Is it just me, or does 95° hit different when you’re chasing your kids with a squirt gun instead of sitting under fluorescent lights answering emails? Let’s give ourselves permission to actually enjoy summer again. Not just survive it.
Growing up in the Detroit area, summer was everything. It’s where so many of my core memories live. I remember riding bikes with friends and neighbors ‘til the street lights flickered on as a reminder it was time to head home. We chased down the ice cream truck with crumpled dollar bills, spent hours at the water park until our fingers pruned, and made weekend trips to Blockbuster feel like a major event. It all smelled like bug spray and BBQ on the grill, and you felt the kind of joy you didn’t know you’d miss until years later.
Now that I'm a parent, I want my kids to have that same magic — It's so easy to get caught up in the day to day tasks and must-do’s that we can forget to enjoy ourselves and our lives right in the here and now. Let’s take back our peace, our calm, our families.
So here’s to a summer filled with nostalgia, unplugging, fun, and core memories—with screens as a side dish, not the whole meal.
Here are some easy, fun ways to get the most out of summer with your kids:
1. Create a Summer Bucket List: Include low-cost outdoor fun like nature walks, park picnics, or visiting new splash pads. Let your kids add to the list too!
2. Use a Screentime Calendar: Block off “screen-free” hours and mix in themed days—Tech-Free Tuesdays, Water Wednesdays, Family Fun Fridays.
3. Assign Chores that Teach Essential Skills: Think watering plants, folding laundry, or helping prep dinner. Keep it age-appropriate!
4. Discover Local Gems: Check out free library programs, dollar movie days, museum passes, or community events. Pro tip: Follow local parks & rec and mom groups for secret finds.
5. Create Content With a Purpose: Encourage kids to make skits, puppet shows, or record dance videos based on books or things they’ve learned. Screen time becomes creative time.
6. Bring Back Nostalgia: Introduce your kids to your childhood joys—classic movies, sidewalk chalk art contests, freeze tag, and writing letters to family members.
Summer doesn't have to be perfect—it just has to be real. A little messy. A lot of laughs. And just enough Wi-Fi to get through a rainstorm. Now, let's soak it up!!
Now that I'm a parent, I want my kids to have that same magic — It's so easy to get caught up in the day to day tasks and must-do’s that we can forget to enjoy ourselves and our lives right in the here and now. Let’s take back our peace, our calm, our families.
So here’s to a summer filled with nostalgia, unplugging, fun, and core memories—with screens as a side dish, not the whole meal.
Here are some easy, fun ways to get the most out of summer with your kids:
1. Create a Summer Bucket List: Include low-cost outdoor fun like nature walks, park picnics, or visiting new splash pads. Let your kids add to the list too!
2. Use a Screentime Calendar: Block off “screen-free” hours and mix in themed days—Tech-Free Tuesdays, Water Wednesdays, Family Fun Fridays.
3. Assign Chores that Teach Essential Skills: Think watering plants, folding laundry, or helping prep dinner. Keep it age-appropriate!
4. Discover Local Gems: Check out free library programs, dollar movie days, museum passes, or community events. Pro tip: Follow local parks & rec and mom groups for secret finds.
5. Create Content With a Purpose: Encourage kids to make skits, puppet shows, or record dance videos based on books or things they’ve learned. Screen time becomes creative time.
6. Bring Back Nostalgia: Introduce your kids to your childhood joys—classic movies, sidewalk chalk art contests, freeze tag, and writing letters to family members.
Summer doesn't have to be perfect—it just has to be real. A little messy. A lot of laughs. And just enough Wi-Fi to get through a rainstorm. Now, let's soak it up!!
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