by Virginia Allain

Created on: October 26, 2009

Kids get bored in the summer, but organized camps are expensive. What's a parent to do? You don't have to be supermom, but an involved parent makes all the difference in getting those junior couch potatoes moving. Here are ways to have fun with children this summer.

I recommend reading The Family Manager's Guide To Summer Survival. You can borrow it from the public library. The author advises really listening to your children's input on what excites them, but also wants the parent to offer suggestions and set limits. Your child may think watching cartoons non-stop makes a fun summer. Decide on reasonable time limits for the television and the electronic games. Some

parents even opt for an unplugged summer.

The book gives ideas (tennis, hiking, other exercise or structured programs), but you'll have some ideas too if you think back to your childhood activities. Check with the local parks for classes, day camps, or swimming lessons to see if any sound right for your child and your pocketbook. Make excursions to a park, the lake or the country to get close to nature.

I also highly recommend sampling the free programs at your local public library. They have a good success rate for luring children into reading for pleasure (or reward). Some libraries have a teen reading program as well or involve teens in volunteering.

Be resourceful and creative with your children. Learn to make origami figures or collect stamps and team up with other parents in teaching the children new skills. Get some craft books from the library for ideas or search the Internet.

Take advantage of local resources. If the community has a museum or nature center, I'll bet they have children's activities over the summer. Encourage your son's interest in snakes and lizards, take the children to see the mummies at the museum or let them perform in the little theater's skits. They'll be learning and having fun at the same time.

In The Family Manager's Guide To Summer Survival, the author suggests a designated "pickup time" each day to gather up the toys and do a 10-minute clean up. Sounds like a super idea to me. Teaching the children some simple summer foods to prepare introduces them to cooking and over time will save a busy mom from having to fix every meal.

There are so many things to do in the summer with children and they can be inexpensive. Turn off the TV and turn on your family to a summer of fun together.

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