6 Ways to Facilitate Good, Old-Fashioned Fun this Summer

In our social media-crazed, pinteresty world, it’s easy for moms to get caught up in the pressure of the must do, over-the-top, one-upping, hyper-busy lifestyle of go-go-go, make every day a holiday. We pin “12,038 Must See Parks” and “47 Million Summer Bucket List Activities” and then feel depressed because there is just not enough time or energy to go along with these impossibly high—and unhealthy—expectations.

Instead of letting summer stress school-weary parents and kids out this year, how about we try to take it easy this summer instead? How about we take a cue from our flower gardens and just enjoy watching the days bloom? After all, we’ve spent our time tilling and tending and protecting those little gardens from the frost. Now is the time to water as needed and let those things be free to do their thing: grow!

Here are a few ideas to help slow down your summer, inspired by our childhood summers when things were perhaps a little simpler. And dare I say. . . a little sweeter? {Am I being too nostalgic here?}

1. Get those kids {and adults} outside.

Everyone is happier with fresh air and sunshine and summer is the perfect time to be outside. Aside from the obvious {playing!! lingering!! lounging!!} do other things outside – eat dinner on the patio, move story time from the couch to outside under your favorite tree, have a backyard camp out, go for a family walk after dinner, eat a picnic breakfast in the front yard. The possibilities are endless. Soak up the beautiful sunshine!

2. Be spontaneous.

At least once a week try to be spontaneous. If you find this hard, then for the first few weeks try planning something your kids will perceive as spontaneous. {But let me encourage you to eventually get to the point where you incorporate some true spontaneity – it’s good for you as well as your kids!} Here are some examples: Take them to a matinee movie in the middle of a miserably hot day, or get them ready for bed as usual and then after bedtime stories tell them “never mind bed, we’re going out for ice cream!” and load them up—jammies and all—for a quick outing to your favorite ice creamery or fro-yo joint. Also think about things that don’t cost money: While you’re outside watching the kids run through the sprinkler…run in and join them fully clothed – they will go crazy with delight! Or let them go to sleep as usual and wake them up after an hour to sneak out to a blanket in the backyard for stargazing with cookies and milk. In my opinion, summer and spontaneity should go hand in hand. HAVE FUN. And remember – it’s the little things that can make a big difference.

3. Relax the rules a little.

Obviously we don’t need to throw all of our rules out the window in order to create fun summer memories for our kids, but I still remember times from my childhood where the morning sugar ban was lifted for breakfast and mom or dad surprised us with donuts. Or the time they said yes to the puppy being given away in the box outside the grocery store. Or those times when friends were over and we got to stretch the bedtime late and go to sleep when the grown-ups did. Or the rare occasion that we had a movie night…and then watched—gasp!—a second one back-to-back with the first. If these things are rare treats your kids will appreciate them as such. I’m convinced these little moments are the things childhood summer memories are made of.

4. Loosen up on all the structured activities.

There is a place for day camp and VBS and swimming lessons – of course. But think back to your childhood summer days. What did you do for fun? Did you ride bikes with the neighbor kids until sunset? Construct forts out of random stuff found in the garage? Spend hours scheming your next water fight attack strategy? Make up routines for neighborhood or family talent shows? Here’s a newsflash: Kids get bored once they lose structure to their days. But here’s another newsflash: When kids get bored, they get creative! We all know this, and I realize that letting your kids get bored is easier said than done. Often it’s easier for us, if we don’t have to deal with whining and complaining about boredom so we’re quick to offer solutions and book our families full of activities or direct their play (and hover over them) in order to save ourselves the hassle of having bored kids. But when we constantly do this, we’re limiting our kids’ opportunity to let their boredom spur on their creativity, exploration, and discovery. Loosen your structures a little, let them get bored, lock them outside {perhaps not literally}, and see if they just might surprise you with what comes out of it.

5. Make learning fun.

Instead of feeling pressured to keep up academically over the summer, why not let the kids explore learning according to their own learning styles and interests? For one this might mean the summer reading program at the library and the sense of competition and reward that comes with it. For another it might mean exploring cooking or catching frogs or learning how bees make honey. Be sneaky with how you help them practice reading and writing and math, and remember that kids are always, always learning, whether their nose is in a book or not. Try your best not to overdo the summer academics – you’ll be doing your kids and yourself a favor if you can lighten up and let them enjoy being kids, learning in their own self-directed way.

6. Promote their entrepreneurial spirit and encourage them to give back.

Here at Grace for Moms we’re focusing on the Mocha Club Purpose Project this month, with the goal of raising $600 to send one child to New Dawn School in Nairobi, Kenya. Why not challenge your kids to come up with a way they can get involved helping other kids? Kids love to help kids! Help them run a lemonade stand. Gather family and friends for a recital with watermelon slices and iced tea and let them know a basket will be passed around for donations for school kids in Africa at the end of the show. Help them make flyers to pass out to the neighborhood advertising a Saturday car/bike/stroller wash, letting them know what the donations will go towards. Whatever you do, let your kids be a part of the planning and decision-making process. Let them own it! Let them be the visionaries! Your job is to support and facilitate their vision. When kids are exposed to an opportunity to be generous and then given a chance with this type of entrepreneurial endeavor, they will shock you with their creativity and the sense of purpose that rises up within. {If you do end up getting your kids involved in fundraising for the Mocha Club Purpose Project in Kenya, please let us know how it goes. We would LOVE to hear your stories and see your photo of kids giving to kids!}

Moms, have a WONDERFUL summer. May this be one you look ahead to with expectation and reflect back upon with delight because you had the foresight, self control, wisdom, and grace to slow down a little and make the long days count.

Friends, what type of good, old-fashioned family fun do you most look forward to this summer?

{Photo Credit, tent}

Special thanks to Emily Moses for her beautiful shot of the fireflies.