Thirst No More

Summer is coming and the kids will be out of school. This is my favorite season of all! Having my kids home was a highlight for me...no schedules...no homework...lazy days of summer. But it can be a difficult time adjusting from early mornings and much activity to quiet, long days. I want to share a few tips for making summer the most enjoyable time with your children, instead of counting down the days when school starts again!

1) Plan several field trips throughout the summer. What "hot spots" could you visit this summer in your area? Any places that you've wanted to go to, but during the school year there isn't the time? What's within an hour radius of your home~a capital city, zoo, museum, camp, historical site, waterpark, lake, etc. Plan 3 or 4 throughout the summer with a couple friends, because friends make everything more fun!

2) Movie days. Many theaters have inexpensive kids movie specials during the week. The movie times are in the morning, so little ones won't miss nap schedules. Marcus Theaters has a movie weekly & popcorn comes with the price of admission. Meet a couple families at the theater for a cheap movie date. And since the movies are geared to children, noise in the theater is expected! :)

3) Crafts. I know that word ieea is not for everyone! I am not a fan of crafts...but I will say that my kids loved to make things with me. We would gather all sorts of odds & ends, place them in a tub (kept in the basement) and on rainy days or days when friends couldn't play, we'd get out the craft tub and make something. Store everything that you would need in the tub, so it's an easy activity to plan. Here are some items to get you started: glue, cotton balls, paper, tape, craft paint, straws, paper plates, paintbrushes, stickers, rubberbands, scrapbook paper, scissors, clay, etc).

4) Reading time. Be wise about the time you have them home. Get a book (age-appropriate) and read through it together or read to them. My 13 year old still likes to listen to me read to him. It creates a shared experience. We have conversations about what we are reading throughtout the day. This could be a devotional book too, so "Jesus" time can be built into the day.

5) Bored box. Unbelievably to us adults, our kids will have days when they use the words, "I'm bored." I had a box ready for my kids when I heard those words....and amazingly, I didn't hear the words too often. I had practice worksheets to review reading, english, math concepts in the bored box. I also had index cards with "chores" written on them, so they could pick out a card to do when they were bored. Extra books were kept in the bored box too. There is always something to do!

6) Conversation time. Use these summer months to converse with your children. These days of parenting are precious. Spend time getting to know your kids. What do they dream about? Who are their friends? What do they want to be when they grow up? What's their favorite hobby? Favorite subject? Favorite sport? Favorite book? Who is their hero? Be intentional about this time you have them home.

7) Travel journal. Every place you travel....even if it's going to grandma's house is an experience. Purchase a journal or notebook and have your child design the cover of the journal with stickers, drawing, writing. Take it with you when you are overnight: camping, vacation, grandma's, cousin's, wherever you go this summer. Each night you are away, have your child write something about the day so he/she will remember the vacation. Paste a postcard or a picture or brochure of your trip in the journal too for memories. Your child may use this journal for years. It is fun to look back & revisit the places you have traveled and all the memories attached to it~ and all in his/her own handwriting.

8) Make a chain. For all the days of summer or for the last 30 days of summer, make a paper chain. On each link, write something to do. As a countdown,have your child(ren) tear off a link per day and then the family or individual does that activity. Ideas: ride bike around neighborhood together as a family, read a Psalm together and have each person in the family share what it means to him/her, rent a movie & watch it tonight, play a boardgame, go for ice-cream cones today, invite a friend over, etc. The activities can be family oriented, friend oriented, individually oriented. Be creative. Mix it up!

9) Pool party. If you have a pool invite friends over for a pool party. Otherwise, you can have a water balloon party or a slip & slide party or a sprinkler party. Have snacks and drinks all with summer or water names. Have fun with it!

These are just some ideas of how to make summer the best time EVER with your kids.