| Here are a Few Things to Prepare Before it's Too Late: |
1. Stay connected with Macaroni Kid!
Make sure you subscribe to our weekly newsletter where we'll have all the information you'll need like free summer concerts and movies, reading programs, adventure ideas, recipes, crafts, giveaways, and more. And follow us on Facebook where we'll post last-minute reminders, event updates, coupons, flash sales, and special offers! The more you interact with us on Facebook, the more likely it is that our posts will show up in your news feed, so be sure to like, comment, and click regularly.
Also, check our daily Events Calendar.
2. Make a “Must-Do” list.
Have a family meeting and ask everyone to come up with 3-5 things that they absolutely want to do this summer (e.g., go on a hike, take a long bike ride, have a picnic, camp, visit a local museum or other attraction). Schedule these activities on the calendar (and make reservations or buy tickets, if needed) to make sure they happen.
Check out our Guides:
Favorite Local Walking Trails,
Favorite Local Bike Paths,
Nearby U-Pick It Farms,
Top 5 Nearby Family-Friendly Beaches,
Local Outdoor Concerts,
Local Farmers' Markets,
and Best Local Fishing Spots.
3. Organize a summer essentials tote for your car
so you're prepared for any adventure. Here’s a sample list of what to include:
- Sunscreen (regular and waterproof)
- Extra diapers, pull-ups, and swim diapers if your child is in that stage
- A hat, swimsuit, towel, and change of clothes for everyone
- Beach toys like pails, shovels, rakes, sand shapers, and trucks
- Swimming accessories like goggles or floaties
- Baby powder (sprinkle it on after sandbox play and the sand will literally brush right off)
- Books, sidewalk chalk, and bubbles (in case you're stuck waiting somewhere)
- Hoodies or sweatshirts for you and your child
- A washable tote bag for wet or sandy clothes
- A bottle of water and/or a bottle of wound cleanser plus hand sanitizer
- Bandages and antibiotic cream or spray
- Tweezers and alcohol wipes to clean them
- Insect repellent and anti-itch cream or spray
- Instant cold compress
- Individually packaged non-perishable snacks like crackers or dried fruit
4. Check out the deal sites to save big on summer fun.
You can find great bargains for amusement parks, miniature golf, restaurants, etc. on sites like Groupon.com. But only buy a deal if it's something you've been wanting to do anyway AND you have room in your schedule for it.
5. Find a kid-swapping friend.
Once a week, trade kids so every other week you've got an afternoon to yourself for errands, cleaning, or simply napping in the hammock.
6. Sign up for summer camp.
From performing arts to sports to academics, from camps that last just one afternoon to those that take place all summer ... whatever your needs and interests, you can find something that will appeal to your kids! Time is running out - check out our Summer Camp Guide for our local options.
7. Review the rules.
From limits on screen time to household chores to wearing sunscreen, avoid a daily battle by discussing your house rules and the consequences for breaking them. Write them down and post them where everyone in the family can see them.
8. Talk safety.
Have regular, age-appropriate conversations with your kids so that topics like playgrounds, swimming pools, private parts, bullying, and drugs are normal conversations rather than scary topics. If you plan on swimming this summer, check out Pool Safety Tips and Drowning Prevention.
9. Collect phone numbers of school friends.
Many of my son's friends don't live in our neighborhood, so if we don't call and schedule a playdate (or "hang out," as they say now that they're tweens), we won't get to see them all summer. Maybe find an organized template HERE from 101planners.com
10. Sort through summer clothes.
Donate everything that doesn't fit and make a shopping list of what's needed. In addition to regular summer clothes, I buy each of my boys a couple of brightly-colored t-shirts (to make them easier to spot at a crowded park), a pair of water shoes (for splashing in the creek), and a sun hat and sun shirt (they are fair-skinned). Find donation drop-offs and organizations in need at SHARE Middlesex.
11. Schedule a pampering day (or two) just for you.
Get a haircut and a massage. Paint your toes. Go to a spa or gather some girlfriends and host a DIY spa day in your home. Also, check out The Exhausted Mom's Guide to Summer Fun.
12. Tune-up and re-stock your summer gear.
Head to your local dollar store for bubbles, sidewalk chalk, and pool toys. Check the tires and chains on your bikes. Make sure bike helmets still fit. Replace sunscreen that is more than three years old (or past its expiration date, if it has one). Examine your camping equipment. If you plan to go camping, read these great tips for Camping with Kids.
13. Stock up on snacks.
My kids are extra active during the summer so they tend to eat more too. Hit the warehouse store without the kids and stock up on more nutritious treats like yogurt tubes (which I keep in the freezer and serve in lieu of ice cream or other frozen items), baked crackers, applesauce pouches, and fruit cups.
Here are 12 Great Ideas for Healthy Snacks the Kids will Love.
14. Make a generic weekly plan.
Other things will come up, but I have a loose weekly plan that I use when I don't have the time, energy, or money to plan an exciting summer adventure. Mine looks like this:
- Monday - Library Day to pick up books, movies, and video games for the week
- Tuesday - Playground Day
- Wednesday - Playdate with friends
- Thursday - Swimming
- Friday - Cooking and crafts
15. Make a phone call to a friend and talk for at least 10 minutes.
Enjoy the fact that you didn't get interrupted every 37.2 seconds. Realize that it probably won't happen again till August.
** Also Check out our Ultimate Summer Guide,
and Preparing the Kids for SleepAway Camp***
Be sure to tell local businesses and events you found them
on Macaroni Kid Greater Woodbridge
and make sure to tell all your friends!
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