How to Make the Most of the Summer Vacation

With just a little planning, you can keep your children entertained throughout the long summer vacation while enjoying some fun yourself. Follow these steps.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Jar
• Slips of paper
• Camera

1. Ask your kids for their ideas for a perfect summer. Brainstorm ideas and choose as many as possible that they suggest. You might be surprised with what they come up with.

2. Make a fun jar by writing fun activities on slips of paper and adding them to a jar. When the kids are bored, let them choose an activity such as run in the sprinkler, going on a nature walk, eating at a fast food restaurant with a play area or finger painting.

3. Take a field trip. Visit your local aquarium, zoo, art museum or parks. Pack a picnic lunch, take your camera and let your kids learn while having fun. Start a postcard or flattened penny collection.

4. Go to a game. Summer means baseball…or soccer…or tennis. It doesn't matter what game you attend, just enjoy the time outside and rooting for the home team.

5. Go swimming in a pond, start a lemonade stand, catch lightning bugs in a Mason jar or fish off a dock. Kids will be enthralled by these perennial pastimes.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't over schedule the summer. Kids need to relax and have unstructured play. Aim for no more than one "big" event a week and several smaller outings. Encourage kids to play on their own.