It's a WoodlandsMommy.com Exclusive! Check out our Editor-in-Chief's 40 ideas to make your summer super!
1.Organize a nature scavenger hunt. Create a list of items you might find outside, then head out for a nature scavenger hunt. For little ones, use pictures of birds, flowers, bugs, clouds, etc. and give them a crayon and clipboard to start marking things off as they find them. Older kids will appreciate more of a challenge – locating things such as specific tree types, certain kinds of colored flowers, bugs, etc.
2. Fish in the local creek. If you have no idea how to begin, pull up a quick reference guide from the Internet, then just DO it! A sports store like Academy will have everything you need to get started, and it’s hard to travel far without finding a nice body of water in which to fish. Just check the fishing rules first, so you can know what to do IF you catch something. (Throw it back? Keep it? License required?)
3. Make root beer floats. All these years later, root beer floats are still a novel idea, and the funny thing is, many children have never had them! Introduce your children to a classic root beer float and you’ll be the hero for the day. Foaming, frosty root beer over vanilla ice cream… who wouldn’t love that?
4. Enjoy a “Theme” Day. EVERY day has some kind of holiday associated with it (no exaggeration). Why not make the most of it and celebrate a non-traditional holiday with your family? For example, June 7 is National Chocolate Ice Cream Day. Celebrate by making your own ice cream, doing an ice cream craft or going to the library and finding all the books you can about chocolate. You get the picture.5. Pick Blueberries, Strawberries, Blackberries. Texas is filled with Pick-Your-Own farms, and summertime is the best time to do it. Grab your own bucket and head out to pick until your heart’s content. Then come home and see how many recipes you can whip up with your fresh crop.
6. Feed the ducks. Save up a few pieces of old bread and head out to one of the many lakes or ponds in the area to feed these cute little creatures. But let's be honest. Bread isn't a nutritious snack for birds. If you're able to splurge a bit, purchase some birdseed, oats, or other grains for a healthier option.
7. Declare Ice Cream Sundays: Once a month, declare Sunday “Ice Cream Sunday Day”. Take the kids to the store and let them pick out anything they want to adorn their ice cream, and enjoy it as an after-lunch dessert. You only live once!
8. Tour the fire station. Your local fire station is probably willing and able to give educational tours of the facility. Grab some friends and schedule a visit; you might even get lucky enough to sit in the truck! Don’t forget to take a plate of cookies to say thank you to the firemen who do so much for your community.
9. Conduct a cookie exchange. Gather all of your friends for a Cookie Exchange. Each person makes a batch of cookies and wraps them individually. Meet at the park with your basket of one batch and leave with many more to try. Don’t forget to print the recipes on the bags for those you love and want to try again.
10. Tour a pizza place. Do you have a favorite pizza place to visit? If so, there’s a good chance they’ll give you a little tour of the kitchen and how they make the yummy pie. The kids may even be able to concoct their own pizza to enjoy after the tour.
11. Build a bird feeder: It’s so much fun to bird watch in your own backyard! Help the kids make a bird feeder from a pine cone, peanut butter and bird seed, or recycle a milk jug into a feeder. You can also purchase wooden feeders/houses from a craft store and let your little ones decorate it for an outdoor work of art!
12. Make homemade gak or Playdoh: Don’t waste your money on those expensive store-bought brands when you can make this fun hands-on goo at home. The Internet is teeming with recipes. See how creative your kids can get with color and glitter!
13. Create a time capsule: Have your kids write a letter to their future selves, put it in a box, bury it in the yard and open it next year. Kids can include things like their favorite TV show, singer or movie and predict what they think they might like next year. Add a family picture or a keepsake to the box to add a little something fun to open.
14. Volunteer. There are many opportunities for kids of various ages to volunteer in the community. Find out what your community is doing for Earth Day, or make cards for the elderly in a retirement home, collect old blankets and towels for your area animal shelter – the possibilities are endless and the kids will enjoy “doing good”.
15. Camp out in the living room. Put up the pop-up tent in the living room and stock it with sleeping bags, pillows, flashlights and lanterns. The kids will enjoy pretending like they are camping out while reading books or watching a movie or eating microwave s’mores as a bed-time snack.
16. Dig for bugs. The months are warm, and the bugs are coming out of their holes! Grab a little jar and shovel and head to the dirt to see what crazy critters you can find. Use a magnifying glass to study them closely and then put them back where they belong.
17. Make pet rocks. What child wouldn’t want a new pet? Get outside and gather some nice, round rocks and paint them to resemble your child’s favorite animal.18. Go out for a cheap summertime movie. Did you miss some of the blockbusters during the past year? Don’t worry. Many theaters play last year’s hits for cheap during the summer months. Also, don’t forget to head outside, as many parks and communities start showing movies “under the stars” for free when the weather warms up.
19. Construct and float a boat. The Internet has no shortage of ideas on how to make your own boat with old plastic files, popsicle sticks and even wine corks. Use your imagination and take your boats out to an area pond for a family boat race. Don’t forget to tie a string to your boat so it makes its way back to you.
20. Make a family tree. Take some time to teach your children about their heritage with a family tree. Make it educational and fun by interviewing grandparents, aunts and uncles, etc. Get as creative as you can with your display.
21. Visit the spray ground. In Texas, it’s essential to be in the water during the summer. Once you’ve had your fill of the pool, pack a picnic lunch then head to an area splash pad to keep cool. If your town doesn’t have one, grab an old fashioned sprinkler and have a blast in your backyard.
22. Make your own HUGE bubbles. There are some great make-at-home bubble recipes out there! Why not triple the recipe and have your concoction in a baby pool in the yard? Use hula hoops to make gigantic bubbles or old water bottles for something new. You can even tape some straws together for a different type of effect.
23. Celebrate a Guest of Honor. One night a week, choose a family member to be the “Guest of Honor”. This person gets to choose dinner for the night, conversation at the table, music in the background and the after-dinner activity. Pull out the good china, get dressed up (or down) and have a great time celebrating each other. Don’t forget to take turns saying something wonderful about this month’s special guest.
24. Rain, Rain – Stay! Take advantage of those rainy summer days by rolling up your pants and getting a little wet. Let the kids splash in the puddles, wiggle their toes in the mud or race leaves down a tiny waterfall in the yard.
25. Invite friends to a Teddy Bear Tea. Round up the stuffed animals and gather near the big table. It’s party time! For this event, consider inviting over a favorite friend or two to join in the fun. Serve tea cakes and finger sandwiches or any other colorful bites of food you think the kids will be excited to try. And tea, of course!
26. Cook up a special breakfast. Happy face pancakes, French toast dusted with powdered sugar, fried maple bacon, homemade tacos… those are all ideas of what a special breakfast might look like at your home. Anything goes, as long as it’s not the same old boring cereal you serve up several times a week.
27. Take a walk around the block. Enjoy a leisurely family stroll through the neighborhood. Load up the non-walkers in strollers; the older kids can walk, skip, hop, twirl.. whatever suits them. Being in the fresh outdoors helps you get away from televisions, electronics, noisy toys, and ringing phones. It’s always a great way to meet your neighbors.28. Play board games. A visit to Why Not Toys in Old Town Spring and you’ll quickly discover that there are board games out there suitable for any ages. Board games help to strengthen family ties, teach good sportsmanship, and make new experiences. For older kids, consider having a “game night” where they can invite over a friend or two to join the family for dinner and a game.
29. Invite over surprise guests for the day. Don’t be tempted to spill the beans! Kids love surprises as much as we adults do. Invite over one of their playmates or even one of the family’s grown-up friends. Most children enjoy having guests over, no matter who they’re for. Ideally, your surprise guest will be an entire family – with grown-ups for you to enjoy and children for the kids to engage with. Either way, most children get a kick out of the festive atmosphere that comes along with having guests over.
30. Have an adventure away from home. While it’s easy to go out and spend money, try to create an adventure that’s totally free (or cheap). For example, go out and locate a field of wildflowers and stop to pick up a handful. Research a cool bike path that you’ve never traveled. Head to Huntsville State park and go hiking and fishing.
31. Plan a sing-along. Start by making a list of their favorite songs. For older kids who can read, print out the lyrics to the song and break them into parts (girls sing what’s in pink, boys sing what’s in blue). Sing a capella or make a playlist on your iPod and sing along with the musicians. Either way, good music makes everyone happier.
32. Bake a cake. One box of cake mix, a few eggs, vegetable oil, water, and voila… you’ve got yourself a happy crew. Making a cake is fun and rewarding for kids, and doesn’t take too much work. Don’t forget the frosting and sprinkles!
33. Have a night walk around the block. After the sun has set and the weather is cooler, put on some bug spray and hit the streets for a family nighttime adventure. Each person should wear reflectors.34. Read books galore. After a trip to the library, come home with a stack of good finds and create a cozy reading space with pillows, blankets, and any dolls or stuffed animals your child prefers. Take time and read book after book. (Throw in some popcorn if you’d like!)
35. Picnic in the living room. Spread out a blanket on the floor, and enjoy a picnic meal that won’t be spoiled by rain, too much heat, or ants.
36. Have a water fight. There’s no better time than summertime to get wet, and, believe it or not, having a water fight can be a lot more fun than going swimming. Water guns (if guns are allowed in your household), water balloons, and squirt toys are enough to get your started. Put on bathing suits, head outside, and have fun.
35. Picnic in the living room. Spread out a blanket on the floor, and enjoy a picnic meal that won’t be spoiled by rain, too much heat, or ants.
36. Have a water fight. There’s no better time than summertime to get wet, and, believe it or not, having a water fight can be a lot more fun than going swimming. Water guns (if guns are allowed in your household), water balloons, and squirt toys are enough to get your started. Put on bathing suits, head outside, and have fun.
37. Make your driveway a recreation zone. Toddlers will enjoy push cars and toy lawnmowers, while you might include hula hoops and jump ropes for the older kiddos. Add sidewalk chalk (for drawing hopscotch boards or anything else), a bubble machine, and ice cold lemonade , and you’ve got yourself a pretty fine afternoon.
38. Make Jello. It’s one of those novelty items that you should let the kids help you make at least once in a lifetime. A simple pan of gelatin might suffice, but why not get fancy with it? There’s a whole slew of fun things to make with Jello, such as "stained glass" creations.39. Take a milk and cookie break. Some days, you’ll have to hit the brakes on having fun and just scrub floors for the day (and require the children to help). That doesn’t mean you’re too busy for a cookie break though. Keep premade, pre-divided cookie dough on hand for those moments when you just need to bake up a quick treat to help ease the troubles of the day.
40. Put on a show. Lights, camera, action! Work together to create a puppet show, dance show, or stage play. Rehearse daily, create costumes and a set, then invite a few friends to watch the final performance.
