Beat the Heat with Old Fashioned Fun

Comments Jul 20, 2011 | Kids, Organize by Season, Organize by Topic, Summer

by bredgur Flickr

All across the country Moms have their hands full as record breaking heat is wreaking havoc with outdoor summer fun for children. Camps are modifying schedules, practices are being cancelled, and air quality is making it even hard for some folks to just make do at home in their own backyard. For Moms like me, being stuck indoors with kids in 3 distinct age groups takes the challenge further because I can’t just grab a few age mates and be done. It takes an equal balance of age appropriate activities for all and I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t plenty of interaction among them as they crank their way through less engaging days.

Before you bang you head against the wall wondering if it will ever end, I’ve got 3 ideas to help you beat the summer heat by focusing on child directed summer fun.

1. Friends First: Open your heart and your doors to let your children’s creativity take over, inviting friends in for the day and letting them enjoy every bit of your home. Decide to be the house where fun begins and say yes to things like building forts with furniture, having a performance in the play room, or enjoying a picnic on the floor of the living room. You have so much to gain by opening the door to free play and nothing to lose but a bit of time directing them all to clean up. In my book, that’s a wonderful exchange.

2. Hit the Road: We often overlook free and wonderful resources just outside of our immediate radar. Do some advance research and then gather up your gang to visit the town next door for a fresh set of local museums and fun activities that can easily make a day trip worth taking. Don’t overlook the value of a “spontaneous” road trip as well. Work with your girlfriends, round up some coupons, and surprise the entire gang with a day trip to the beach, a water park, or even the mountains. A change of scenery is always welcome and in this case, just what the mother ordered.

3. Check the LIst: If they don’t have a summer activities wish list, now is a great time for them to let you know if they had to pick 5 special things to do this summer, what would they be? Then choose one of those activities and go for it. You may be surprised at the simplicity in their desire.

A few more fun ideas to get you thinking, consider swapping games with the neighbors to bring in fresh options for family game night any day, engage your kids in a home organization project that everyone will benefit from, such as sorting family photos (remember it’s all about them…as far as they are concerned!), and embrace the night by scheduling an outdoor fun night with neighbors catching fire flies, playing tag, and even playing a movie on the closed door of your garage. The point is there are options if you want them. So tell me…

What are you doing to beat the heat this week?

Thanks so much for stopping by ~ we’ll see you next time!