By:  Katrina Maccalous

 

If you’re like me, you’re super excited to finally be on summer break.  You’ve spent the past two months counting down the days with your students, and now it’s finally here. Now it’s time to refresh, recharge, and spend some valuable time with your own children for a change! But then reality sets in, and your children expect to either be entertained or on some form of technology 24/7. If you’re not used to being home for extended periods of time, putting on the stay-at-home-mom hat can be an adjustment. So, to help make the transition easier, I’ve created (with the help of my 9 year old) a child-approved list of 10 activities to combat your child’s summer break boredom blues. Do some. Do them all. Just make sure to have some fun!

1. Create a daily craft time :

   

One routine I started during my maternity leave stint, and have committed to continuing over summer break , is a daily craft time. With the help of Pinterest and Amazon, I have built up my craft arsenal to include many easy and creative crafts. I emphasize easy, because my 2 year old has a less than stellar attention span!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Make a summer bucket list together:

Every year my eldest and I make a list of all the things we’d like to accomplish over the summer. In the past these activities have included picnics, visits to the park, the zoo, hiking, and camping. Then we post our list somewhere that’s easily visible as a reminder and motivator (because let’s be honest—sometimes life can get in the way of committing to activities like these).

3.  Establish some sort of a routine so that they (and you!) know what to expect:

As a teacher, I have come to rely heavily on routines and structure. I believe the same holds true for our children. Summer can be tricky for kids when that structure they are used to during the school year suddenly disappears. I have found that all of our sanity is saved when we all know what to expect during the day.

You can find a ton of daily routine examples on Pinterest, but here’s kind of what our day looks like in my household:

…that being said…

4. Be unpredictable:

Do something surprising to mix it up every now and then! It’ll help create memories. Some of my dearest and clearest memories are from when my family did something out of the ordinary. My daughter still talks about the time that her and I decided to go to the gas station for some late night snacks during a rain storm. It wasn’t something that necessarily stuck with me, but it was like the greatest thing to her!

5. If you don’t already, start a family game night:

We take turns deciding who will get to select the game of the day. Just be sure to set some ground rules to stave off any meltdowns. Game night can quickly turn ugly when poor sportsmanship rears its ugly head.

 

 

 

6. Plan an event:

Even if it’s small. Planning gives us something to look forward to and involving the kids keeps them occupied and productive. Currently, my daughter and I are planning my one year old’s 2^nd birthday party. But it doesn’t have to be a party you plan—plan a family “carnival” with different activities in each room OR plan the path you will take on your next walk…

7.  Go on a walk:

8. Make a scavenger/treasure hunt:

You can actually combine this activity by making the map and clues during craft time. Take turns hiding clues and/or creating a map!

 

 

9. Make some slime:

Slime is all the rage right now…and for a good reason:  It’s ooey, gooey, and a little bit gross. There are so many variations of slime that use everything from Elmer’s glue to dish soap…plus it’s technically considered sensory play, so have at it!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.  If all else fails…Go outside

 

Add your solutions to the summer boredom blues in the comments below!