🍎 It’s Almost August…Getting Every Last Drop Out of Summer

Tomorrow is the last day of July.  Depending on where you live, your kids could be counting down the last weeks of summer vacation.  If your kids play high school sports, this could be their last week of official vacation.  Not  to worry though, there still is time to fit in a few last plans and activities before closing the books on. Summer of 2024…

     Books!  Here’s an activity to help your kids look back on all they did this summer.  Make a book.  Get a coupon from Walgreens(see below), Sam’s, or your favorite online printing platform and help your kids make a book documenting their summer of 2024. Last week’s blog post https://www.itsagreatdayto.com/much-in-life-can-be-reflected-on-through-snapshots-soundbites/ was about sound bites and snapshots.  Teach them what that means and have or help them construct a book of the Sound bites and Snapshots of your family’s summer.  Have them look up old copies of LOOK and LIFE magazine for a reference and they can make something to depict your family’s summer.  Maybe there was a family joke that carried through the summer or a phrase that just stuck and was said over.  The kids can (with your permission) get photos off your phone and their and come up with a fun record and documentation of your “Quarter 2” (that would be a catchy name for a book on summer).  

     A Summer Playlist.  My kids did this each summer, back when you burned CDs from your computer.  We would play that list on our way up to Camp Michigania, the University of Michigan Alumni Camp on Walloon Lake in northern Michigan.  This is fun and every time they listen to it, it will bring back fun memories of time spent together as a family during the summer of 2024.

     Back to the book idea, how about a cookbook of summer foods your family enjoyed during them summer, along with photos.  Include grandma’s favorites, a neighbors favorite dessert they make when you all get together.  Add the stories that go along with the recipes.  If you all go to the local Farmer’s Market, mention the farmers and venders you make your purchases from.  

     Get a start on Christmas gifts by making a calendar of family photos for grandparents or other special people in your family.  Again, source photos from the phones and select photos for each month that correspond to the month.  Maybe each month includes any photos of family members who celebrate birthdays that month and photos of activities your family enjoys during that month.  Grandparents love these as gifts.  

     Reading.  Were there some good books you had jotted down for your kids to read this summer? Get to the library or order them so your kids can get going. If they had a summer reading list from school, they better get going. Help them map out a plan as to how much they will need to read each day to accomplish what they need to do.  If you need some ideas of good books for your kids to read, Bret Baier has written some good junior history books that have been very popular. Also, University of Michigan alumni and 2024 Commencement speaker, Brad Meltzer has a series of books that are biographies for kids. You can see some of his subjects in the photo below.

     It’s not too late to introduce or get in a skill you had hoped to introduce to your kiddos. If you all didn’t get around to getting in an art class this summer, teach it yourself. Get all supplies out, as the teacher/parent, do your homework first so you know what your are teaching, gather supplies and have everything set up and ready to go.  Preparation is so important when teaching kids so that you keep their attention and the lesson is productive.  Go through all learning instruction, explain any protocol in the activity, outline objectives including clean up and within these boundaries, have fun.  Set a few of these ‘sessions’ per week.  Allow enough time for kids to do some creating on their own after instruction and give them opportunities to practice on their own, of course, with expectations for cleanup.  

      Family visits.  If you had hoped to visit family and the calendar is moving along, make it happen.  Arrange a time, get it on the calendar and go.  If it involves a road trip, make it an adventure with some fun car games and discussions.  Don’t use the phone as a way to keep kids from talking, maybe you put the phones away and GET them talking taking notice of the scenery along the way.  Have kids pack their own bags, teach them how to pack and what is necessary to bring.  I would make a list and have kids pack their own bags.  Be sure to go over it so you are not having to re-buy stuff your already have when you get to your destination.  

     Start getting back to reasonable bedtimes soon enough so that your kiddos are adjusted to an early bedtime by the time school starts, with NO PHONES or technology in their rooms.  Kids need their sleep.  Their brain develops while they sleep and they grow as they sleep.  A good night of sleep with contribute to good performance in school and they will feel better and more alert to do their job as school.  If they say “I need an alarm clock, so I need my phone in my room.”  NADA! Get them an inexpensive clock to set.  You may even have an old clock radio at home for them to use, or grandparents may.  

     I think you have plenty to do before school starts. Squeeze every last bit out of summer and have as much fun as possible. Look at each day as an opportunity for your child to learn valuable lessons imparted by YOU their parents and grandparents, the most important teachers they will every have.  They are counting on you…Get going…It’s a Great Day 🍎