| Summer is a great time to finally squeeze in all of | | | | 13. Each Friday, eat a picnic lunch somewhere new. |
| those activities that you don't have a chance to do | | | | 14. Teach the kids how to cook or bake something |
| during the school year. Here are 25 fun, cheap, and | | | | delicious. |
| easy ideas for keeping your kids busy until the school | | | | 15. Teach the kids how to decorate cakes and let |
| bell rings again in the fall. | | | | them experiment with a few cupcakes. |
| 1. Map out all of the different parks in your county | | | | 16. Bake a dozen muffins and take them to your |
| and hit each one (on a different day) with a picnic | | | | spouse's office. Visit for a bit. |
| lunch. | | | | 17. Take turns with other parents in your community |
| 2. Teach the kids some jump rope rhymes from your | | | | teaching the kids about different crafts. |
| own childhood. | | | | 18. Get a nice new workbook. Before the school year |
| 3. Find a new trail to hike. | | | | ends, ask the teacher what books she recommends, |
| 4. Plan a scavenger hunt. All you need to do is list 20 | | | | so your child will keep up with her studies. |
| or so items that are frequently found in nature. Then | | | | 19. Plant a vegetable or flower garden together. |
| distribute the list to each of the kids. The first person | | | | 20. Ask your children to research a charity and |
| or team to find everything and bring them back wins | | | | brainstorm ways that they can raise money for it. |
| a small prize. | | | | 21. Visit a local farm or orchard and help out for an |
| 5. Tour a local factory or museum. | | | | afternoon. |
| 6. Take the kids to a scenic area with a set of | | | | 22. Ask the kids if they would like to learn a new |
| watercolors and ask them to paint what they see. | | | | sport or activity. The summer is a great time to try |
| 7. Visit a local botanical garden. | | | | something new without the commitment that often |
| 8. Call your local public library to ask if they are | | | | comes with starting it for a school year. |
| sponsoring any reading contests or special story | | | | 23. Assign the kids a pen pal, and encourage them to |
| times. | | | | write notes and letters every couple of weeks. |
| 9. Get a group of friends together and take the kids | | | | 24. Have the kids try out a new musical instrument. |
| to the nearest water park or amusement park. | | | | 25. Make an obstacle course with sidewalk chalk and |
| 10. Start your own reading incentive program for the | | | | time each other on how long it takes to complete |
| kids. For every three books, treat them to a sundae | | | | the course. |
| or a special trip to the bookstore. | | | | Get creative and think of your own ideas to enjoy |
| 11. Check your local newspaper for fun community | | | | some fun in the sun, and don't forget to spend some |
| events, such as local dance performances or magic | | | | unstructured time, doing absolutely whatever you |
| shows. | | | | want. |
| 12. Explore a new bike path. | | | | |