School is out, it’s summertime, and you are running out of ideas on how to fill your children’s free time. The good news is that there is an abundance of activities that can be explored. These summer-fun activities can often be a rewarding experience for your children and a chance to build memories that will last a lifetime. There are games to be played, places to see and do and chances to keep their minds sharp while they are away from school.

Games of summer

Think back to your childhood. Were there games that you enjoyed playing with family and friends? Hopscotch, hide-and-seek, tag, kick the can, jacks, duck * duck * goose, and skip rope all come to mind. These games are still great fun that are just waiting to be reintroduced to your youngster. Make a summer "Olympics" of various events like running, jumping, swimming or other fun events. Need some ideas to cool off from the summer heat? Water balloon wars, squirt guns or a water slide are sure summer soakers. Dueling water hoses and a small ball can be great. See who can push the ball further, fastest or make it a contest to see who can push the ball to the other persons "goal". Soapsuds and bubbles are always a hit. You can buy the bubble making solution or make some yourself by mixing 1/4 cup of liquid detergent, 1/2 cup water and 1 teaspoon of sugar in a flat container. Any ring or slotted shape item will make a wonderful wand to create the bubbles.

If the heat is a problem or thunderstorms are keeping the kids indoors, try these ideas. Arts and crafts are an easy time spender. Decorate a paper cup or plate with pasta, rice or beans. By gluing them on the cup or plate interesting shapes, colors and designs can be made that are only limited by your child's imagination. Treasure hunts can be a great source of indoor adventure. Place a list of treats and goodies in hidden locations in a room then have your kids hunt for them until they find them all. This can last quite awhile if something they really want is hidden well! For quiet time, you can share family history and photos with your children. Let them see photo albums, videotapes and memorabilia of family get togethers. Lastly, share time with them by making the family meal together. They will learn cooking and you will have one less thing to do.

Places to see and do

When was the last time you discovered your back yard? Neighborhood? City? There are many hidden treasures that are as close as your own house or your local community. To a child, a colored rock or a bug crawling from one place to the next can be special. Look around your neighborhood for something unique. Take walks and discuss different things you see. A license plate from another state can launch a discussion on far away places. That in turn, can be followed up by researching those places on the Internet, your library or other sources. On your walks you may discover a businessman or neighbor that may have a story to tell as well. They might have special collections, unique knowledge or talents, or an expertise that they would share with your child.

While discovering your neighborhood it might be a good idea to discover your community. Most of us will travel to visit a special place or site but could not tell a stranger what is in our own hometown. Look around and find the museums, aquariums and zoos in your area. Many communities have amusement, recreation or theme parks that offer a days worth of fun at a reasonable price. Water parks are a great place to beat the heat of summer. For the athletic tot, sports camps are often offered by local departments of parks and recreation or by youth organizations and clubs. After they play a sport, look to local professional sporting teams for a family night or special family package deal that can be shared by all.

Don't stop the learning

Just because school is out, there is no reason children should stop learning. You can encourage your kids to keep learning by having them read books or comics. Libraries offer activities that may include reading programs, storytelling, puppet shows, writing contests, and songs. These activities are designed for many different age groups and are scheduled to help relieve summer boredom. With the advent of the Internet and the need for computer skills, schools or public libraries are offering training courses for children to use computers or educational software. Universities or colleges often have summer classes for children and may offer mini-camps in various subjects like science, math, or computers.

Many communities offer summer cultural events. There might be "A Night With Shakespeare" or "Bandstand in the Park" where theatrical opportunities or musical talents can be explored. Local museums offer exhibits where your child could learn about an artist or start there own collection based on what they see. City, state and national parks departments offer programs teaching about local geography or animals/insects/aquatic life or natural history. There are numerous volunteer organization that offer skills classes like CPR, lifeguard training or hunting/survival/boating safety. These classes, programs or events might provide the spark that ignites your child for the rest or their life.

Don't let the summer waste away this year. Take the opportunity to explore new worlds and new places, even if they are only in your back yard. The chance to share your life with your children will only be here for a short time. Use it wisely and maybe you won't have to "I'm Bored" all summer long.

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Article reprinted with permission of:

Robert Oleson

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