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Imagination and fresh air. Fireflies and bullfrogs. Summertime brings with it warmth, free time, and a certain intangible feeling of limitless possibilities. Time spent with the family during these sunny months will likely form a child's best memories. Here are a few tips to make summertime a special time. You don't need to go on an expensive vacation or to an elaborate event to create a magical summer experience for your child: in fact, they'll likely appreciate a long-lasting summer of fun more than a boring summer punctuated by one or two vacations.

Free Your Mind:
Both you and your children likely spend the rest of the year training your mind to do one task or another. Arithmetic, school reports, job deadlines, and household chores drag us down and focus our brains to work in a very goal-oriented way. Even if you don't have your summers off like your kids do, summer is the time to embrace and nourish your mind. Play games together, write stories together, read books together, and, most importantly of all, imagine together. Create stories, backyard mythologies, and secret codes. You'll find that doing this creates meaningful, long lasting family bonds while contributing to the carefree spirit of summertime.

Free Your Wallet:
Think of things to do that don't cost money. Starting a lemonade stand, planting a garden, or attending free festivals/museums/library events are a great place to begin. No matter the size of your town or city, there's a good chance that there will be many sorts of free events during the whole summer. Pay special attention to agricultural fairs (Strawberry, Apple, Tulip festivals, etc...) as they are often catered towards kids. Not only will attending these events like broaden all of your horizons, but they'll save money so that you can go on a vacation, large or small, should you choose to do so.

Free Your Body:
Because of the nice weather, spending your days under the sun, in the water, or climbing trees is imperative. Run, play tag, play hide and seek, and explore nature. Capture fireflies (but of course, let them go at the end of the night!) and start bonfires. Stargazing will show your kids the limitless sky, and playing flashlight tag will give your kid a feeling of adventure without actually having to travel anywhere. Go on walks, dance in the backyard, and go wild! These are the things your child will remember.

So much emphasis is placed on vacations, outings, and travel during the summer, that people often forget that EVERY day during summer can be special, not just a week in the middle of August or the weekend of the 4th of July. Learn to take time after work to embrace the spirit of summertime, and get ready to really experience what family fun is.

Learn more about this author, Jessica Sullivan.
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