Eight Ways to Soak Up the Last Days of Summer by Kristi Gravemann

As the mom of two active young girls, I look forward to the more relaxed schedule that summer break allows. I relish the room for spontaneous fun, and we take full advantage of the summer sunshine that allows us to get outdoors before the cold weather visits again.

Every year our tradition is to make a list of the things we want to do before summer ends. Our list usually includes things like finding a new park to explore, catching frogs, and getting ice cream from our local ice cream shop. We enjoy simple pleasures like Popsicles in the backyard, making sand castles in the sandbox, swinging so high our feet almost touch the clouds, and catching lightning bugs as the sun sets on a blue-sky day.

If you’re like me, when the summer starts to wind down and school looms on the horizon, it’s easy to get caught up in back-to-school planning. But don’t let that stop you from squeezing in a few more summer memories. Here are some of my favorite ideas:

1. Host a drive-in movie night right in your driveway . Grab some cardboard boxes that are big enough for kids to sit in, and then round up your kids and their friends. Have the kids decorate the boxes to look like cars. When the sun gets low in the sky, project a kid-friendly movie onto your garage door or a sheet you hang from your garage while the kids sit in their “cars” in the driveway. Serve popcorn, juice boxes, and other You can also do this indoors if you have the space.

2.   Make ice cream in a bag . After enjoying your ice cream on a hot summer afternoon, make extra and take some to your neighbors. Be sure to label the bags with the ingredients in case anyone has food allergies.

3. Create a treasure hunt in your backyard. Make a map or leave a series of clues that your kids can follow to find the treasure. The treasure can be items from the dollar section at your local store or something else that will appeal to your kids. If the weather doesn’t cooperate, you can easily bring this treasure hunt indoors.

4. Have a family night. You can host family night inside your house or in the backyard. Make your own pizzas, play your favorite games, and do some fun activities. You might want to introduce new games and activities by taking advantage of free downloadable games like The Story Travelers Bible game or the Make Your Own Chooser activity  from Tyndale Kids.

5. Make your own bubbles. You’ll need:

• 6 cups water
• ½ cup of blue dish detergent
• 2 tablespoons glycerin (sold in craft stores)

Mix all three ingredients together and let the mixture sit for at least an hour, although 24 hours works best. Make bubble wands using two drinking straws and a length of yarn 6 to 8 times longer than the length of one straw. Thread the yarn through both straws and tie the yarn ends together. Your child can hold one straw in each hand while dipping into the bubble mixture. Don’t be discouraged if it takes a few dips before you start seeing big bubbles. (Note: It’s best to blow the bubbles in the shade on a wind-free day.)

6. Take a train ride. If you have a commuter train near you, hop on the train with your kiddos and get off at another stop just to have lunch. Trust me—your kids will love taking the train to lunch rather than the car. And if you’re feeling adventurous before heading home, explore the local sites near the train station.

7. Stargaze.  Look up information about the constellations on the Internet or at your local library, and then drive to an open area away from city lights to see if you can spot the constellations in the night sky.

8. Go to the library. Speaking of libraries, if you want to get out of the house and are looking for fun, indoor activities, many libraries offer wonderful free programs for the whole family throughout the summer.

No matter what you do these last few weeks of summer, may you find refreshment and make joy-filled family memories.

Psst! If you have some other favorite ideas to add, be sure to leave them in the comments below.

Kristi Gravemann is the Marketing Manager for Tyndale Kids. She has spent over 16 years immersed in marketing and product development for a variety of globally recognized brands. Kristi is convinced that if scientists were to study her DNA, they would discover a children’s book gene. Reading and a love of learning have been hallmarks of Kristi’s life since childhood. She brings that same passion and enthusiasm to her marketing role on the Children and Youth team at Tyndale. She’s beyond blessed to market fantastic children’s books with solid, Biblical values that parents can trust.