Every year around the end of June, I'd get a sinking feeling in my stomach. Summer vacation was in full swing, and the kids needed things to do. It wasn't that I didn't love my kids or want to spend time with them. But when they were little, they often got bored and needed constant attention and redirection to have new things to do throughout the day. This became very taxing on me as a mom. Even now that my kids are older, they still want to do fun activities during their summer months. As a working mom, that can be difficult. However, I have learned that a stress-free summer is possible with a little organization and ingenuity.
First, I make a list of the upcoming week’s activities. Having a plan is key to surviving the daunting task of making sure my kids have something fun to do. I set limits on expensive events, so they learn we can't do everything just because they want to do it. I allow them to choose one fun activity per month or week. I also plan for the quality time I would like to spend with them around my work schedule.
Second, they still must contribute as a family member. Some chores need to get done. We need a clean home, money in the bank account, and food in our bellies. Each child is assigned three or four chores which take about half an hour to an hour to complete. This allows them to learn the value of contributing to household responsibilities even in the midst of their fun summer agenda.
Third, camps were an option when my kids were little, and we were able to send them to a Christian camp near our church. Encourage kids to consider summer camp. Kids don’t always want to sit and complete daily devotions, but ensuring God is still first in their lives is important. They learn the importance of daily prayer and skills to apply faith to their daily lives.
Teaching kids the Word can be tough, but you can incentivize them to read until the end of the summer. When I was a kid, we read a certain number of library books in exchange for pizza or dinner at a special restaurant. Whatever they choose to do, help them internalize and personalize what they’re reading by identifying the characters and sharing what they have learned.
Fourth, playing outside does not need to be complicated. Find a cheap garden sprinkler for kids to splash in. Creativity is an important skill to foster, and simple things will often do it. Give them an hour or two to find a way to have fun and play in the water. Water is relaxing and cooling, especially on the hot summer days.
Fire pits are not that expensive and can provide hours of enjoyment. Allow the kids to bring out sticks and hot dogs and pretend to be making dinner. Or, let them experiment, cooking more non-traditional treats over the fire. Singing songs and sharing the context of your day around the campfire is a great way to bond as a family. When gathering around the dinner table becomes difficult, as kids get involved in sports and other activities, having a bonfire will re-create the atmosphere. Kids can sit, enjoy their treats, and talk about their lives.
Fifth, get creative. If your kids want to be creative during the summer, there are plenty of affordable ways to encourage them. For example, painting rocks! Children can hunt for rocks outside, and parents can gather paints from the craft store. Kids can paint them in multiple colors, characters, or anything else they like. They can even write Bible verses on them and place them around their community. Kids will love to see the rocks disappear and look for others in the community. Encourage other parents to do the same with their kids. They can even write messages on them from one friend to another.
Sixth, Invite the neighbors’ kids over and take turns going to each other 's homes. Plan a special activity. This will help take the stress off of planning and supervising. If budgets allow, purchase a karaoke machine that plugs into the TV. Allow your kids to belt their favorite tunes into the microphone while friends watch, cheer along, and applaud them when their song is done. They can even make up their own songs and do a skit or concert for parents at the end of the day.
Planning a low-key spa day is especially popular among girls, who may enjoy being pampered. Fill some bowls with hot water and allow them to soak their toes. Purchase cheap nail polish to let them paint each other 's nails. They can use the hair dryer to blow out their hair or (with some supervision) a curling iron to make fabulous curls. This is another great way for kids to use their imaginations without much money.
Teach kids to give back to their community. Allow them to make cards for the nursing homes, decorated as simply or as complicated as they would like. This is a great way to cheer up older people who may not have many visitors. Allow the kids to come to the home, sing songs or visit. It helps them keep their minds off themselves and on giving back to their community.
They can also choose to help with people in the church’s homes doing outside yard work or inside jobs. Summer is a great time to take on home improvement projects, such as painting or fixing areas of the house that need improvement.
Summers can be stressful for parents because they constantly think about things to do. This may cost extra dollars and extra time. But by using a little bit of creativity, it doesn't have to be. It can be a fun time where you can make memories with your children and have some stress-free fun at the same time.
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