Summertime Activities

The good ol’ summer days are here again!  For moms whose children have been in school, that means changing your routine.  No more days to do only what you have on your list.  You now have children, perhaps young and older ones that need you.  Recently a mom lamented to me that she was dreading these days.  Summer doesn’t need to be faced with dread; these months can be fun and fulfilling for your family if you take time to plan for it.

Sit down with a pen and paper and write out some things you’d like to accomplish with your children this summer.  Are they old enough to do some projects like painting their bedroom or helping you organize the basement?  Include those types of activities. 

What could you teach them while they’re off of school?  A memory passage from Scripture?  How to sew or cook?  How to build a space ship,  model car, airplane or homemade boat? 

How could they serve others?  How about hosting a 5-day club in your yard one week?  Could you visit in the nursing home or a shut-in?  Does someone need encouragement via a batch of cookies or muffins?

What fun things do you not want to forget to do?  Perhaps – make homemade Popsicles, have a picnic lunch under the shade of the tree in your yard, make a fun craft with your preschooler, school-aged child, or pre-teen.  How about a craft for 4th of July, one to remember your ocean vacation, create fun flip-flops or an inexpensive fishing pole craft.

What new recipes could you stir up?  Fun beverages, cupcakes like this, this or this or some fun jell-0.

Encourage activities your children can do on their own, such as reading.  Here’s a way to get them a little more interested in being bookworms if they’re a little hesitant.  Going to the library and piling up on books they pick out is a great activity on a hot summer day!  Build a little reading tent and stack the books in there with a little snack, and they can have fun reading while you do some necessary tasks.

Summertime should be wonderful days with your children – not ones filled with drudgery and arguing, fussy children.  But it really hinges on you, Mom, to put some effort into planning how you and your children will spend these months.  I’ve barely touched the tip of the iceberg of all the activities there are to explore.  Every minute doesn’t have to be structured – have some free time when the children can go out and play, some time when it’s quiet time – time for devotions or book reading.  Spend time through the week alone with each child.  Find a project suited to their age and get them excited about what you’ll do when “their time” comes!