11 Ways to Beat the “Back to School” Blues

The warm, fun-filled summer days are coming to an end and the kids will soon be heading back to school.

Now is the time to take advantage of the brief time you’ve got left before everyone gets back to their regular, busy routines and plan some fun things to do together as a family.

Use the following ideas to spark your imagination and to help you create memories that will last a lifetime.:

1. Ice cream for dinner

Imagine your kids’ faces when you tell them what’s for dinner!

While ice cream cones are completely amazing, you could go for ice cream pies or even an ice cream cake…homemade with all natural ingredients of course!

2. Hold a sidewalk art festival

Load the kids up with a bucket of chalk, and let them have a blast decorating the sidewalk with their amazing artwork.

3. Family photo fun

Use what’s left of the bright summer days to create some amazing and memorable family photos.

Ask a friend to take some pics as you interact with each other. Play games, blow bubbles or read a book to capture some precious candid moments.

4. Set up a scavenger hunt

Scavenger hunts are a great family fun activity. Have the kids put together their own and/or use Pinterest to spark some ideas.

5. Family movie night

While this fun activity can be a year round event, it’s a little extra special in the cool summer evenings.  There are a few ways you can turn your backyard into a movie theater.:

  • ⬥ Bring your living room TV outside
  • ⬥ Hang up a sheet and use a projector with either your smartphone or laptop.
  • Make your own projector from using just a laptop and simple overhead projector.

6. Hold karaoke night

Nothing is quite as fun as watching dear old dad singing his rendition of “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” as he dances around the living room with his girls.

No judgment here…

While you can buy or rent a karaoke machine, there are hundreds of websites with tens of thousands of karaoke songs you can play on your computer or smartphone – many of them free.

No, the sound quality won’t be the same as a real karaoke machine, but that won’t take away from the fun…or ding your pocketbook like buying a karaoke machine.

7. Go on a picnic

Get together with your friends and/or neighbors and have an end of summer picnic blowout either in your backyard or at a nearby park.

And if you opt to go to the park and it has a pond, don’t forget to bring along some tasty bread to feed the ducks…and take advantage of the perfect chance to get some great shots of the kids having a blast.

8. Explore your surroundings

Pretend to be a tourist and visit local museum(s), landmarks, natural attractions and/or other places you’ve never taken the time to visit.

9. Volunteer

As a family, help out a cause you believe in by volunteering at the local shelter, or by raising money selling lemonade, jewelry, baked goods, etc.

Kids naturally love to help, so give them the reins and let them show you what they can do!

10. Camping

Camping is always a favorite with kids.

From hot dogs and s’mores to hot chocolate and scary stories, there’s memories waiting to be made in the waning days of summer.

Make the most of them and spend some time with the kids as you camp out under the stars.

You’ll be glad you did.

11. Share the memories

Have the kids share on camera – or in writing – what made this summer the best one yet.

Then turn those memories into gold by creating a special DVD and/or photo album of all the fun you had as a family this summer.

Make copies of what you’ve created to share with family members who will treasure them as much as you will.

These days go by so fast…make the most of the time you have left and plan some fun things to do together as a family before the warm sunny days are gone.