Whether school is starting or because summer really is coming to an end…..we are nearing the end of the hottest months of the year (thank goodness – I am soooo over heat and humidity). Check out these fun ways to celebrate the end of summer that the whole family can enjoy.
8 Fun Ways to Celebrate the End of Summer
Have a water fight. There are magic water balloons that allow you to fill up a hundred water balloons in a matter of minutes. Add a few squirt guns and you will be able to have an epic water party (especially if you invite neighbors or friends). We used these for the last day of school and I swore then that it was the best investment I had made to date. I still look back at how little time it took to fill all those balloons and smile. It is worth every penny to save that much time and (popping) frustration!
Have a Summer-Themed Movie Night. Grab a DVD or que your video rental subscription with a summer-themed movie. There are so many great movies to consider including: National Lampoon’s Vacation, Weekend at Bernies, Camp Nowhere, Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer, Sandlot, The Great Outdoors, Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead, and Dirty Dancing. If you have access to a projector, speakers, and white sheet you can take turn this into an outdoor movie event! Get a video from your childhood to watch with your kids since it seems like we spend a lot of time watching what they are in to these days.
Kick it Old School. Grab a jar and poke some holes in the lid and head out to catch fireflies. If you don’t have fireflies in your area grab some glow sticks and head outdoors to play tag or tell stores. Speaking of stories, bust out a few Ghost Stories for Kids.
Play Outdoor Games. Turn an old coffee can into a game of Kick the Can. Turn old shirts into flags for a game of capture the flag. Set up a game of horse shoes. Croquet and badminton are also great additions to family games. These glow in the dark birdies make badminton fun after dusk!
Stay Up {Super} Late. Set a bedtime that is several hours later than your kids’ normal bedtimes. In the summer bed time tends to get pushed later anyway, but make it a really late night. Visit an outdoor movie event at a local park or take ice cream to a local park. Set up a tent and have a mock camping event. There are so many ways to make staying up late super fun.
Sidewalk Chalk Party. Get out all your sidewalk chalk and use it up! Create a mandala, city scape, forest scene, map, signs, and more! Let kids explore using wet paint. Serve drinks and snacks.
Make Ice Cream. Buy all the supplies you need to make your own ice cream (ice cream salt may be all that you have to buy – it’s likely you have milk, vanilla, sugar, and Zip-loc bags on hand already). Be sure to have some fun sprinkles or toppings on hand to turn your homemade ice cream into the ultimate masterpiece.
Have a Pool Party. Gather a few friends at a pool and have a super fun pool party. Chicken fighting is fun at all ages. Marco Polo is the pool game we associate the most with the swimming pool. Don’t forget to take a few balls, water guns, and noodles with you to the pool. For those who get tired of swimming, have a hoola hoop or two available for some pool deck down time.
How do you make the end of summer fun? Tell us all about it in the comments below!
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Leandrea is a married mom of two girls, ages 13 and 12, living in Atlanta, GA. She is passionate about helping people save money one coupon at a time. Read more