12. Measure and mix. Put the kids in charge of desserts
for the summer. Make sure they create some healthy
choices like fruit pops or sorbet as well as delicious
baked goodies like pies, cakes, and cookies. If they get
carried away, let them have a neighborhood bake sale.
13. Go multi-media with books you read together. Take
turns reading out loud or check out audio books from
your local library to listen to before dinner or before
bed. Once you finish the book as a family, watch the
movie together. Compare and contrast the books and
the films. See sidebar for suggested books that have
been made into movies.
14. Keep a “How I Spent My Summer Scrapbook.”
Choose a blank-page, over-sized book with ample pages
for writing, collaging, collecting, and embellishing. Set
aside time to work on “summer books” for a half hour
every day at whatever time of day works best. Let kids
decide whether or not to keep it private or share the
results with the family.
15. Sign up for BrainPop. This educational website has
over 1,000 short animated movies for kids ages six -
seventeen, making it the perfect substitute teacher for
your kids over the summer. Best of all, they can pursue
topics that interest them. Check with your child’s school
library to see if they have free access to BrainPopJr for
K - Third Grade. Otherwise, a subscription is money well
spent on entertaining enrichment.
16. Tackle a big creative project. Choose one that takes
Even a trip to your local food bank or letting your kids
come with you while you give blood is a life lesson that
keeps on giving.
20. Share your childhood favorites. Did you love to
make friendship bracelets or collect comic books? Did
your husband learn to play guitar or practice scouting
skills in the backyard? Summer is the perfect time to
share your favorite hobbies and summer pastimes with
your kids. Why not strike up a conversation about it at
dinner tonight to get the memories rolling?
21. Admire intelligence. Find healthy and smart virtual
role models for your tween or teen to study over the
summer. For example, if your young lady loves biology
and dissecting frogs, she might enjoy trying some home
experiments created by Bill Nye, The Science Guy. Learn
more at http://www.billnye.com/for-kids-teachers/home-
demos/. Make a list of virtual summer tutors for each
child and indulge in customized summer learning.
Books With Film Adaptations To Read Together
Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans and John Bemelmans-
Marciano
The Cat In The Hat by Dr. Seuss
Winnie-The-Pooh by A. A. Milne
Eloise by Kay Thompson and Hilary Knight
Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White
planning, creativity, and involving others like putting on
a puppet show, writing a play, or making a movie. Let
your child approach the project in his or her own way,
and only offer to help if you are needed. Invest a little
money in your child’s creativity and their imaginations
will be buoyed by your patronage. The Tale Of Desperaux by Kate DiCamillo
17. Visit friends and family around the world. Start with Little Women* by Louisa May Alcott
a list of friends and family you know all over the globe.
Then once a week, take an hour to really explore that
destination via Google Earth and by researching online
information. Expand your geographic horizons further
by video-calling your friends or family and informally
interviewing them about the area where they live. Post
a map on the wall and stick a tack in each location you
visit virtually.
18. Think beyond the lemonade stand. Terrific lessons
about business, sales, and marketing will be learned
when you create your child’s version of the lemonade
stand. Why not sell old toys, baked goods, or artwork as
a lesson in entrepreneurism? You never know, you might
spark a future interest in business.
19. Commit to a cause. If you child loves animals, see if
you can spend some time volunteering at a local animal
shelter. If she’s a regular fashionista, why not throw a
summer fashion show to raise money for a local charity?
Freaky Friday* by Mary Rodgers
Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
Charlie And The Chocolate Factory* by Roald Dahl
Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling
The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe* by C. S. Lewis
The Hobbit* by J. R. R. Tolkien
* Indicates more than one film version available.
Gardening Books By Sharon Lovejoy
Roots, Shoots, Buckets & Boots: Gardening Together
With Children
Sunflower Houses, Inspiration From The Garden
Trowel and Error: Over 700 Tips, Remedies & Shortcuts For
The Gardener
Author, journalist, and writing coach Christina Katz
loves jungle gym slides, water park slides, Slip N’ Slides,
and Chutes And Ladders, but not the summer slide.
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