In the summer months a lot of other Moms & Dads I know freak out about the kids being home. Home for the WHOLE summer. ACK!!! The freak out moment of “Oh, my God the kids are going to drive me absolutely crazy. I have NO idea what to do ALL summer with them!” I can understand that fear, it’s because the routine of the year is being thrown off for a few months & there’s worry of everyone driving each other crazy without that routine.
But there are some great ways to keep the kids busy in the summer. On the days when just relaxing & free play is leading to the “I’m Bored” Syndrome. Syndrome doesn’t just strike thee kids but it can strike Mom too!
1. Check out Homeschool Websites for ideas.
Seriously, these mommas are finding all sorts of great ways to engage their kids on a regular basis. Why not look at the ideas they have & adapt them to your family? We homeschool in the summers, although it is not a rigid school approach it does allow for us to have some routine. I find that coming up with some ideas for the week is great. However, a word to the wise don’t worry if your really great plan doesn’t work one week or you don’t create every single activity you thought was amazing. Instead, be flexible. It may be that you changed plans because the weather was so awesome that you decided spend all day outside exploring.
Two great Homeschool Sites are:
2. Have a craft bin on hand that is easy for the kids to use.
We have pencils, colored pencils, crayons, scissors & scrap paper available for quick use. I also keep some paper that is lined & available for them to practice writing or making books with. Just make sure the kids know to ONLY use the scrap paper. Once I had them use important paper that was for work to make some pretty sweet books.
3. Make use of the library.
It’s free & if you set up a day to go weekly you know ahead of time that it is an activity that’s waiting for you. Don’t be afraid to take your little ones into the library, it’s a good experience for them to connect to books & to learn how to work on “quiet” voices. Some libraries have great kid corners that have activities for kids. Libraries often have special events for kids & families. Check out the summer schedules & see what’s available at your local library (remember you can also check out those in nearby cities!). Our kids love the library. We go on a regular basis. When we get home we have some quiet reading time, we set up a reading corner in the basement & the kids have bookshelves in reach in their rooms (and the basement). Just make sure you turn your books on time to avoid late fees.
4. Get out & explore nature.
You can do these by just walking around your neighborhood, heading out to a park, a nature reserve or the beach. Take a camera with you and a notebook to capture things you would normally walk past. Have the kids point out what they see that’s of interest to them. But don’t turn it into 20 questions, let it be fun! You can also have a picnic outside & discuss what you see. My kids love doing this, they think a picnic outside is the coolest thing since sliced bread. Hey, they are easily impressed. I’m taking it for all it’s worth right now. And plus, it’s really cool to see the different things they come up with & when you get home you can explore their interests together.
5. Memberships to the zoo and local museums.
Getting a membership can be a great way to get out of the house & get some fresh air with a change of scenery. I found the zoo last year to be a great place to explore. We’d walk around, talk about the animals we saw & just enjoy the fresh air. Pack some snacks & water for your trip that way you don’t spend more money while there. Children’s museums can be a wonderful resource as well. A day could easily be spent exploring one area of the museum. You might also want to check with your local library. Many libraries offer passes available for a free check out to local cultural experiences. I was really pleased to find out ours does. Even if it only covers 4 people, our family 6 still would save money if we were only going for a single day trip versus multiple times over the summer. If we were going for many trips then a membership might be a better deal, price checking is always good.
AND remember if the kids say they are bored they can always help with cleaning. Have some nontoxic cleaning supplies on hand & give them a rag. Boredom will be overcome.
What are the ways you keep kids busy in the summer? Any tips you’d like to share? Anything you remember doing as a kid?
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All great ideas! We did the same thing when my kids were small. They were always busy and not much interested in watching tv. Now my boys are 19,17 and 13. They still love all those things and still very busy hardly ever playing video games or watching tv.
Great Post!
Great tips for summer. We need all the help we can get.
Parents will also want to check out the ZiggityZoom.com guide to Summer Fun … lots of fun outdoor “boredom Busters”!
I’m forever amazed at how busy summer gets – despite my lamentation at the beginning that I’ll have nothing to do with my children. Lately, we’ve been “painting” on the concrete with water in the heat of the day. It’s pretty awesome for Abby. Jack just likes it when Abby paints him!
Lots of great summer ideas! I feel like our summer is already whizzing by – it will be August before I know.
Thanks for linking to The Homeschool Classroom!
We appreciate it!
We’ve been going on walks every day, and once a week we’ll walk to a restaurant nearby for lunch. Fun! I also keep a big craft dresser with drawers filled with things they can create or draw- I love going to Michael’s and stocking up on clearance ribbons, notions, etc. And I always have scrap yarn.
Letting them fill up the baby pool and play in the water with buckets and toys is a great day-passer, too!
Steph
I keep hoping that they will change summer vacation in Phoenix to January and February. With 110+ days you don’t spend too much time outside.
The homeschooling sites idea, is a great idea!
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