10 “Must Do’s” For You And Your Kids This Summer!

I don’t know about you, but at the start of each summer my family and I talk about all the things we must do between the last day of classes and when the first school bell rings in the fall. And every year, I’m lucky to remember what some of those things were during the massive brainstorming session, let alone knock one or two items off the list.

This year, we decided to create a list of ten things we wanted to do and place it on the refrigerator. If it’s out of sight, then it’s out of mind and no one has the refrigerator out of their minds at my house.

We created three lists of must do’s: one for the kids, one for my husband and me, and one for the whole family.

Now, before this begins to sound too daunting to complete, like the bucket list items that you’ll never see come to fruition, remember to keep it simple, CFOs. If you list volcano climbing in Hawaii or dinner with the Queen Mum, you might be setting yourself up for disappointment if those are not actually going to happen anytime soon.

Be realistic, have fun, and most of all make it happen! Here’s our lists:

 

The Kid’s List

• Make homemade popsicles
• Flip flops only!
• Use up every last bit of sidewalk chalk
• Have cake for breakfast
• Do a cannonball and jackknife jumping into the pool
• Roller coasters! No hands!
• Fly a kite without getting it stuck in a tree this time
• A day at a children’s museum
• Build a lemonade stand and make a million bucks
• Camp in the backyard

 

The Parent’s List

• An evening concert date outdoors
• Dinner out with friends we haven’t seen in ages
• Late night chat alone on the patio while eating dessert
• Slow dance at dusk to our wedding song
• Play hooky from work
• Watch a sunset together
• Go on a date alone where food isn’t served fast or wrapped in paper
• Turn off the TV and gadgets for a day and unplug
• Mom goes to the art museum for Dad
• Dad goes to a baseball game for Mom

 

The Family List

• An evening under the stars catching fireflies
• Pack up the car for a drive-in movie experience
• Mandatory pajama day for all
• Visit the local petting zoo
• Tour our own hometown
• Bike ride on trails
• Make ice cream
• Visit a local festival
• Evening picnic in the park
• Float and fish the day away at the lake

 

I’d love to see the lists you’ve created and hear about the ways you enjoy summer days. We all know the time passes by way too quickly. So make the days count!

 

Gabby

Chief Family Officer