Happy Friday: Staying Busy & Sane this Summer
Sent from reader, Lindsey:
I was looking for a fun and interesting way to keep busy this summer while accomplishing all that I wanted too without bickering from the kids…..so to keep it interesting, at the start of each week we are RANDOMLY choosing 1-2 “things to do” cards from each color and incorporating that activity into our plans each week.
Cards and activities can vary but I used red for “out of the house” outings, green for “chores”, and purple for “fun at home.” Spontaneity is fun, but I’m hoping to avoid arguing, laziness, and too much TV time by trying this method this summer!
As a bonus, I used my laminator purchased after seeing Collin’s Amazon deal to laminate the cards so that I can use them over and over!! I’m also planning to use extra red card draws as a treat incentive AND extra green card draws when punishment is needed!
HAPPY FRIDAY!
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Love this! Great idea!!
I love this idea!!! Thanks for sharing!
Hahaha!! Love the punishment cards too!
Great idea! I can’t wait to try it!
Thanks so much Collin!!!
You’re welcome Lindsey!
Very cute idea!
High five✋🏼this is so awesome and exciting. I’m feeling better also to know that I’m not the only one struggling with bickering kids because they are bore dive summer and can not agree on something to do. I like that there are both chores and rewards. Seems like a great plan to keep kids entertained and feeling like their summer has structure but fun too
Love this….. I might try it
Great idea!! We did a summer bucket list! And we made our own summer reading log with awesome treasure chests treats with all our hip2save deals!! THANKS COLLIN!!
Cute idea! Any tips for moms of toddlers and staying busy but also accomplishing priorities?
I wanna know all the things she put on the cards! ☺
check on pinterest, there is many of this summer bucket list
The next time you’re at the library try checking out the kid concoction books. I think they have a few of them out now. They are loaded with awesome concoctions to make and many of the items are found right in your house.
At home – purple: bike ride, color, card, puzzles, bake/cook, water day outside, jewelry making, craft, paint, do our nails, create fairy garden, plant flowers, movie day, play wii, play date, sing/ dance party, exercise, tea party (etiquette lesson), board game
Red: outings – movies, picnic, park, chuck e cheese, paint pottery, visit nursing home, visit spca, walk over the bridge, visit plantation house/petting zoo, library, fishing, trampoline park, jump castle place, waterpark, beach, bowling, skating
Green (chores): clean bathrooms – 1 card for each, clean out refrigerator, fold and put away laundry, clean mirrors, mop/vacuum, sweep from and back stoop, organize shoes
Thank you! Any ideas for replacing the outing red cards. I have a daughter with autism and she has severe anxiety so the summer is very hard for us to have family outings. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated! 😊
Maybe a special food treat? Cookies, breakfast for dinner, make our own granola bars, ice cream for breakfast…
Check out local museums. We have one called the muse which was a dome that the kids can lay on the floor and look at stars or different movies. Also we have the children’s museum of Oak Ridge that has a life size doll house, trains, water tables. We are from Knoxville, TN. If you let me know where you are from maybe some of can think of ideas around you and post them. Also search the website called activitytree.com they might have a few ideas. I also search for summer camps in my area to get ideas. The library and smart toys and books has cool things as well.
Great idea! I print blank calendars and try to fill up each day with an activity to keep us busy. Summer can be expensive if you let it, so I mostly fill in with library events (free), park district stuff ($3 per kid), and bounce place (groupon deal).
dont forget $1 movies 😜
also beach is free
No beach by me but we have a pool. 👍
Don’t forget the splash pad. There are lots of them in communities now with in a drivable distance.
We have Kids Bowl Free in our area. Don’t know if it’s nation wide or if you have a bowling alley near you.
Luv this!!! Thanks for the share ❤️
You’re welcome Sarah!
Awesome idea! Love it!! Great job Lindsey!
I promise hip2save reads my mind! I was looking through Pinterest to start a summer calendar, but I love this!!!!
Perfect! 😉
I also have a chore jar for my husband & I with bigger projects like re-organizing the pantry or backing up the pictures. We each pick one on the weekend so it’s kind of fun….?
We’re doing something similar but with color coded popsicle sticks instead of cards. Our categories are water play, crafts, outings, quite play, active play (for my toddler), science, and special treats. I tried to pick things that need little prep and were new to us. Pinterest was great for this.
I have purchased a membership to my local zoo through Groupon and sent it to my daughter in California. She can use the reciprocal agreements with zoos all over the country for half price or free admission. I also have found out when our local children’s museum has free admission so when they visit me we can go.
Any deals on laminators??? Love
This idea
Great idea! Thanks for sharing.
This is a GREAT idea. Thanks for the share.