Summer Fun With Kids
My childhood was not dictated and overwhelmed by technology, which naturally allowed for creativity and wonder to spark. I'm considered a "millennial" however, I feel fortunate to have experienced life before smart phones. I love technology, PLEASE don't get me wrong, but I don't want to neglect adventure and a sense of exploration. It's mudpies and ant farms. Its lemonade stands and mess making.
D I Y D I O R
As a kid I foraged my neighborhood for the most beautiful flowers. Once you step outside the borders of your own garden, I think you could consider this trespassing and or stealing, but I was a kid excited to make perfume. To be specific, I collected Roses, Lilies, and my most treasured flower was a Magnolia. That flower was quite a challenge because it's a tree and took some strategy to acquire. It was also my head-lining, and most prized flower because of it's sheer size!
I took my basket of contraband flowers back to home base and grinded them up (obviously to release their natural aroma) in my driveway. I proceeded to add water, and VIOLA! I had a perfect gift for my mother - perfume. She always has at least 5 bottles of perfume on her vanity, so it was sure to be a hit! I quickly realized it was no DIOR or Chanel #5... I'll admit, I was disappointed and puzzled, but moms have to love what you create, right?
SIDENOTE : Now that I am on the other side of life, meaning that I am now a plant nurturer. If you know me, then you know that I am obsessed with my Fiddle Fig tree. She has grown 7 new leaves just this week, and I have celebrated every-single-one of them! If some kid came and clipped even one of her leaves, I would be tempted to clip a finger off. Nobody harms Big Sheila (that's her street name)!
C L I M B I N G T R E E S
Aside from stealing flowers, I loved climbing trees. I don't know how my mom didn't have a mild heart attack, because I scaled some doozies in my day. This is something I look forward to doing with my girl. It challenged me, and freaked me out at times, but I experienced a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction conquering each high branch. Maybe this is why I was so good at plucking those Magnolias that I spoke of...?
J E L L Y
Growing up, my mom would take us on adventures in the wilderness to collect raspberries. This was truly exciting because we got to snack and explore at the same time! After the big gather, we transformed our berry loot into jellies. Now as an adult, this is a sacred memory of mine. Raspberry jelly is definitely blast from the past for me.
These are just a few things I recall doing when I was a kid. Time off from school was full of swimsuits and sunburns, peanut butter & jelly sandwiches, Nickelodeon's Alex Mac & Kennan and Kel (who loves orange soda?), trips to the beach, fishing and worms. These are the times they will look back and remember, so as parents, it it's our responsibility to create those lasting memories for our children! Here is a list to get you started.
LIST OF SUMMER FUN
A LEGIT SCAVENGER HUNT
A SATURDAY LEMONADE STAND
MUD PIES
GO FISHING & COLLECT YOUR OWN WORMS
HOMEMADE PERFUME - PLUCK AT YOUR OWN RISK
TREE CLIMBING
BERRY PICKING AND JELLY MAKING
MAKE A BOX FORT
PLANT A SIMPLE GARDEN & MAKE MEALS WITH YOUR HARVEST
HOMEMADE BIRD HOUSE
GO TO A BALL GAME
PICNIC DINNER
BACKYARD MOVIE NIGHT
GO CAMPING - IN A TENT & COOK YOUR MEALS OUTSIDE
SIDEWALK CHALK
WATER BALLOON WAR - SET UP OBSTACLES
BAKE TREATS FOR NEIGHBORS
MAKE NECKLACES
LET YOUR KID PICK OUT YOUR CLOTHES FOR THE DAY
MAKE SMORES
EVENING FAMILY BIKE RIDE
PAINT ROCKS AND TURN THEM INTO FRIDGE MAGNETS
DAY TRIP TO THE BEACH
ZOO
PUT TOGETHER A BIG PUZZLE
PUT-PUT GOLF
CELEBRATE A HALF BIRTHDAY OR WHATEVER DAY FOR NO REASON