Ah, August… The dog days of summer are finally here, and while trying to squeeze in some time to relaxing is a definite must, we can’t run out of activities for the kids. I can honestly say the last few days have been anything but relaxing here at our house. At all. Yesterday the kids started planning and counting down the days until their “epic school supplies reveal” {their words, not mine} as well as making detailed lists of perfect birthday presents, costume ideas for Halloween and what gifts they want to see stuffed under the tree for Christmas. They have also included names of who is purchasing what so scratch all creativity out of the buying process. Which by all accounts my kids are right on schedule! The “Epic school supply “reveal is new and for that I blame YouTube. Seriously, my kids would sit for hours and watch toy review after toy review if I let them but as a parent you can only take so much.
Anyways, back to the school supplies.
I have to admit, I’m a school supply geek from way back but after the fourth store trying desperately to find the items, exactly as they prescribed on the list I found myself coming to a conclusion…some crafty mom {who I am sure went shopping long before the last school ended } has all those HB #2 pencils stashed in her linen closet beside with the 7mm lined notebooks. I’m sure she also is “the one” who buys all her Christmas gifts in July and gets her Christmas card pictures taken in August just to beat the rush. Guess what! That’s not me! I just spent 3 hours on the phone arranging flights for Christmas and that was enough of a mental circus for this momma. I’m tired of the random wrestling matches over the last available packet 23oz glue sticks.. you can take them! My kids don’t need to glue.. we have a rope! I was a girl guide and can tie a mean clove hitch, it’s in their genes already.. I just need to unharness it. For my sanity and that of those around me we just stopped. stopped!
If memory serves correct this is the second year {or third year, I haven’t finished my coffee yet} that I have pre-purchased their school supplies. So simple, check off what you want, leave what you don’t blank, give them your credit card number and voilà! A box of school supplies magically appears in your child’s hands during those last few weeks of school and all you have to buy is a new lunch bag to replace the moldy one that has spent more time abandoned in a locker or a backpack than the sink and a squeaky new pair of shoes. I refused to let them even “take a peak”at what was hidden in the box so they started planning on creating their own revel and surprise surprise they want to film it too.
Anyways back to the task at hand…
Things to do with your kids in the summer time
15 new activities for your kids that don’t cost much at all, but leave lots of room for imagination and pure family fun! Your kids will love these creative activity ideas to keep the “I’m bored” out of those lazy days of summer. Make sure to print the list off (or pin for later) so you’ll never run out of ideas! One last piece of advice… make sure you are first in line at the sundae bar before all the good stuff is gone and you might want to google “how to get mud out of clothes” if you find yourself in the crosshairs of a mud fight.
Did you try any of the activities from last week?
What was your family favourite?
Join us next Friday for Part 9 of our “15 things to do with your kids in the summer time“. The kids here go back to school the day after labor day so we only have a couple of weeks left to squeeze in every last drop.
Are you looking for more great summer activities?
Follow Heather Lawrence’s board Summer bucket list on Pinterest.
It has been great following your summer ideas. I know my girls would love to go horseback riding. I should fit that in before school starts.
I wish I was able to go with them! The kids loved their time they spent on horseback and I can’t wait to let them go again.
All great ideas!! My boys love to chill at home and have friends over, its nothing too exciting but they’re happy!
These are great ideas! I can’t believe how fast summer has flown by. I’d love to complete a few of these on the list.
Love your ideas! There is still time to try some of them! Thank you for sharing them!
I am that mom that beat the school supplies rush…however I would love for them to magically appear as that would ease some stress
Great ideas. We tend to do the same few things over and over.
YAY for the mention of board games – these lists are fun and there is still a lot of fun summer left !
My Kids and I love playing board games.. the hubby not so much. Of course they always want to play monopoly when we do and that game can go on forever!
A sundae bar is on my list this week! We are quickly saying good bye to our summer this week. 🙁
We are too… The middle two go back the 8th of September and the youngest starts her first day on the 11th.
I definitely needed this list, my kids just finished summer camp so they’re home for an entire MONTH before school starts back up!
A month-long Summer camp sounds like a lot of fun!!
Where they away or home with at night?
We’ve done several of the things on this list – but never a mudfight. How do we manage that? I am going to find out – doing my research tomorrow morning. My kids would LOVE that. We also haven’t gone horseback riding, which is something I want to do before school starts.
I have a plan for every day this week, because my little one starts school next Monday!
It’s a lot of fun… a pain to clean up unless you’re not afraid to “pre-wash” most of the big stuff off the kids with the hose.
Great list! I take the boys every couple of weeks to our local arcade as it’s incredibly inexpensive and allows for fun bonding time.
When I was growing up I lived in the arcade… so much fun!
We only have one here that I know of and it’s in a lounge so we can’t take the kids.
We love going to the pool together!
I love the salt water pool that we have here in the city.. always makes my skin feel super soft when we get out.
The hard part is getting the kids out of the pool when it’s time to go.
I miss the days of going to Arcades:-( I like that your list keeps getting better and highlight great Summer things to do
I miss them too! Granted I also like having all my quarters now too…
Arcades had the best games! But the wait to play those games were crazy sometimes!
Love that sundae bar idea, my kids love ice cream! Great list thanks so much.
We love ice cream too and it’s even better when you can bling it out 🙂
I really need to do a couple of these. I always need new ideas for the grandkids when they come down.
Aww! What a good grandma you are! Your grandkids must love coming for a visit!
These are fun things to do. My girls would hate to get muddy, but I think it’s really fun. Well have to try that.
That’s what I thought too.. but once they start flinging the mud all bets are OFF my friend.
I think we will try board games this week, something simple for us
Plus most of us already have board games lying around the house too.
Perfect for making sure you have all the pieces. 😉
Origami! That’s one I haven’t done yet! I’m definitely in need of some ideas..we still have weeks of summer left!
When we were kids as a school we made over a thousand Origami cranes to decorate the hallway at the front of the school.
Write someone a Letter is a dying Art these Days .. I like this Tip the most
It really is. I barely even write myself these days,
I’m the same way… love reading and receiving letters but never write any.
some of these ideas sound rather fun the mud fight not for sure about but we may just try it sometime
I love these list! Mud fight and tea party! Works around here!
This is the first summer we haven’t gone anywhere or done much. Oddly my son hasn’t said he’s bored, and usually he does. Got me thinking… the at-home fun stuff, might be more meaningful to him. 🙂
Taking a pottery class sounds like so much fun. My daughter and I wanted to this summer, but sadly we didn’t get to it.
Trying out some origami designs would be fun! I’d love to do that this summer.
I think I’ll do the sundae bar one.. tonight! Even though my kids are in bed.
My mom just got a new pony at her farm so I can’t wait for the kids to have pony rides.
I’m sure your kids (and their friends) think you are the coolest mom ever!
My son would freak out if he got muddy! LOL! Now the sundae bar we can get into!
We had a sundae bar last weekend . So good in the summer.
Fun ideas! My kids would enjoy them all!
You are such a fun mom! A mud fight! My kids would love this but I would hate to clean the mess! LOL
This list is awesome. It reminds me of my youth. Teepees, mud fights, pen pals … I am totally going to show this to my younger two and adopt a few to take on the last few weeks.
Thanks for this reminder. Fun can be easy and affordable!
These are all fun idea. We should have done the mud fight with all the rain we have been having.
Summer there is so many endless possibilities and fun. Sadly we won’t be having much fun for the next two weeks as we are moving on the 24 but can’t wait to be settled and have a fun week before school starts!
I love the way you think. A sundae bar sounds awesome right now.