Savor the Last Days
Bike With Buds
Got a crafty kiddo? Get active, get social, enjoy the warm weather, and allow your child’s creativity to run wild during the final weeks of the season. “Gather neighbors and friends, decorate bicycles and have an end-of-summer bicycle parade,” Newman says. Many folks do this at 4th of July celebrations but modify it for a celebration to mark the beginning and end of the season.
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Shop Till You Drop
Your children will all probably need school supplies, so make it an event for each of them. “Make a big deal out of school shopping,” Newman says, “even if your child only needs paper and crayons for the upcoming year, not clothes. Have a mom-daughter or mom-son day, taking your child to lunch—and take one at a time if you have more than one kid, so each feels special.”
Lure Them In
“Take an end-of-season bike ride as a family, with a lure at the end—maybe an ice cream cone or a picnic, visiting a special friend perhaps.” A scoop of chocolate ice cream, or a hug from grandma at the end of the ride, usually keeps a child pedaling.
Stare at the Stars
The great outdoors are made greater during the right kind of weather, so savor summer’s warm days and perfect nights. “Take blankets outside on a clear night and watch the stars before it gets too cold,” Newman says. See how many constellations your kids can spot, or point them out. See The Big Dipper? What about Orion? “Then, pitch tents for a night out in your backyard. Kids absolutely love that.”
Finish Strong
“If you have a project started, finish it,” Newman says. “There won’t be time once school is back in session. Maybe it’s a treehouse, or a fence you were building with your child.” Or hey, actually make that birdhouse you were planning on …
Go Fish
It’s an oldie, but a goodie: “Go fishing,” Newman says, emphasizing that it's the little things that matter most when summer days are coming to a close. “You only have a few weeks left. Get to the things you haven’t yet done.”
