Last Fun of Summer

Every kid wishes and dreams that summer never ends and every parent (or at least any that I talk to) wishes summer was over about a week into summer vacation. As much as I tried to make summer vacation fun for Lily, I truly learned how much money constraints can hinder the dreams of a kid wanting to do all the fun things their schoolmates brag of doing. We were able to go to the $5 Wednesday movies, spend time at the library and park and the entire week at the county fair. While riding rides and playing games, Lily enter every contest she could in an attempt to win tickets to Land of Make Believe. After placing 5th in the Kiddie Tractor Pulls, Lily won the tickets on the last day of the fair!

Land of Make Believe is an amusement park near us in New Jersey that is geared towards kids. They have roller coasters for little and big kids and a water park. One feature the kids love is Santa's summer home with Santa visiting the kids during his summer vacation. As a parent one thing I love is that they have a picnic area that you can bring your own food instead of paying for food while you are there. For a single mom that is a great savings and helpful with a child that is a vegetarian. I grew up going to Land of Make Believe and loved it. I can't wait to take Lily this week after she worked so hard to win the tickets!

*click any of highlighted links to check out Land of Make Believe's website

Summer To Do Checklist Board DIY

Now that school is ending for the year and summer is coming fast, kids are all talking about what they are doing this summer. Some are going to go to Disney World or Sea World. Some are going to Grandma and Grandpa's across the country. Some are going to spend the summer at a day camp or babysitter because Mom and Dad have to work. Some are going to spend the summer with their Mom at home. The last one is Lily's option. She gets to spend the summer with me which she does every summer. Last summer we spent most of it in Eastern Shore, Maryland near the shore which was a blast to go swimming when we wanted. This summer will be alot different! This summer we are planning a bunch of day trips to different places so each week will be something different to look forward to for Lily. 

The project that I picked out for today is one that the parents create but the kids get to help create the list. With our checklist, Lily listed all the fun things she wants to do and then we are picking some of the activities to do. Depending on how money is over the summer kinda determines how many and which activities we get to do.  So there are ones that are not as expensive and ones that will be costing a pretty penny. You can add free things like going for a hike or going for a picnic. (Of course I thought of this after I did the checklist!) his will show the kids that they have fun things to do this summer. As you check ones off the ones the kids complete, they will get the sense of accomplishment that they are having fun this summer. 

Summer To Do List

Materials:

Cardboard as big as you want (I used the bottom to a large gift box I had laying around)

Ribbon (I used a couple of scrap ribbons)

Hot Glue Gun

Markers or Sharpies

Directions:

1. Cut the cardboard to your desired size

2. Cut the ribbon an inch longer to fold over each side

3. Glue the ribbon along the edges

4. Glue a piece of ribbon so you can hang the board

5. Write down your activities for the summer

6. Hang your board on the wall and have some fun!