Combatting Mid-Summer Madness: Fun with a Purpose

Wednesday June 24, 2009

Where I live, schools are just letting out for summer, so my kids are still enthusiastic and excited about the long days ahead. But I know, come the end of July, I'll be dealing with a full-on case of mid-summer madness -- cries of "I'm bored" and "There's nothing to do" will be filling my house and driving me crazy.

It's those moments when I think I've reached my breaking point that I need to relax and remind myself (and my kids) that there are actually lots of fun things to do and none of them involve using a whiny voice. Checking out a free movie or heading to the beach or playground for a day trip are great family-friendly activities that everyone can enjoy.

But if you are like me, you'll want to try to squeeze in some educational activities too. That's easy enough to do, just make sure they are fun. From hitting the library to participating in a summer reading program and even just playing with your little ones, there are lots of ways to incorporate learning into summer vacation. Even a seemingly simple rite of summer like blowing bubbles is a great way to help your preschooler develop important motor skills.

For more on beating summer boredom, visit the All About Parenting Blog Carnival for July, hosted by Jennifer O'Donnell, the About.com Guide to parenting tweens. If you're blogging on a topic related to fun summer activities, please feel free to submit a carnival entry to Jennifer.