Summer is on its way and that means school is almost out. When I was a children's librarian (once upon a time, in a land far, far away), the question of "What do I do with them all day?" was one we got a lot.
Even with kids in day care, you're going to have days off with them, and then what to do? If you don't want them to vegetate in front of the TV (stay tuned for "The Case Against Screen Media") here's a handy guide to a fantastic day:
1. Get up before the kids. This is key. Check the weather; if it's going to be nice, figure out a picnic-y kind of lunch, but don't pack it yet.
2. Get kids up, dressed, and sunblocked. Eat breakfast, but don't turn on the TV. Have kids help pack lunch and pick one toy to pack - or none; sticks can be fun, too. Find something for you to do, too. Bring along reading material or something else you'd like to do for a while. Remember - you are NOT mounting an expedition.
3. Go to park. Find a place where you can get some shade and set up camp. Send the kids to play and do your own thing.
4. Ignore children unless they are in serious distress. "I'm reading, go play" is a perfectly acceptable answer. Let your kids take charge of their own amusement. Catch up on those NYT op-eds you meant to read, learn Estonian, learn to knit. DO NOT micromanage your children. They can play independently.
5. Eat lunch, then send kids back to play some more. Running around with them a little, too, is good here. Maybe do something organized. Do re-apply sunblock at a certain point.
6. Head home sometime before dinner. Hose kids down, have dinner. I can almost guarantee you that they'll be easy to put to bed at this point.
7. Relax!
If it's rainy or way too hot to be outside all day, here's another way to be thoroughly awesome: making stuff. You can make most of your own art supplies with general household stuff.
Finger paint/faux oil paints:
Clear dish soap + food coloring or powdered tempera paint - this makes a fantastic finger paint. As a bonus, the soap will suds right up and help wash off the food coloring or tempera.
Soap bubble printing:
Mix a bit of clear dish soap into some water in a shallow bowl. Mix in some food coloring. Use a straw to blow bubbles in the water and then hold a sheet of paper over the bubbles. This makes some really cool prints.
Homemade sidewalk chalk:
Quick-set plaster + powdered tempera + water. Mix in a dixie cup and leave to set. When the weather is nice again, unmold the chalk and have fun!
Go to the library!
Libraries are air conditioned, generally, and usually have some pretty neat things going on over the summer. If your kids don't have their own cards yet, this is a good time to get them one. Check out the Summer Reading Club, too. You can foster literacy, and have fun!
Daisy, the recovering children's librarian
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