6 Ways to Savor Summer With Your Family

There’s something dreamy and magical about the start of summer. On the coldest, dreariest days of winter, the mere thought of sitting on the beach with my toes immersed in the cool, wet sand while my kids happily build sandcastles close by is often enough to keep me warm until those sunny days finally arrive.

But once those carefree weeks of summer land on my doorstep, so does something else—my kids!  School’s out and although that means the tight, hectic schedule we navigate between September and June is now over, it’s quickly replaced with 10 full weeks of having kids home 24/7.

RELATED: 6 Tips to Transition Kids from School to Summer

When I think of summer I think of lazy days where rest and relaxation go hand in hand, but realistically that’s not usually the case. Instead of chilling out, families tend to burn out because suddenly they've got 8–10 hours of free time each day and the kids complain that they’re bored or fill the time by staring at electronic gadgets, squabbling with their siblings, or getting into trouble.

If this sounds familiar, worry not!  Mighty Mommy has 6 tips that can help you reclaim summer without setting up a 3-ring circus in your backyard. 

Here are 6 simple tips to make this summer your best summer ever:

1. Do one thing as a family each day

The one thing kids remember is the time their parents spend with them.  Even if you’re a full-time working parent like I am, there are plenty of opportunities each and every day to have fun and connect with your child. 

On the days I can devote extra time to my kids I do silly things like calling the home phone from my cell phone and then telling whoever answers to please report to the kitchen immediately because there’s a problem. When the kids arrived sheepishly, they found me waiting armed with bathing suits, towels, and all our beach gear. “I decided to take some time off today for us to go to the beach,” I explained.  

RELATED: 5 Ways to be a More Playful Parent 

Because it was completely unexpected, it really made the beach day more fun and special. 

2. Don’t forget structure

The school year is crammed with schedules, activities, homework, and so when summer arrives, everyone breathes a sigh of relief because the pressure is off.  While that’s definitely a good thing it’s also important...

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