Before you pack a suitcase or jump on your bike, create a family calendar. Take two big pieces of paper – one for July, the other August – and have the kids create a calendar. Mark down everyone's summer commitments, such as Mom's vacation dates from work, Dad's golf tournaments, the family reunion, your swimming lessons, Aunt Mildred's 80th birthday bash, Hayden's hockey camp, Isabelle's babysitting schedule, Rover's grooming appointments…you get the idea. Post the calendar on the wall in the kitchen and let the summer begin!
Do-it yourself camps
Create your own day-camp experience for your kids (don't worry, you won't be hosting a circus troupe in your backyard for a week). Here's how.
• The key to a successful create-your-own-camp experience is to team up with like-minded family, friends and neighbours who have kids that your children enjoy spending time with.
• Create a pool of four or more families and then talk – adults and kids – about what kind of camp experience you want. Will you have a theme? Do you want to take advantage of activities and attractions around the community or stick to your homes? If the kids stay at home, whose home will they congregate in?
• Discuss what you want to spend on outings and supplies and then build a five-day schedule based on your collective budget and what you all plan to achieve and spend.
• If parents are willing to take one vacation day per week, for example, you can all share the supervision. If that's not an option, enlist the help of a local babysitter or two and split the cost.
Tip: While most camps you pay for are filled with dawn-to-dusk activities, a do-it-yourself camp can offer some much-needed downtime for kids to kick back and hang out together.
Rainy-day remedies
Don't let rain clouds dampen your fun. Be prepared with the following rainy-day kit.
• Books for all ages. Keep a variety of books for individual reading, such as from the Choose Your Own Adventure series, and for reading aloud.
• Bits and pieces of old wrapping paper and coloured construction paper as well as old ribbons and buttons to make crafts. Be sure to include a glue stick, coloured pencils and scissors.
• A supply of origami paper and instructions.
• Balloons and instructions for making shapes out of balloons, such as animals and musical instruments.
• Board games for all ages, including adults.
• A book of card tricks and a deck of cards.
• Some traditional, no-electricity games, such as a yo-yo, marbles, pick-up sticks, scavenger hunts and dominos. Your kids will wonder about the lack of blinking lights and swirly sounds, but they'll soon be mesmerized by these old-fashioned favourites.
• Try the following verbal game. Ask the question, "Would you rather…?" and fill in the answer. For example, would you rather eat a handful of dirt or kiss a toad? See how icky the fun can become!
Check it out
• www.healthylivingniagara.com; click on Families on the Move and then Cold and Rainy Day Activities.
• www.bcparent.ca/events/rainy_day_activities.html
• www.scavenger-hunt-fun.com
Page 2 of 2 -- Plan your best summer ever with our checklist of questions and tips on page 1.
