This Fun Mom

SCHOOL’S OUT!

The school bell rings, the children flood out of the school, all hoot n holler, and School’s Out by Alice Cooper blares in the background.

Ah, the last day of school. The first day of summer.

As a kid, I remember popsicles, pool days, car trips, burger grill outs, the zoo, fireworks. My summer memories were filled with play and relaxation.

Then I became a mom and as the kids ran to me and screamed “SUMMMMMMMERRRRR!” I was excited too, but also knew we needed some planning to maximize our time, not suffer brain rot from lack of structured learning, and I still had to work, so some distraction techniques and independent fun was a must.

Our summer bucket list always included the following:

1. Dairy Queen dipped cones right after the last school bell rang. I have as many pics of my kids devouring their hard-earned sugar bombs as I do “first day of school” pics on the stairs with their new backpacks. I plan to do this through college.
   
2. Off to the bookstore to buy Summer Bridge books to keep the brain in gear all summer. I can hear the groans of “oh mom, really?” but I promise, if you start young and make it fun, this can go well. Reading and learning is fundamental- you just have to remember to make it FUN. When they get to the bookstore, they get to pick out a fun book too, and you read it together! Make reading together as a family a nightly routine and you’ll create lifelong learners. Have the Summer Bridge book come with some incentive treats for finishing a few pages they get a small treat.

3. Make a bucket list together! Get a poster board and some markers and have fun marking off the items! If they helped plan it they’re much more likely to enjoy it!

4. Crafts! Tailor it to age and ability and buy a few cheap pre-made crafts. Or Pinterest your way to homemade ones if that’s your jam. This is also where some independent learning can come in… if mama needs to make a phone call with clients, put down a cheap plastic tablecloth and let the crafts commence. You may end up with a Jack Russell Terrier who’s been bedazzled with some markers, glue and sequins, but it washes right out, I ahem promise. Washing the dog can be another fun activity! 😀

5. A long car trip. NO ELECTRONICS. Boredom is the spring of imagination. Make the kids play Slugbug, Eye Spy and the license plate game. Tell them this is what you did growing up and you lived. So will they. Older kids can learn to read a map or help plan the route. Some of my greatest, most meaningful conversations with my tweens and teens happened in the car and didn’t have to make eye contact.

Some free fun pre-made ideas for you:

Free Summer Bucket List (Click to download the file)

Free Summer Seek and Find

Free Fun in the Sun Scavenger Hunt

❤️ Meagan Broeckert