Free time may abound this time of year, but what to do with
it can prove more elusive. Many families
have some mental pictures of what an ideal summer would entail, but all too
often they start back to school wondering where the summer - and its
opportunities for more fun - went. Here
are some ideas to put those heads together and round out the season chalk full
of memories.
“What do you want to do?” can be as repetitive as “what do
you want for dinner?” Trying to come up
with activities on the spot can lack planning and prep time to actually pull an
idea off. Instead, have a brainstorming
session to line out many, many ideas that could be feasible. I like the idea I came across of using three
mason jars individually labeled “Activities and Games,” “Let’s Eat,” and “Oh,
the Places We Will Go.” Divvy up strips
of blank paper to every family member and ask them to come up with activities,
recipes to try, and travel ideas, and then write them down and drop them in the
appropriate jar. Activities can include
things around the house to around town, a new game to buy, or something to
try. Recipes can be fun ideas to make
for a meal, dessert, party, or something crafty that doubles as an activity and
a treat. Travel can include a trip to
the beach, a local museum, or a weekend trip out of town. Take turns presenting ideas in one big reveal
session, or periodically draw out an idea as you prep for a grocery run or a
to-do-this-week idea.
Often, it is the old school, stereotypical summer things
that can make the best memories. You
don’t have to overthink it in order to come up with something fun to do. Going for snow cones, making your own
popsicles or play dough, having a water balloon fight, rolling out a water
slide in the yard, eating watermelon by the wedge, making from-scratch batches
of lemonade, and spending an afternoon at the pool always gets rave
reviews. And it’s not just the younger
kids that get a kick out of the simple activities. Whatever age group you are tailoring your
time for, make the effort to make spending time together the top priority.
Whatever you spend the next several weeks doing, keep a
record. Take a camera along with you to
record silly moments, funny stories, and every part of that “fun in the sun”
feeling so you cement those memories for you and your kids. It could be a diary in pictures of how you
enjoyed this summer to the max.
Stay in or go out – either way, you can have a blast doing
something versus letting the carefree days of summer slip by without investing
in them as time well spent with the ones you love.
DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star July 6th.
