
Beach Ball Broadcast
- Find a plastic beach ball and write prompts on the various colors. For example, you could include: Something I'm Proud Of, This Summer I'm Excited About..., One Thing I Learned About Myself this Year, My Ideal Summer Day Would Be..., etc.
- Gather in a circle, either standing or sitting. Toss the ball to a member of the circle. That person shares about the prompt that's closest to their right thumb. Keep throwing the ball around the circle - for a unique and insightful conversation!
Campfire Communication
- Before going on a beach or camping trip, prepare conversation topics on strips of paper and put them in a container. The topics can be serious, silly, or just creative.
- Bring the container with you on your trip, and take turns pulling topics out of the container and sharing your responses around the campfire!
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT 101252)
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Enjoy Mindfulness With Sun Prints
I always enjoy this project, and it could be an easy activity for families to make use of nature in a fun way while practicing mindfulness:
Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT 115379)
Associate Professional Clinical Counselor (APCC 6798)
Supervised by Monica Valdivia Aguilar, M.A., (LMFT 41352)
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Make Summer Memories
around your House
Positive Sidewalk Chalk Messages
- Sidewalk chalk is a great way to spread positivity and share art with your community - while generating some positive affirmations your family can adopt. Brainstorm some positive art or messages you’d like to share with your neighbors. Then, as a family, spend some time writing or drawing them on the sidewalk.
Backyard Scavenger Hunt
- This is a fun one to promote communication and cooperation among friends and siblings! Create a list of 10-15 items and have your kids go out into the backyard and locate them. Examples include: leaves, flowers, rocks, a bug, a stick, a bird, a cool looking cloud. They can make note of what they find or draw a picture. This is also a fun activity for road trips or community outings!
Living Room Camping
- This was one of my favorite activities as a kid. Set up a tent or build a blanket fort right in your living room! You can pretend you’re out in the wilderness - which means devices are put away (there’s no wifi in the wilderness!).
- You can even make some camping snacks together, such as trail mix, granola bars, and s’mores (we always used the microwave but pretended to roast the marshmallows)!
- You can also spend time telling stories, singing songs, or playing board games. Get creative with it!
Postdoctoral Fellow Supervised by Vicki Chiang, Psy.D. (Psy21136)
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Get Creative and Be Silly
Enriching Creative Activities
Let your little ones “paint” the outside of the house
- Give them a bucket of water and some paint brushes and let them "paint" away! Not only will they have blast, they will feel helpful. As bonus, the outside of your house gets washed!
Throw Throw Burrito Game
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The families I work with are in love with this game! There is an indoor and outdoor version. Both are hilarious and a great way to bond as a family -while pegging each other with burritos!
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT 101031)
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Encourage Your Teens to Explore L.A. and Have Adventures with Friends
Hit the Trails
- This summer is the perfect time for teens to get outside in nature with friends. From Runyon Canyon to Griffith Park to Malibu Creek State Park, there are so many options! Check out this list of L.A.'s Best Trails.
Explore Cultural Neighborhoods in L.A.
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT 92791)
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We're excited to announce that we're hosting another
professional training with Susan Landon, LMFT from L.A. Gender Center!
What: This 8-week professional training (16 hours) is designed to equip you in your clinical and case management work with gender-expansive youth and families.
When: Mondays, September 20 – November 15, 2021
October 11 canceled for Indigenous People’s Day
Learn More: Contact us at [email protected] to save your spot! Registration will open soon!
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We're Hiring!
Full-time Positions for Licensed Therapists:
CAPIC Postdoctoral Fellowships and Doctoral Practicum Training Positions:
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We recently launched a dynamic new center specifically for adults - Flourish Therapy + Wellness Center! Flourish is a division of the Institute for Girls' Development, a Psychological Corporation. It's located in our beautiful space in Old Pasadena, and services include therapy, learning and connection opportunities, and wellness programs for adults of all ages. Currently, most of our Flourish services are offered online. Check out the Flourish website! |
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Therapy & Assessment Services
Interested in individual therapy?
See our current therapy groups by age:
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Empowering for all stages of life.
95 N. Marengo Ave. Suite 100
Pasadena, CA 91101
626-585-8075 ext. 108
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Learn more on our social media accounts! |
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PLEASE NOTE: Nothing in what you find here should be construed as medical advice pertinent to any individual. As is true with all written materials, you must be the judge of what appears valid and useful for yourself. Please take up any questions you might have regarding the content of this with your psychotherapist or physician.
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