Search Results for: blog super summer sanity savers for parents

When Mother Nature Rains on Your Summer Fun

Hundreds of towns and cities throughout the south are cancelling or postponing their Fourth of July festivities due to massive storms slamming into the region.  Torrential rains have turned the area into a soggy mess forcing parents to scramble to salvage their family’s mid-summer plans. If Mother Nature rains on your parade, cook-out, party or other outdoor activity this season, consider keeping your kids entertained inside with these summer-themed projects: Campfire Prints:  Have kids use crayons, markers or colored pencils to draw a large circle on a piece of paper.  Next, have them glue gemstones on the circle to mimic … Continue reading →

Simple Sanity Savers

Believe it or not, summer vacation just started for students attending Chicago public schools.  Last fall’s highly publicized teacher strike, which affected nearly 400,000 students, forced kids to stay in school through the end of June. But, now they are free and can join the rest of their compadres in making the most of summer… or what’s left of it. If you are looking for ways to keep your kids busy during their break from school consider the following simple and affordable projects: FLOWER POWER Rather than letting fresh flowers go to waste after they’ve sat pretty in a summer … Continue reading →

Simple Summer Sanity Savers

School’s out for some kids, while others are just a few weeks away from enjoying the freedom of summer vacation. For parents, the end of the academic year brings excitement and some trepidation.  After all, most moms and dads know it’s just a matter of time before seasonal boredom sets in. To preserve your sanity in the weeks to come, consider keeping your kids busy with the following summer-themed crafts: Sugar-Free Ice Cream Cone Not only is this adorable ice cream cone sugar-free, it’s also calorie-free and drip-free.  All you need to make this cute craft are a few sheets … Continue reading →

Sip Up Summer Fun

Think about your favorite summer activity.  Do you cherish lounging by the pool, barbequing in the backyard or sitting on the front porch watching your kids catch fireflies? Regardless of where you most enjoy spending the dog days of summer, there’s nothing quite like an ice cold beverage to beat the heat.  Of course, you can’t have fun in you are totally tanked.  Nor is it much fun for kids if they get stuck drinking water while the adults gleefully sip colorful fruity concoctions from neon straws. This summer, have fun making these nonalcoholic tropical drinks that can be served … Continue reading →

Potpourri of Cheap Summer Fun

Are you running out of affordable ways to keep your kids busy during the last days of summer vacation? August is quickly coming to an end, but for some families, money for summer fun ran out a long time ago. Now is the perfect time to use up any supplies you might have leftover from early summer projects or parties. For example, if you have any extra water balloons in your home fill them up and place them in the freezer for a few hours or overnight. When your kids start singing the “I’m bored” blues, cut away the balloon … Continue reading →

Summer Bonding

Who says you have to fork over thousands of dollars or travel hundreds of miles to strengthen the parent/child bond? During the summer months, many moms and dads feel obligated to spend an exorbitant amount of money on fancy vacations in an effort to build a better relationship with their children. However, child psychologists say the best gift you can give your child while he or she is out of school is good old fashion time. Instead of handing over a wad of cash to your kid and letting him run amuck at the mall while you get some chores … Continue reading →

Ways to Savor Summer Nights

While some parents are busy belting out “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” I am desperately trying to squeeze as much outdoor fun into what’s left of my daughter’s summer break. Classes resume next week and neither one of us is ready to say so long to the season. My family spends a ton of time outside during the summer months, and this year has been no exception, despite the record-breaking heat. Now that the new school year is about to start, we are trying to get in as many outdoor adventures as possible. Since I telecommute, I … Continue reading →

Preventing Summer Burnout

August is here. We’re more than halfway through summer. How are you holding up? At this point, many parents are counting down the days until school starts, especially if their kids are suffering from a severe case of the summer blues. If summer camp is winding down, you’re broke from splurging on an extended Fourth of July family vacation, or you simply need a quick, easy and affordable way to keep your kids entertained and your sanity preserved, consider taking a trip… to the Dollar Store. A quick ride the Dollar Store or a spin around the dollar bins at … Continue reading →

End-of-Summer Mom Savers

Kids in Hawaii started the new school year last Monday. Meanwhile, my pal in Atlanta just told me her kids head back to class tomorrow. Are you ready to say so long to summer? I’m not! I am dreading the back-to-school blues, including packing lunches, ironing uniforms, looking for missing shoes as the bus sits at the end of the driveway, and fighting with kids about going to bed when the sun is still shining brightly at 7:30 p.m. Still, if there is an upside to back-to-school, it’s got to be the sales. Not the ones on school supplies; rather, … Continue reading →

Summer on a Stick

Last year, I gave into the hype and actually purchased chocolate-covered bacon on a stick at the Wisconsin State Fair. It was as gross as I thought it would be… for $5. If you like fatty strips of bacon threaded on a wooden skewer and dipped into gooey milk chocolate, you’ll likely find the sweet and salty treat to be incredibly appealing. However, if you prefer spending hot summer days cooling off with a frozen slice of heaven on a stick, I would highly suggest making the following. Not only are these easy recipes kid-friendly, but they are also a … Continue reading →