There’s a lot of pressure on parents to make summer memories with our kids. I’m sure you’ve heard the saying “You only get 18 summers and then they’re gone.” Enjoying time with your family shouldn’t come with any guilt or worry that you’re not doing enough or are running out of time.
You don’t have to burn yourself out by doing all the things when summer rolls around. Do what you love and make memories with your kids even if that means having a staycation and turning your backyard into a splash pad. Here are six easy ways to make summer memories before school starts.
1. Create Your Own Backyard Oasis
Most weekends when it’s hot my husband sets up what we call our “Backyard Oasis.” That looks like water play of some sort, whether that’s the sprinkler, water table, or our inflatable pool. The kids love it, and we get to sit and enjoy watching them run and splash around. It’s also perfect for playdates and summer birthday parties as well!
If your kids aren’t into that sort of thing your oasis may look different. Try setting up some outdoor games or lay out a big blanket with books and snacks outside. This can be customized to fit whatever your kids enjoy.
2. Plan a Special Movie Night
This doesn’t have the be a big projector screen and inflatables in the back yard like many Instagram posts suggest. Pick a movie your whole family will enjoy and load up on the snacks!
Try something beyond your typical popcorn and candy. An easy, kid-friendly charcuterie board can be as simple as Goldfish crackers, pretzels, and fruit snacks. Set up an ice cream sundae bar with all of the fun mix-ins. Whatever snacks your family loves are perfect.
Here’s some family-friendly movies we love if you haven’t watched these with your kids yet:
The Mitchells vs. The Machines
Ron’s Gone Wrong
Onward
Elemental
The Goonies
The Princess Bride
Turning Red
Hook
The BFG
Christopher Robin
The Lego Movie
3. Visit a New Park
The Lansing area is home to many wonderful parks for kids of all ages to explore. Surprise your kids this summer with a picnic or a walk in a new park. Find some trails, a cool playground or see how many different animals you can spot. This is an easy way to make some fun memories.
4.Try a New Place to Eat
Lansing has a plethora of wonderful places to eat. Find one that suits your taste and plan a meal out with your family. Maybe you’ll find a new place with nice outdoor seating for those hot or explore something in Old Town. It’s always fun to try new foods together.
5. Take a Day Trip
There are many fun places to visit within a short drive of Lansing. Depending on your kid’s age and interests, you could visit Binder Park Zoo in Battle Creek or Boulder Ridge in Alto. Or maybe your kids are fruit fanatics. Blueberries are in season and there are tons of places to pick them. Our kids love playing in the sand, so we will definitely be taking a day trip to Millennium Park in Grand Rapids. Metro Detroit is also home to tons of cool parks and splash pads too. This guide is the perfect resource to finding some fun day trip ideas to do with your kids this summer.
6. Go Big – Plan a Dream Day
We’ve never planned a Dream Day before, but it looks like so much fun. The premise is letting your kids pick everything they want to do in a day. Give them some basic parameters around how far you are willing to travel, budget, etc., but let you kids do the rest. What do they want to eat in a day, where do they want to go? Everything they want is your command for the day. Watch how this creator does a Dream Day for her four-year-old here.
