It seems that we just finished the holidays. I could’ve sworn that we had taken our Yule tree down only last week. But, time has passed quickly, and yesterday our own "Big Kids" brought home a May/June calendar from school, complete with the last day that school is in session just printed there, staring at me.  I can hardly believe it. Summer vacation is almost upon us.

I love the long relaxed days of summer. I have the beautiful luxury of working mostly at home, with an odd meeting out of the house here and there, so summer stretches before us like a long swath of blue and yellow silk. Thinking of all the time we’ll have, I fanaticize, of long leisurely cottage breakfasts, my kids playing outdoors until all hours and then coming in a dusk ready to play a good old-fashioned game of Yahtzee. This fantasy lasts around a week into the summer break. That’s when I realize: These kids are going to be home for 90 days, and all they’ve done is play on the internet and watch Nickelodeon.

The solution?  Plan for summer vacation. With a bit of forethought, you can have a blissful summer vacation, with busy kids, and relaxed parents. 
A side note for homeschoolers: These ideas can be tweaked for your family, even if you have lessons all year.

Celebrate the rite of passage: Your kids have worked hard all year, and so have you. On the last day of school, pause and think about the year past, and the summer fun to come. On the last day of every grade, my parents took me to “The Dairy Bar”, a hot dog and ice cream stand near our home.  We’ve continued this tradition in our family. Except now we take our kids to Bell’s Delites, our local ice cream stand.

Have a Direction: At the beginning of the season, have a chat with your kids. What do they want to learn? Where would they like to go?  What types of things would they like to experience this summer? Use this priceless information to tailor your activities to suit your children’s interests.

Summer in the Garden: Get thee to the garden center or nursery and stock up on green things that will yield fun for the summer. If you have the room, plan on a plot for a “Kid’s Garden” where they kids can grow their own yummy produce for the season. Some easy-to-grow fruits and veggies are tomatoes, cucumbers, radishes, carrots and if you have ample room, corn and watermelon. If you and your family have been gardening for some time, find a different theme for this year’s garden. Why not let the kids pick varieties of produce with names that stretch the imagination. Try a Black Zebra or Fireworks tomato or a Purple Dragon carrot. Kids are more likely to try healthy foods they’ve helped grow themselves. In your garden make sure to include flowers for your little ones to pick. Black-eyed Susans and Daisies are classic favorites.  If you’ve got plants to spare, you can join MyPlantSwap.com, a free plant exchange website. Post the plants you are offering to exchange and list the plants you are looking for. The website connects you to other members who are compatible with you.  Head over to MyPlantSwap.com to get more information.

Get them outside: When I was little, I had acres upon acres to explore during long summer days.  If you live in the city, or have a smallish yard, you may need a plan to get your crew outside. The key is making your yard, patio, porch, or local park a fun place to be. Before school lets out, stock up on summer basic toys: sidewalk chalk, bubble solution, jacks, marbles and a good old-fashioned jump rope. Throw ‘em all in a tote bag. When you head out for some fresh air, grab the tote and off you go. Play hopscotch, teach your kids jump rope rhymes, and blow bubbles. Start a game of tag or set up some races with friends in the neighborhood.  On truly sweltering days, Let kids paint the house, driveway, or front steps…with water. Bring out buckets of cool water and lots of brushes. Turn you kids loose with the “paint”.  Grab a brush for yourself and have a refreshing time.

Look to Your Community: Many towns and cities have free or inexpensive activities for children during the summer. Contact your local YMCA, library or art organization. Signing your child up for a small amount of structured activities during the season will give both of you a break, especially if you are a stay-at-home parent. Also, look for local carnivals, festivals and fairs. These fun events will be a highlight for your children.

Survive those Long Summer Afternoons: When the day heats up, grab a pitcher of icy lemonade, some popsicles, and a good book appropriate for your child’s age group. Head to a shady spot and read to your kids. If you have school-age children, reading a chapter per day is a fantastic idea. You might cool off with Anne of Green Gables, Harry Potter, or Matilda.  For preschoolers, you can’t go wrong with books by David Shannon, Mo Willems, and Dr. Seuss, of course. Afternoon Storytime will become a treasured family tradition, and give you a chance to slow down and connect with your child.

Rainy Days and Mondays: On those inevitable days when the weather is wet and you can’t play outside, a little planning will keep you from pulling your hair out. Right now, as soon as your done reading this article grab a box or bin, and put in some rainy day essentials: Puzzles, coloring books and crayons, and crafting supplies like marker, glue and fabric scraps.  Get creative here and add all sorts of goodies. When rain is in the forecast, bring out the box, and let your kids explore it.  A word of caution here: This is the Rainy Day Box, and as such, it goes away when the rainy day is over. If you only bring these goodies out only on wet days, the Rainy Day Box will remain special. Also, don’t forget Board Games (or Bored Games, as we call them in our house, because when we’re bored these games always do the trick). On a rainy afternoon, a game of checkers or Monopoly will keep your kids from climbing the walls.

Sweet Summer Nights: This summer, take time to catch fireflies as dusk falls. This a magical experience, especially for young children.  After the sun goes down, make a few s’mores, either in your oven or over an open flame. You might tell stories. Young kids love hearing stories about when they were babies, or when mom and dad were little. Older children get a thrill out of “scary” stories.  A campout, under the stars, or on your living room floor is a fun way to end the evening.

Education in Disguise: Even though school is out, it doesn’t mean your kids minds have to get limp over the summer break. This time of year, the world is your classroom, textbook and teacher. Help your kids set up a yard sale, or a lemonade or water ice stand for a fun math lesson. Take day trips to regional landmarks and your kids will learn about local history and culture. Museums are a great place to head to on those days that are just too hot to play outside. In the outdoors, science is a no-brainer. Look to your garden or the night sky. Near our home, we have a creek that is perfect for little explorers. Last June, we adopted half dozen tadpoles, raised them until they were frogs, and released them back into their home. It was an amazing experience for all of us.

Make Some Memories: Making a scrapbook of your summer adventures is a wonderful way for you and your children to connect on summer nights.  Take pictures during your daily outings, and collect leaves, flowers, pebbles and shells.  This, I guarantee, will be a treasure for many summers to come.

 

Laura Sweet is an artist, mother and entrepreneur residing in Southeast Pennsylvania. She lives with her husband, four beautiful children, Shiloh, the killer kitten and Zoe, the naughty dog.