Schools out for Summer... What to do with the kids...

With school getting out, we all have the fear of our children getting bored out of their minds and driving us out of our minds too... Here are just a few ideas to help keep kids busy this summer and you can have a good time with these too!

1. Purchase a trampoline. I know these are expensive, and this may need to be a future toy to get after some money is saved up, but this was the best investment in an outdoor toy that I've ever made. We got one for Father's day due to a couple of our bills going down and the kids play on this for HOURS. And they try and keep from arguing so they can both stay and jump instead of have to get off... I love this thing. :)

2. Have a neighborhood bike parade or race. Have kiddos bring their helmets and bikes over to your house, dish out small party favor prizes to winners of "best decorated bike", "biggest bike", "fastest bike", etc and serve up some frozen popsicles and cookies as snacks.

3. Have the kids help plant and maintain a strawberry or pumpkin patch. The plants are easily identifiable which help them not to be picked while the children are "weeding". Then when berries or pumpkins are ready, the kids will have pride that they produced them!

4. Keep a "summer adventures" journal. I had my kids decorate a piece of paper and I slipped it into one of those 3 ring binders with the area for an insertable page. I then put in 4 dividers as areas to write "entries": Summer fun, God made me great, Things I should work on, and Something I learned. This way, the kids can keep up on some of their writing skills as well as reflect on what they have done, who they are, and what they have learned. My kids love it so far- I hope the love lasts all summer!

5. You will have rainy days during the summer when outside is just not an option. Board games, computer games, TV games, movies. Those are all great things to resort to... But maybe building a puppet stand out of boxes would be so much more stimulating to the imagination! My kids had such a blast with coming up with a "design" for the puppet stand, then writing out their story, and then acting it out with handpuppets (which you could totally make out of socks or paper bags too!).

6. Have a pool party! (Sign courtesy of GiggleBees on Etsy- click photo to go to the shop). If you have a pool, great, if not- pretend to! Get some great pool party favors (see my Etsy treasury list below for some ideas), invite a few kids over asking them to wear bathing suits and bring towels, and get wet somehow! Kiddie pools, water balloons, water guns, sprinklers, etc. Can be a great time for kids to play together outside and no need for worrying about entertaining them or organizing any special games... children really can keep themselves busy if directed to a positive outlet!

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/NTc5MzIxMnwyNzIyOTczMjI0/its-officially-summer-lets-have-a-pool?index=0

7. And even if the kids don't like the idea- have them help with some chores around the house. Have them earn money to go do things as a family- movies and snacks, baseball games, treats at a theme park, etc.

I hope you and your kiddos have a great summer!