Summer is quickly approaching and you know what that means? Two months full of fun in the sun and endless days by the pool with a nice, iced cold drink in your hand. HA! Yeah, right.
Before you start dreading the 8 weeks of constant “I’m bored”, let me give you a couple of ideas for budget-friendly activities both you and your kids will enjoy! These can easily be done in an afternoon when you get off work, or they’re perfect for a Friday night activity and give the little ones something to look forward to all week!
The key to keeping yourself stress-free while balancing work and summer fun is to plan ahead. You don’t have to stick to the plan exactly, but having a general idea of what you’re going to do from week to week is a life-saver – ESPECIALLY after those long days at work when you don’t want to come home and have to think anything important.
Instead of spending your time stressing about last minute activities, spend your summer enjoying this extra time you have with your kiddos. So, let’s grab our day planners and plan our stress-free summer!
- Have a homemade pizza and movie night. Pizza is my number one favorite food. Frozen. Delivery. Homemade. I love it all. Growing up this was my favorite thing to do with my family! My sister and I would each pick a movie, flip a coin, and then we’d all make pizza together and watch the movie. It’s the perfect way to end a long week!
- Go fruit-picking. Fruit picking isn’t just for fall! A ton of orchards and farms offer fruit picking throughout the year, just with the fruits that are in season! During the summer, strawberries are SO fun to pick! It’s not only a fun activity, but you leave with a sweet, tasty, FRESH snack for both you and your kids to enjoy
- Backyard camping. Camping can be surprisingly expensive and can sometimes be a hassle with little kids. What better way is there to enjoy camping but without the price tag and hassle? Camping in your backyard of course!! Set up a tent, build a fire, and roast some smores all within the comfort of your own backyard. This is the best way to camp! Plus if you decide you really don’t want to sleep outside, you can always go inside and you don’t have to feel guilty about wasting money! This is a stay-cation the whole family will be on board with!
- Go on a picnic. This may sound old-fashioned, but what better way to spend a breezy summer afternoon underneath a tree at your local park chowing down on some PB&J sandwiches? The park will keep the kiddos entertained for hours and might even give you enough time to read a chapter (or two!) of that book you’ve been intending to read.
- Visit an art museum. If you have creative little ones, try taking them to a local art museum! Who knows, it may even give your little Van Gogh enough inspiration to keep them occupied with their own art projects for days!
Kelsee Painter, OWL Blogger
