I laid out four spoons on the counter, pulled four small cartons from the freezer. “You have to close your eyes.”
In thanks for my efforts on a project, my client for freelancing had sent four pints of gourmet ice cream of my choosing (Cold Brew and Coconut Cream! Wildberry and Lavender!). My kids wouldn’t be enjoying the entire pint, believe you me.
But now, I popped to top of Goat Cheese and Tart Cherry. “It says it’s like scoopable cheesecake!”
My daughter accepted a spoonful and dutifully closed her eyes. I took one, too. We both moaned a little at the goodness melting on our tongues. It was the second day of summer, and now, it was in our mouths.
I took a turn with each of my kids that afternoon, just us in the galley kitchen. And I realized that to make summer special with kids didn’t often involve big efforts or even big cash: Just being a little intentional, sprinkling a little fairy dust over the everyday.
And that’s what I want these ideas to be. Don’t feel like you need to work harder; a little “working smarter” can go a long way to make summer special for kids.
Make summer special: Quick-start guide
Focus your efforts on what your kids find special.
Do a brain-dump together. Sometimes I’m surprised at what does/doesn’t light my kids’ fire.
Remember what’s more important than what you do.
Maybe you recall this post, when I was all geared up for Christmas memories and sibling rivalry and a moody teenager nearly took the whole thing under.
But if, like this past Memorial Day for our family, you keep showing up at places that are closed and it rains–but everyone is laughing and making fun of how many times we strike out–you’ve made a memory. And some lemonade.
Set doable goals.
My husband and I are working this summer. But if my oldest does go into active duty with the Marines, this is his last summer with us.
[Author pauses typing.]Read: If I miss the moments this summer, there’s not a lot of do-overs to be had.
So I’m hoping to make a couple of small moments each day: pausing work to be with each of my kids when they wake up. Reading a chapter book in the evenings with my youngest. Hitting “stop” on my work timer when my oldest wants to talk cars.
But I’m also hoping to be strategic with a couple of larger moments each week–something doable, like having a picnic dinner at the park or a cookout on the patio.
I may also date my kids once a week, just to have some time one-on-one (often some of my best moments).
I’m motivated by goals, so this works for me.
The Ideas: Ways to Make Summer Special with Kids
- go for ice cream or froyo
- leave a note in their bag for summer camp
- grab coffee or a treat after camp, to hear about all the things
- devise a family scavenger hunt (photo versions are fun!); consider dividing into teams
- make easy homemade ice cream without a machine or easy sorbet
- find a ropes course
- go on a hike
- go berry picking, or try another local pick-your-own farm or orchard
- wade in a creek
- visit a farmer’s market (one of my favorite ways to make summer special!)
- plant something
- build something in the garage
- tie-dye
- do a STEM project (Pinterest has tons–or I like to grab books from the library)
- join a summer reading program
- invite kids to build a fort outside
- have a water fight
- have a bike wash/car wash
- paint their faces
- enroll kids in an online summer STEM camp like one of these
- be a kid again: have a Nerf war, blow bubbles (make your own solution for huge bubbles; we used water bottles with the bottoms cut off!), make murals with sidewalk chalk
- have a picnic in the park
- make popsicles
- make dinner together
- have a cookout; invite some friends!
- quit work early
- have a Scripture memory competition
- set up a projector and a hanging sheet for a movie night on the lawn. Don’t forget the popcorn!
- play a strategy game
- work a jigsaw puzzle
- watch a meteor shower; find one near you here
- roast marshmallows
- play catch
- have a watermelon-seed spitting competition
- go on a walk or family bike ride
- go cloud-watching; what shapes do your kids see?
- make simple T-shirts or bags using iron-ons or stencils and fabric paint. Or check out Pinterest’s vast ideas to retool old T’s
- read a chapter-book series together
- decide on a service project. (Helping with VBS, perhaps?)
- pack care bags for the homeless, using lists like this. In your vehicles, keep a stock of the care bags ready to go
- camp in the backyard
- make no-sew fleece blankets for Project Linus
- play “minute to win it” competitions
- challenge each other to outdoor hide & seek or Sardines
- play classic outdoor twilight games, like Kick the Can or Ghost in the Graveyard
- use sparklers after dark
- catch fireflies
- schedule some time at the grandparents’
- paint outdoors
- buy a kids’ bird book and bird feeder; identify what kinds come to your yard
- have a sandcastle contest (even in a sandbox)
- make root beer- or Coke floats
- make a bug habitat
- take a nap in a hammock
- play a lawn game, like croquet, lawn darts, bocce ball
- find a summer festival in your area
- go garage-saling, giving your kids a small amount to spend
- together, make a character goal for the summer (less explosive temper? more patience?). Set some measurable goals and think of a fun reward for motivation
- let them make a parade with their bikes, wagons, etc., decorating them; invite neighbor kids and pets!
- learn the constellations over your backyard using a kids’ constellation book
Want more ways to make summer special with kids? There’s more where that came from!
10 Fun Ideas for Kids this Summer!
Spring Break Kids’ Activity: The Newlywed Game (FREE PRINTABLE)
Child’s Play: 65 Non-Screen Ideas for COVID Closures
71 Ideas for Bored Teens & Tweens
