Summer Planning as Easy as One, Two, Three | Family Economics

By Trisha

In a matter of weeks, the final school bell will ring for the year, and my children will be looking forward to a fun-filled summer.

Every summer, I think we will have a less hectic schedule, more sleeping, lots of lazy days and time to create family memories.

However, I will begin hearing those three words, “Mommy, I’m bored,” if I don’t have a summer fun plan. The memories I want to create with my kids won’t happen unless I begin preparing now.

I begin planning my fun-filled summer with three simple steps:

1. Plan – Summer fun begins with a plan.

• Gather – As you begin to come across all the fliers, ads and information of upcoming summer activities, events, camps, etc., place them in a binder or file.

I pick up a lot of information from my local library, kids’ schools, local newspaper, parent magazines, city chamber of commerce and even tourist books for our local area.

Be sure to go online to find ideas and see what’s planned in your community. Search “stay-cation,” “backyard-cation” and “day-cation ideas” that interest you. Also, ask your husband, kids and girlfriends for their ideas as well.

Click here for more Stay-cation ideas from 24/7 MOMS
Click here for more Backyard-cation ideas from 24/7 MOMS

• List – Create a list of the things you would like to do with your kids, such as:
o “stay-cations”
o “backyard-cations”
o family vacations
o events to attend
o things to accomplish and teach them
o camps

• Schedule it – Next, print out the monthly calendars or use one you already have. Begin filling it in with things from your list. Don’t forget to see what else is on your calendar. Write in all the events and things you want to attend. Remember you are in control of your calendar–summer should be relaxing and fun, not stressful.

The key here is to avoid overbooking. You want there to be plenty of lazy days and free time to be spontaneous. Choose the things on the list that would be the most desired to do or attend. Also, look at the budget and how much money you want to spend when it comes to camps and activities.

2. Prepare – If we don’t prepare, it won’t happen!

Now that you have ideas and have scheduled them on your calendar, it is time to take action and get prepared.

Get organized by making lists, start with your to-do list, then move on to your to-obtain, to-go and to-call lists.

3. Play – Let the fun begin!

Now, it’s time to play all summer long and create family memories. When that last bell rings and your kids arrive home, why not kick off the summer with a celebration with a make-your-own sundae bar or pizza for dinner and present your children with the summer plan you have prepared? Get them excited about all the fun you are about to have together as a family.

You could even post the daily activities on a calendar that you hang in your kitchen so they know what fun is ahead.

How do you keep your summer fun organized?