Oh, sweet summertime. It is the time of year for long pool days, backyard barbecues, nights watching fireworks as you roast s’mores, and much more. Yes, summer is great until you realize that you are the one who has to amuse the kids. The kids are out of school, and they need to find a way to utilize all that energy they have. You can keep the kids entertained all summer break with these ideas from HGTV.
Have a Lemonade Stand
If you want to do something with your kids that is old school and is a classic summer pastime, then you need to set up a lemonade stand. Get some paper cups and big gallon pitchers. Head to the kitchen to make the sweet and tart beverage. Put out a table with a sign and money jar as you set out the cups and pitchers filled with the citrusy drink. This is a great way to teach your kids about entrepreneurship. Let them sell the drink to the neighborhood friends for a quarter or fifty cents. You may even want to call aunts, uncles, and grandparents to swing by for a drink. Your kids can opt to make original, pink lemonade, or other delectable concoctions.
Join a Summer Reading Program
While reading may be the last thing on your kids’ minds, it is important to keep them sharp during the summertime. Local libraries offer wonderful and engaging summer reading programs. Many offer rewards or incentives for reading so many books. On extremely hot or rainy days, visiting the library to participate in the summer reading program is an excellent idea. It is also a great way for you to spend time with your children. You can make it a part of their bedtime ritual. After they brush their teeth and put on their pajamas, they can slip into bed with their book in hand. Let them read their book aloud to you for twenty or thirty minutes before you tuck them into bed.
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Plan a Road Trip
While you can let your kids play in the sprinkler, catch lightning bugs, or even draw beautiful pictures with sidewalk chalk, there will be some time that you need to get out of the house and out of town. Summer is the perfect time to go on a road trip. Whether it is a day trip, a weekend getaway, or a week long vacation, these trips can be a lot of fun. The journey can be especially exciting for your kids. Let them help you plan the trip by allowing your children to choose an attraction or tourist spot they would like to visit. They can also create music playlists that they take turns listening to in the car. You can get with your kids to come up with car games to play as well as head to the grocery store together to pick out the best snacks for traveling.