In the midst of this worldwide pandemic, everyone could use something to look forward to (and maybe even something to bribe the kids with). These long days stuck indoors are hard but valuable. There is nothing more important than keeping each family, neighbor, and community safe but everyone can admit that they are dreaming of days far beyond the front door. Days where the kids can run, play, climb, jump, think, and learn anywhere but their own living rooms. This is where I come in, with the hopes of safer days ahead. 

In order to make the most of this long-awaited and much anticipated summer season, it requires a little planning! Let’s make an effort to make this planning a little more fun. Mapping out your summer plans, even tentatively, is a great way to be productive in a time where things are feeling a bit stagnant. Even better, involving your children in this planning allows for building some much needed excitement and even creating some incentives for good behavior or a successful day of the oh-so foriegn territory for a lot of us: homeschool. 

A tried-and-true way to plan out your summer plans is to create an activity calendar. Sure, this isn’t a ground-breaking idea necessarily, but a physical manifestation of your summer plans that can be hung up for the family to see is a great form of motivation. To make it easier for the littlest family members to get involved, add stickers that coordinate with days of the week or the activities planned. Involve them by asking each family member to choose one “Must Do” activity for the upcoming summer months, whether it be a trip to their favorite park, swimming with their friends, or using your GetOutPass for a bowling day. Be sure to pick a balance of indoor and outdoor activities so you can adjust to those pesky summer storms or extreme heat waves. 

A second fun and interactive way to plan your summer is to create an activity jar. Don’t be intimidated! This is easier than it sounds. An activity jar is a great way to turn your summer planning into a craft day that your kids will love and anyone can do. Start with craft popsicle sticks and some paint colors, depending on how many “activity days” you want to have per week. Assign one color to each day of the week (or do a color for weekends and a color for weekdays if you want to simplify) and have the kids paint each and every popsicle stick. Once the paint dries, take permanent markers (or a label maker if you are feeling ambitious) and assign an activity for each of the sticks. Think about what activities work best for your family on which days of the week and get to work. Be sure to pull up your GetOutPass account and check which days your favorite activities are available and add those to the mix as well. Throw all the popsicle sticks in a jar, or vase, or cup. Never worry about what your day will hold this summer--the jar will decide! 

There you have it! Two quick and simple ways to get ahead of the game and plan for the healthy summer that we all are hoping is coming soon. While this is being written with a very positive attitude and a whole lot of hope, we understand that our summers are a bit up in the air right now. As always, we completely recommend that you follow the council of the CDC and the local government officials in your area. Stay calm, wash your hands, practice social distancing, and try to make the most of this difficult time!

Until next time,

Liz