child with bowl of strawberries
1. Make A Summer Scrapbook. Select a handful of photos from your summer activities and have them printed in various sizes. Then give the kids a blank book and some art supplies and let them use their creativity to create a scrapbook of the summer.
For older kids, you can create digital books using one of the many online photo book companies and then have the book printed through the site.
2. Have An End-Of-Summer Neighborhood Pool Party. Either use the neighborhood pool or your own for an afternoon of wet fun. Enlist a few other parents to help organize and then invite all the kids in your neighborhood to celebrate with you.
If you get really organized you can have games with inexpensive prizes. Ask parents to bring slip n’ slides, pool noodles, beach balls and whatever other water toys you can find. Serve simple snacks like smoothies and watermelon slices.
In addition to being a fun way to end summer vacation, it’s also a nice opportunity for parents to get to know one another and for the kids to make new friends. It’s also a perfect way to welcome new families to the neighbrohood!
3. Take Your Family On A One-Night “Staycation.” Have you ever vacationed in Naples? If not, why not make this summer the time to give it a try!
Many local beachfront hotels have very reasonable rates during August and a few have resident specials. It’s the perfect time to book a night at one of our awesome local resorts.
Check in as early as you can and spend the afternoon on the beach. Have an early dinner and then return to the beach to watch a beautiful Naples sunset. Tuck the kids in with a movie and mom and dad can enjoy the gulf breeze from your balcony.
The next morning have a relaxed breakfast and a little more beach time before heading home refreshed and ready for the new shcool year!
4. Have Your Very Own Berry Festival. We can’t go berry picking in SW Florida but we can still enjoy berries!
Buy some yummy blueberries, blackberries or raspberries and make a cobbler with the kids. Serve it warm from the oven with vanilla ice cream and a tall glass of lemonade.
If you want to keep it simple, help the kids use frozen berries to make delicious smoothies. If you can sip them sitting by the pool, it’s even better!
5. Have An Ice Cream Festival At Home. This is a fun idea to share with a few friends. Just purchase all the fixings for sundaes–several flavors of ice cream, toppings, and whipped cream. Set up your kitchen counter as a do-it-yourself ice cream bar and let the kids create their own favorite combinations and then send them outside to enjoy it before it melts. Let them go wild this one time and eat their fill! Toss them in the pool or hose them off before letting them back in!
To make your life easier (and keep the kitchen a little cleaner) put a paper liner in each segment of a cupcake pan. Place one scoop of softened ice cream into each liner, cover loosely with plastic wrap and refreeze. When it’s time for the party, all you need to do is plop the scoop into the cup to get each sundae started!
6. Have a PJ Camp Out. Make the lazy days of summer last just a bit longer with a PJ Party that starts early in the evening. Have everyone put on their pajamas before dinner and then turn off the phones, computers and iPads. Serve a picnic dinner on a blanket set up in the family room or living room. After dinner, play old fashioned family board games. Set up sleeping bags and everyone can cuddle together with flashlights to read a bedtime story.
7. Plan a “Drive-In Movie Party.” We don’t have a local drive in anymore but you can create one in your own driveway. A fun family movie, popcorn and comfy chairs and you have the makings for an awesome celebration.
You’ll need a DVD player or computer, a screen or side of a house, a projector and a sound system. It sounds too complicated but it’s easier to set up than you think. Borrowing a projector is the hardest part. If you open up the party guest list to include some neighbors, someone may just have that projector!
8. Give Back. You have to go through your children’s closet to clean out the clothing that doesn’t fit so why not combine that chore with a little charity? Work together with your kids to try things on and pile up the things that don’t fit. Be sure that everything that is in the “giveaway” pile is clean, doesn’t need repair and is pressed. Work with the kids to package the items and then have them go with you to donate to your favorite charity.
If your budget allows, consider stopping by Target or Office Depot to pick up some extra school supplies to include with your donation.
Don’t preach but do discuss with your children how lucky they are to be getting new clothing and school supplies and how important it is to share with those who don’t have the same advantages.
9. Go Back To School Supply Shopping. Why not start a new tradition this summer and make school supply shopping a fun morning or afternoon out instead of a dreaded chore? If possible, take each child separately for some special one-on-one time. After you finish getting everything on the school list (hopefully!) have a nice brunch or lunch out and a conversation without distractions.