My kids are counting down to the end of the school year. They dream of long days playing outside, swimming in the pool, and yes, lots of Xbox.
I look forward to three months without fights over homework or permission slips to sign. But I also dread long days with my kids just staring at screens and whining, "Mommy, I'm bored."
Which is why we need to work together. Calling all SheSpeaks moms, grandmas or anyone who has ever been a kid themselves!
Share ways to keep kids busy over the summer. They can be big plans or little projects. They can be for big kids or little ones. All ideas will help! Anyone who gives a suggestion will be entered to win a set of 5 Outdoor Games, perfect to occupy your kids' time.
Comment below! Give us an idea you have for filling up those long summer days.
AND/OR
Tweet a way to stay busy this summer using the hashtags: #SheSpeaksSummer, @SheSpeaksUp & #Giveaway.
Bonus: We have some upcoming kids programs! Make sure your SheSpeaks Profile is up-to-date here so we can see if you qualify.
And now, some summer ideas from the SheSpeaks staff to get you started...
"I always loved loved loved the summer reading program at the library." - Carol
"I'd like to to do both big things and little things with my kids this summer - everything from riding the tallest roller coaster to collecting rocks." - Jenny
"My summer vacations as a kid were pretty standard - I went to our town's "summer rec" program that had swimming lessons, tennis lessons, and arts & crafts. Lots of boondoggle lanyard making." - Emily
"My 15- year old is most likely watching entirely too much Netflix! She will take a week to do a service trip with her youth group. " - Missy
"We bought a kids cookbook and my kids looked through it. We're going to try to make a new recipe each week." - Susan
"My sister has her kids on a schedule so it's similar to school (they are 4 & 6). She has time slotted for coloring, writing/reading, outdoor chores, meals and snacks, and 1 day a week adventures (pool, zoo, etc). Also they are doing swim lessons. " - Lori
*One lucky commenter or Tweeter who enters by June 11th, 2017 will be chosen at random to receive a Franklin 5 Game Beach Bag Combo Set, valued at $29.99. Giveaway is open to U.S. residents at least 18 years of age. Entrants must be a member of SheSpeaks. If you are not a member, click here to join. Winner will be notified by email.
Update: Thanks to everyone who entered! Congratulations to the winner, SheSpeaks member cknittel1!
We try our best to find a new park every month and on Friday's we park. We visit a park every single Friday. I know and they know it so I can plan my day around it and they know if we end up having a laid back week at home most of the week they will for sure get out Friday and get the crazies out then.
Our family relaxes! We have late night popcorn and movie nights and an occasionally late night 4th meal. Sleep in and enjoy no schedule. We take a big family vacation every other year so on the off year we usually enjoy day trips exploring our surrounding areas. After 10 years there is still so much to discover about the town we live in.
I take the kids camping they go swimming,fishing,rafting,hiking, bike riding,site seeing I also take kids to the zoo the park they like to go swimming.
Library
We change up everyday! Always a fun excursion each day. The pool, water balloon fights, the river, the lake, picnics, splashdecks,cooking
Pool time and crafting
My almost two year old LOVES being outside. Her favorite activity is taking neighborhood walks and smelling every. Single. Flower. We come across. She also adores the playground a half of a block from our house! This summer will be filled with flower strolls, swimming, and music festivals!
Weekends on the lake!
We love to go to the pool either in the late afternoon or after dinner!
We get the kids outside as much as possible. They will attend day camp since I work full time, but when they're home, we get out and go swimming, visit the zoo or a park, etc., to enjoy the outdoors.
I work full time but any chance to hit up the beach , have a BBQ or a quick day trip will be my plans
Going pool
Swimming, visiting our local parks, outsides games (like water balloon fights) and gardening is our plans for the summer.
One big thing that we will be doing is taking part in the summer reading program at our library in order to keep the kids reading, so they are not behind when school starts up again. I also like to stay connected with local mom's groups on Facebook and keep track of free or low cost events going on in my area. Another fun activity that we have locally is a free movie every week at a local movie theater. It is an older movie each week, but still it is free and a way to get out of the house but stay cool when it is hot out.
Baking with the babes! We garden, bake, make lemonade with fresh blackberry,and laugh laugh laugh. Inside or outside all summer we just love each other because summer only comes once and it is a great opportunity for us as mothers to grow our seeds into beautiful flowers. They will be older and older every summer, I just try to make each more fun than the last. Money doesn't make things fun, the company you keep does. So this summer and all the rest, I just enjoy my family.