Each May, I stand at Summer’s doorstep, overcome with her freedom and bounty, only to watch too many events and activities drain those warm days like a funnel filled with fine, white sand. This year, attempting once again to savor our days and resist the temptation to over-schedule, we’re planning only a couple of out-of-town trips and keeping our activities at home simple (and cheap). Here’s some of the ways our family is embracing a “less-is-more” mindset and easing into our summer days:
- riding bikes together (mostly in the evenings now)
- freezing our fruit to keep us cool
- playing in the rain (We have to enjoy the rain when it comes here in Texas!)
- watching clouds and looking for familiar shapes
- creating poetry-inspired art (I read a poem and provide art supplies for the kids to create the imagery however they choose)
- taking trips to the library
- treasure hunting in nature (i.e. Find something red.)
- picking berries at a local farm
- swimming anywhere and everywhere from our backyard blow-up pool to friends’ and family’s “real” pools
How do you/your family simplify your summer days?
