Dog Days of Summer?!!

time to go "back to school" shopping :)

Do something different!
Whether that's a museum, park, pool, camp out, movie night, drive in, crafts, etc.
Something out of the ordinary.

.... my kids were in a summer program. Then that ended. Then they have been home everyday all day for almost 1 month. I have been with them all day everyday for 15 hours straight until they go to bed. Thankfully, they go back to school soon.
I am so glad.

My kids are energetic physically and verbally and are so imaginative! So they often are very self-motivated. So that helps.
Still, I have gone BONKERS on some days. And we don't always have a car everyday. We only have 1 car. My Hubby takes it to work and/or I have it, but now it is having mechanical problems so it is in the repair shop. And we have a tin can loaner car to use for now.

When my kids are bored, I tell them to read or they need to come up with something. My brain, is fried. And numb and my energy too.
But being bored is also good... because then, a child has to come up with entertainment instead of being passively entertained or it being done for them.

Anyway, I just fly by the seat of my pants.
Like to go walking with the kids or to the park nearby because it makes them tired and gets their yah-yah's out. Then they are calmer.
And I have them do chores.

Or, you can call another Mom and have play dates and/or take turns having your kid with her and then her's with you. Thereby, you will both get a tad of a break, to yourselves.

Why do you have to entertain them?

There are lots of things you can do as starters....

Get a BIG box (like a washing machine, dishwasher, or refrigerator box) and have them turn it into a house, space ship, or whatever... they can use their imagination for hours on something like that.

Let them build a fort or playhouse out of sheets and chairs.....

put masking tape in circles throughout the room, and challenge them to hop from one to the other, like they were walking across a creek on stepping stones.....

Give the older two the job of creating a short "play" from a common children's story... tell them to act it out, and come up with basic costumes, then put the play on for you and the little one.....

If it is too hot, have them have an indoor picnic..... put out a blanket, and pack a picnic lunch..... picnic in the living room!

Have them do an old-fashioned "tea party" for their stuffed animals.....

You are doing them a disservice if you continue to "entertain" them.... find things to encourage them to use THEIR imagination... not yours! They will need to be guided at first, not just saying go find something to do, because that is when they can get into mischief.

We have frequent playdates with friends playing in the sprinkler or going to the pool. We go to the children's museum, participate in summer reading activities through our local library, go to the zoo, inflatable bounce house arenas, skating and kid gyms. Moms' groups usually have a list of activities you can do around town that are free or inexpensive. Sometimes theaters will do a children's movie in the morning and a lot of communities have a kids bowl free program. On these super hot days we sometimes get our sleeping bags out, have a picnic and watch movies inside. We try to do these activities in the morning when it isn't so hot and then have quiet afternoons.
HTH,
A.

But Malia that is doing something to entertain them. Getting a box, taping circles, making a picnic etc..

When we get bored at home and it's to hot to play outside we go to an indoor park while they run around with each other and I read. :)

Hi! Take a ride to Port Huron and go check out some craft bargains for them to work on as Christmas gifts. There must be something to do in Port Huron besides Mary Maxim. Oh, I loved hitting their tent sale...

Buy them a gallon of vinegar and a big bag of baking soda!

Sidewalk chalk, cornstarch and water, and "painting" with water are all fun outside things to do. You know, I should pass on my spray bottles before summer passes.

Have fun!!!