How to Keep Kids Busy During Summer Break

Summer is near and that means you can look forward to afternoons at the shore, trips to your local water park, and barbeques in the backyard. If you have a child or children, keeping them busy during summer break can be a challenge. Summer camp is often expensive and you may feel more like a chaueffer than a mom or dad. When school is out, follow these simple tips to keep the kids happy and to retain your sanity.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Kids
• A vehicle
• Creativity
• Fun, local activities
• A backyard
• Friends

1. Brainstorm. Make a list of fun, summertime activities that don't cost an arm and a leg. Great summer break activities include biking at the local park, summer reading at the local library, and swimming in your backyard pool.

2. Find a few moms or dads with kids on your block and enlist their help. Create your own "neighborhood summer camp" and host fun activities for kids at different houses, several days a week. If your neighbor has a pool, make one day "pool day." If you have a gigantic basement, host an arts and crafts session in your basement. If one neighbor has a big TV room, they can hold a kids' movie day. Be innovative.

3. Research local volunteer centers, such as Animal Rescue or food banks. Find out if they allow kids to assist and bring your little tikes down one day a week to lend a hand.

4. Keep them out of the house. Yes, it's tempting to sit the kids down in front of the big screen, letting them go to town with their Wii or X-BOX. But, the days will go by faster if they're outdoors in the summer sunshine.

5. Take them on a mini road trip. Head down to the beach or find a nearby camping ground to stake out at for the weekend. You'll feel like you went away, even if you only drive down the block.

6. Enroll your children in summer camp. There are many affordable community camps that aren't sleep-away camps. Daycamp is incredibly popular and many parks and schools offer them.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember, summer break isn't all about the kids. Take some "you" time and enjoy not having to take your kids to school and soccer practice every day.
• Never leave your child outside, unsupervised. If they're with trusted friends or relatives, this is a different story.

[jgsmom]

on 7/17/2008 Great article!