5K Run/Walks in Kansas City: Sweetheart Run/Walk

What: Sweetheart Run/Walk

When: (stay tuned for 2025 date)

On a personal note, here's my walking story for National Walking Day a couple of years ago with an update.

Run/Walks in Kansas City: GEHA Field at Arrowhead 5K

What: GEHA Field at Arrowhead 5K

When: (stay tuned for the 2025 date)

Where: Arrowhead Stadium, One Arrowhead Drive, Kansas City, MO

Details from 2024: Join us on Friday, May 10th, 2024, for the 11th Annual GEHA Field at Arrowhead 5k & Kids 1K, where you will run on the same field your Kansas City Chiefs play on!!!

5K Run/Walks in Kansas City: Battle of the Bean

I love walking. Walking on a treadmill is fine, but I love walking outside the most. Now that we live in the country, it's so peaceful to walk. I get off the main road and into the neighborhoods and rarely see a car. While walking, I listen to a variety of things on my phone: audiobooks, podcasts, Marco Polo messages (and I sometimes leave them while walking too), music. I'm a fan of multi-tasking, so I get to have some time out of the house, get some exercise, and also feed my brain with a book or information or friend/family updates or uplifting music.

Tick Tock Escape Games in Overland Park, KS

I can't say enough good things about our experience at Tick Tock Escape Games in Overland Park, KS. When they contacted me to see I'd like to come try it out for free in exchange for a review blog post back in the summer of 2017, I was intrigued. My son Michael had been to an escape room once and loved it and he was excited to try another one. He loved Tick Tock so much that his 15th birthday is coming up and he specifically asked to go back to Tick Tock and take 4 friends and his dad!

I really didn't know what to expect, and of course I can't share much because you have to figure out each room on your own! We took our three oldest kids and left the two youngest with our friend and her kids. The kids we took were then 16, 14 and 12.

When we got there, we were given instructions about how to get through the escape room situation. 
We were in a room with cool music and retro clues, so I was in trivia heaven. My husband didn't grow up watching a lot of TV, so I was super helpful in that area. However, that's about where it ended. Everybody worked together and we did so well we only missed the one-hour time limit by a couple of minutes. It was so great as a mom to watch my kids work as a team and come up with some smart ideas of things to try and they figured out so many of the clues! I went into the experience thinking my husband and I would have to carry the whole deal, but the kids were amazing!

They had a blast and wanted to do it again immediately. I texted my dad right away and told him he needed to do the same room I had just done, and he needed to do it with his brothers sometime soon. Fantastic workplace team-building opportunity. Great for birthdays, a double date, family or friend fun.

(I had written this post but not published it. In creating a list of enrichment activities for homeschoolers on my homeschooling blog, I remembered this escape room and added it to the list!)

POGO Pass for 50% Off!!!

Here's what I know:

This is an AMAZING GIFT for your own family, another family, anyone who is new to the area, grandchildren, and newlyweds. 

This is not just for kids!

Kids older than 12 often count as adults and the price of things goes up, but with POGO Pass, it's just one redemption no matter the age of the person using it. 

The app makes it so easy to keep track of everything you've already done!

Here's how to buy one if you're ready to roll. $44.99 + tax through my site instead of $99.98 + tax just by going to my link!

Head over here to see how much all the current Kansas City Pogo Pass venues would cost WITHOUT a Pogo Pass.

History of 9028 Grant Street in Overland Park, Kansas from 2000-2017

My husband and I moved into 9028 Grant Street in Overland Park, Kansas on April 1, 2000. 

We brought home each of our babies from the hospital, all five of them, to this home, starting with Joel in June of 2001, then Michael in April of 2003, Callie in February of 2005, Eva in December of 2007, and Samuel in October of 2009.

We homeschooled them all here as well. 

I started blogging in 2008, and you can find a lot of the history of the house, including photos, on this blog.

Things we loved about it:

Being across from the school = free playground on nights, weekends, summers, and school holidays.

Being within walking distance of the library!

2023 Chick-fil-A Cow Appreciation Day Dress Like a Cow Day Free Food!

2023 update: Not only is it Cow Appreciation Day on July 11, 2023, but it's also 7-11's Free Slurpee Day!

This is a post I wrote in 2012 about doing our family's first Chick-fil-A Cow Appreciation Day, and here are some photos, both vintage and from last year!

Tuesday, July 11, 2017 is the day/night to go THIS YEAR ...

This year I took 8 kids plus my husband and myself and we spent $8.47 on fries only :-)

Please check out the details here first ... they stop serving this free deal at 7 p.m. and you don't get an entire free meal anymore ...

     

Bottom line is YOU GOTTA DO THIS! When we do this with our entire family it amounts to $60 in free food for dinner alone. I thought that was awesome. However, my friend Liz can always do me one better! She says you can go for ALL THREE MEALS OF THE DAY!

Are you going? So easy to toss together an outfit that resembles a cow (just think black and white, brown and white, spots, ears, tail, nose -- they aren't too picky as long as you give it a shot). Now for the vintage 2012 photos I promised you!

Getting ready to pull out my udder for my little calf

Grumpy calf donning ballet shoes

Eva was Karate Kow

Getting ready

*Updating* 33 Things to Do Indoors with Kids in Kansas City

Okay, so my visions of snuggling up by a fire and homeschooling every day last winter were blown to bits by the fact that my kids are getting older and bounce off the walls when stuck inside on freezing days. So here are some indoor ideas I have come up with so far ... some are free and some are so expensive they should not even be on the list. Enjoy!

Last updated in 2019, pre-COVID, and some things may have changed so I'm updating again now on the day after Christmas 2022 :-) Some of these are included for no charge once you purchase your $39.99 Pogo Pass (if you use my referral link here, then you don't pay $79.98!)

Please use this list and enjoy it and have fun NOT being stuck in the house with your kids when it is 10 degrees outside this winter. Maybe I'll see you out there and please, I beg of you, don't judge me when you see me out with my 5 kids and I am feeding them Kit Kats for lunch with a Capri Sun chaser. Assume we got all our homeschooling done that morning. Definitely let's chat and share in this parenting thing.

Feel free to leave me more ideas in the comments section, or email me at mommykerrie at yahoo dot com. Thanks, and see you around!

You could take your kid on the $5 Roasterie tour and get to wear a nifty cap like this one! Reminds me of Laverne and Shirley a little bit!

1. Aaron's Family Fun Center in Belton (my new neighborhood, close to Peculiar). Aron and the kids went bowling there one night and had a blast. Check out this post about Kids Bowl Free all Summer! If you homeschool or have little ones, go during the day in the winter, and for just a few bucks you get a game, shoes, and a soda!
   
   
2. Bass Pro Olathe or Bass Pro in Independence just to mess around, especially at Christmastime.
   
   
3. Blue Valley Recreation Center and Activity Center. Indoor pool. Massage chairs. Enough said.
   
   
4. Coffeecade in Peculiar, MO has throwback video games, a pinball machine, a beer pong machine (!), gift items like Chiefs stuff, soaps, and coffee. They also have great coffee drinks and baked goods!
   
   
5. Centerfire shooting range if your kids are a little bit older and you are cool with teaching your kids how to safely handle a gun.
   
   
6. Christian Youth Theatre. $5 shows on Fridays during certain times of the year. They also have classes and plays that your child can audition for!
   
   
7. Coco Key for indoor water fun!
   
   
8. Great Wolf Lodge for indoor water fun!
   
   
9. Ibis Bakery in Lenexa field trip.
   
   
10. IKEA in Merriam ... If you sign up for the family card we are talking about free kid meals on Tuesdays, free coffee for you and lots of roaming space. Here is my post about that.
    
    
11. Indigo Wild factory, where they make amazing soaps (ZUM bar!) and other great-smelling things.
    
    
12. Jump City indoor bouncy houses.
    
    
13. Kaleidoscope and Hallmark Visitors Center (both free!).
    
    
14. Kaw Prairie Church and play area.
    
    
15. Kidscape in Shawnee moved to the Heritage and Arts Center 87th and Metcalf!
    
    
16. Lakeside Nature Center near the Kansas City Zoo. Look for the Nolan Connors brick near the front door. He's my friend Jill's son who died in his sleep on December 31, 2012 at age of 13; he used to volunteer here.
    
    
17. Matt Ross gym and pool For $170 for 3 months you can get a family pass to  ... definitely worth it for big families if you can scrape the funds together. Check out the game room and explorer room for playing.
    
    
18. McDonald's Playlands! 87th Street in Overland Park by the Central Resource Library; 95th Street in Overland Park by Oak Park Mall; Belton by the Cass County Library; Lenexa near 435.
    
    
19. Let's Go Putt Indoor Mini Golf (Prehistoric Putt) in Independence, Mo replaces Paradise Park.
    
    
20. The Roasterie field trip (*updated* $5 for the tour)
    
    
21. Science City at Union Station and buy the planetarium tickets! Boom -- homeschool science for the week for the win!
    
    
22. Scheel's is a fun place to hang out and they have a Ferris wheel!
    
    
23. SkyZone (kinda expensive for my crew for only an hour of play even with the homeschool discount ... you have to buy their sky socks and good luck washing them and finding them ever again, hence the buying of the sky socks again and again). Get the monthly pass with friend option (a sibling counts as a friend) and go often!
    
    
24. Steamboat Arabia Museum in the City Market area takes care of history for the day.
    
    
25. Wonderscope Children's Museum in Shawnee Red Bridge Area.
    
    
26. Coming soon to replace Zonkers.
    
    
27. Library events reading time and craft times.
    
    
28. Paint, Glaze and Fire or some other ceramics painting spot (you can take the older kids).
    
    
29. The ballet and KC Symphony.
    
    
30. Check out Stone Lion Puppets' free shows.
    
    
31. The Coterie at Crown Center, where you can go with a group to get the $5 tickets. 
    
    
32. Emerald City Gymnastics has a homeschool open play on Mondays and Thursdays from 2-3 p.m. ages 4 and up ... only $5 for an hour of open play (half the price of SkyZone and no Sock Police and a great staff!).
    
    
33. The Foundry Parkside Coffeehouse at Cedar Ridge Christian Church in Lenexa. Friday afternoons you'll find bunches of homeschoolers there.

When you get home from having a ton of fun with your kids, you can either get this free on Kindle Unlimited (30-day free trial then $9.99 a month), pay hardly a thing for the ebook version, or order the print version for 2-day delivery on Prime and make one of these tater tot casserole recipes for dinner!

The Real Cost of a Kansas City Pogo Pass

 

Over on this blog post where I rant and rave about how much we have loved our Pogo Passes for years, I mentioned that so far this year (2022) we have been to the Jazz Museum, ROKC, Kansas City Zoo Boo at the Zoo, and the Beach at Lake Olathe, which would have cost $57 alone just for those 4 places. 

Pogo Passes are good for one full year from redemption, normally cost $80, but you can get them for just $35 using my referral code and doing it during the Pogo Pass Black Friday Sale, and here's the current list below with prices from lowest to highest in Kansas City alone. You can also see my graphic above. Lower prices are if you're a resident of Olathe or Jackson/Clay county, purchase online. I created the graph based on a 5-year-old child, a 14-year-old teen, and an adult. Links to venues are below and also on the Pogo Pass site! 

Don't live in Kansas City or want to purchase for someone else in another spot? Traveling within the next year? You can get passes to Dallas/Ft. Worth, South Central Texas, Phoenix, and Las Vegas!

1. American Jazz Museum ($6-10)
2. Beach at Lake Olathe ($8 resident/$10 nonresident)
3. Black Bob Bay Waterpark ($10 resident/$12 nonresident)
4. Fort Osage National Historic Landmark ($4-8)
5. Kansas City Zoo ($8.50-20)
6. KC Mavericks hockey games -- 2 ($12 general admission? Reserve in advance through the Pogo Pass site, then Events.)
7. Level Up Arena 2-hour gaming pass ($10)
8. My Play Cafe ($10 ages 6 months to 6 years)
9. Negro Leagues Baseball Museum ($6-10)
10. Northland Rolladium Skate Center (complicated fee structure depending on the day/time of day and sometimes includes skates/sometimes not; $6-10)
11. Powell Gardens ($4-10)
12. Prairie Fire Museum ($5)
13. Pump it Up ($? open play; temporarily closed while they move)
14. Rainbow of the Heartland ($10 open play)
15. ROKC Climbing Gym ($18 for a day pass, which includes gym equipment)
16. Science City ($14.50)
17. UMKC sports events -- 1 ticket to each: men's and women's basketball, men's and women's soccer, women's volleyball ($10 each)
18. Wonderscope ($12 ages 2-15, $9 over age 15)

Also check out 33 Things to do Indoors with Kids in Kansas City!

The Best Christmas Light Displays in Kansas City

*Originally posted December 9, 2014

Driving around looking at lights each December was a tradition when I was a kid, and my husband also remembers doing this with his family. So it only makes sense that we have continued this festive tradition with our kids. 

Some years we start out with to-go mugs of hot chocolate (mixed with coffee for me, please!), or sometimes we might go to Starbucks for hot chocolates for the kids and coffees for the adults. We have plenty of space in our 12-passenger van, and this year we even loaned out our van to a friend who had family in town so they could look at lights together and in comfort. 

Once we're all loaded up, we hit some of these places, in no particular order, and you can always make it a two-night affair if you need to: 

Candy Cane Lane is in a cul-de-sac in the 7900 block of Outlook Street in Prairie Village (3 streets west of Nall) and has been there since 1958.

#WorldsofFun — the Perfect Family/Fun Day! Find Your Amazing!

So I initially titled this post "Perfect Summer Day" ... but we've been to WinterFest and it was a Perfect Winter Evening. How about The Haunt? That would be a Perfect Autumn Evening! Carnivale? The Perfect Summer Night! We are so fortunate to have Worlds of Fun here in Kansas City, and it's no wonder people come from all over the country in all seasons and in all types of weather to enjoy it!

All photographs you see in this post that are of my family on a ride were taken while others were still loading onto the rides. We did NOT take any photos while a ride was being operated. You are not allowed to do this, and we did not do it!

*I need to start by sharing how great the Worlds of Fun/Oceans of Fun park app is. It stored all of our tickets and passes, including meal and drink passes. It showed wait times of rides and had a map of the park. It also made it quick and easy to get into the park.

Kids Bowl Free Summer 2021

You are not going to believe this. I signed up for this the summer of 2017 then never went. We just went to the pool so much and then I would forget to check into bowling and then the kids would play outside like kids do in the summer. Somehow the summer flew by!

Then we moved in the fall of 2017 and in FEBRUARY 2018, my husband took four kids bowling at Aaron's Family Fun Center in Belton, MO while my daughter had her 13th birthday party – and the bowling was a hit! We went there a few times doing the Buddy Bowl, which was $4 per kid for a game, shoes and a soda. 

This summer I am determined to take the kids bowling, and drag along some other families who are signed up for Kids Bowl Free! Check it out:

Registered Kids Receive 2 FREE GAMES Of Bowling Every Day All Summer Long, Valued At Over $500 Per Child!

Select bowling centers and schools around the country are participating in the first-ever Kids Bowl Free program. This program is designed by bowling centers to give back to the community and provide a safe, secure, and fun way for kids to spend time this summer. Children whose age does not exceed a limit by a participating bowling center are eligible to register for 2 free games a day, all summer long, courtesy of the participating bowling centers along with the schools and organizations.

Here's what they have to say on their website, and if you love to bowl it's a pretty good deal:

Did you know that adult family members can get 2 FREE games, every day all summer long with our Family Pass starting at just $29.95?

And yes, I am aware that most likely I might have to buy some nachos and sodas. I might even once or twice bowl with them just to show them how it's done how bad I am and always have been despite growing up in a bowling alley while my mom was on a team and also learning bowling at St. Agnes' bowling alley in Roeland Park, Kansas (we walked there from Old Mission Junior High, near Bishop Miege ... seems I was always destined to become Catholic ... all the signs were there, and my husband's grandparents lived right across the street from my junior high). Wow, I can make a connection from one thing to another with pretty much anything, can't I? :-)

Let me know if you get signed up and if you actually plan to go! Here's how to sign up!

Here are more indoor fun ideas in Kansas City, summer or winter!

*for only $37.95 (one-time payment), I can get a pass for all summer for up to 4 more adults to bowl 2 free games each day ... which comes in handy since one of my kids is almost 20 and if my husband and I also both want to go along. 

Be sure to sign up for an email subscription to The Kerrie Show here and follow me on my Facebook fan page for more updates! I'm also on Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and Instagram!

River Market KCMO Date: Pigwich, Planter's, Lock up Your Love, Betty Rae's, Opera House, a Park

So when you've been with someone almost 26 years (we met in July of 1995, and here's our love story) and you have 5 kids together, it's easy to get into a routine of work, kids, busy, house projects, dishes, cooking, laundry, driving, errands, homeschooling, dentist, eye doctor, orthodontist, social stuff at home and other places, taxes, fishing, etc.

Maybe you try to carve out a day, put it on the calendar, but then something else comes up and you have to move the date to another time or maybe it just falls off the radar altogether. Also, with 5 kids coming and going, a couple driving, some with other plans, it becomes a homework assignment in rocket science to make it all work out. Not to mention you have to make sure there is plenty of food at home, and then you have to run down the ground rules again.

I'm happy to report that, although my husband and I didn't date much when the kids were younger (simply because we enjoyed being with them so dang much and also we had like 6 years together before we ever had kids), we are dating more now, when we can. Recently we went to Ronnie's Restaurant in Lenexa and it was fantastic!

I put this date on the calendar several weeks ago. It was originally supposed to be May 8, but I was consulted and agreed that a fishing trip with Mr. McLoughlin and Twin and 6 of the kids (4 of ours and 2 of Twin's) would be fine as long as we could move the date to May 1. 

Look, I know the MALE is supposed to plan the date and all that. I get where you're coming from, and we teach our boys that THEY call the girls and not the other way around. And we teach our girls that they should expect to have doors opened for them, etc. They are very blessed to have many friends whose parents have similar values. 

But sometimes you want to plan something nice for someone, you know? I chose a restaurant I knew he would like, a shopping experience I thought he would enjoy, and some exercise I knew he was craving. Then I got one more surprise idea. Here's our day in pictures! I hope it gives you some inspiration!

The Tiny House Movement + I Want to Live at IKEA

 A post came up on my Facebook feed recently reminding me that we bought the four acres adjacent to our home a few weeks after the insane and stressful process of selling our old home and moving in to our new one. I had forgotten about that entire stressful process, kind of like a mini-house-buying negotiation session complete with more papers to sign. Thank goodness for Docusign so we didn't have to do everything in person!

I was thinking I probably need to check into getting a building permit to build a tiny house on this "bonus property" for my mom to live on someday. Or I also dream of a little office back in the woods so I can get creative and write my memoir series. But that's a long time away! I still have around 8 more years of homeschooling :-)

So let's go back to September 2017 for a moment and a trip I took to IKEA with my kids...

Remember that movie from the ’80s where the guy and the girl got lost in the Target and had so much fun? Well, I prefer IKEA. They even have the food of my people, the Swedes. Food, coffee, chocolate, lots of space for running. The ultimate hide-and-seek space. Bathrooms. Did I mention amazing food?

Look! You can even get in your exercise at IKEA!

I like these storage solutions, but always fear I'd bonk my head on them.

Can you imagine living in 590 square feet? Have you ever had to, such as in a
dorm room or tiny studio apartment?

Callie's ideal office, complete with Eiffel Tower prints.

Time to go.

When we got home later, my son put on the song "I Wear My Sunglasses at Night" and trotted around in time to the beat like a super cool guy. When I was 13 years old, I sure didn't think that someday my kid would like my music. I know my dad has the same thoughts.

Make Memories with Your Kids!!!!

 It is a Friday in September. 

Homeschooling during coronavirus is going better than most years and we have a rhythm going and I don't want to interrupt it. Just kidding. We are like 2 weeks in and already a little bit "behind."

It is kinda chilly. Maybe rain is coming.

It isn't my husband's Friday off, so he can't come with us, but it had to be THIS DAY ONLY (you know when your schedule is so full as a parent and there is NO OTHER DAY to do something?).

We already had the budget done and I forgot to put this as a line item (when we go to this place like once a year, we have to eat at a heavenly spot called Burrito King). What if we could not live without something from The General Store or The Nature Center Shop?

I am swamped with proofreading projects.

The Rona is rampant on the college campus, where we are heading to see Julia, who lived with us for five months this year.

My wonderful and talented husband had the big van torn up, working on the timing system, so the 6 of us will cram into the truck and drive an hour each way.

My daughter has a sleepover later today to be dropped off at, so also crammed in the truck with 6 decent-sized people would be a pillow, blanket and suitcase. Oh, and the plans changed as far as drop-off time turning into LATER, so I had to pivot.

It's the time of the Rona, and unexpected things happen, which sometimes make me nervous, but mostly make me surly. I don't like to be surly. For instance, we are going to avoid the Natural History Museum this time because of all the mask stuff (the potential for workers and volunteers to bark at us for having them below our nose or whatever). I'm not getting into a debate about masks with anyone, but just know that I do not want to kill anyone with my germy breath, but we are not pro-mask for various reasons that I will not go into here (although, hey, I do have a pretty good platform for a blog post on that someday). That is all.

I've done this a lot over the years, where I waffled on going somewhere, packing up all the diapers, snacks, juice pouches and sippie cups, keep a trash bag in the car at all times, stop by the side of the highway to nurse a baby or toddler. There were other things we needed to be doing, other things we wanted to be doing, but we did this thing anyway.

You know what? My kids are now 10, 12, 15, 17, and 19, and the things they talk about fondly are some of those very things I had to force myself out of the house to do.

Loading up a bunch of bikes and snacks and sunscreen and waters back at the end of March for eight people and taking two vehicles to drive 30-plus minutes to ride one of the most beautiful trails in the city was a pain. Especially since the entire world had our same idea because there was nowhere else to go but OUTSIDE back in the spring of 2020 so even finding parking at the parks was difficult. But we did it ... twice. And the kids still talk about it fondly. We will probably do it again next year.

So there are a bunch of reasons why I wanted to just cancel today. Just forget it. Let's try another day (although we'd been doing that for a year and it never worked out).

Be we are going anyway. Because there is never a PERFECT DAY. There is today. So just jump. Just go.

Come back for an update on our day!

Fun Ways to Spend Your Summer Vacation

 

Callie at the new shave ice place in town

While it is nice to have a break during the summer months, it can be monotonous to stay busy and active. If you are wondering how you can make for a fun summer bucket list, you have come to the right place. Here are a few ideas that can bring you the summer of your dreams.

Travel When You Can

You don't have to spend a fortune to have a summer full of travel by booking ahead earlier in the year. This way, you can find deals when they are hot. It may be more time consuming to be checking flights and travel websites so frequently, but it will be worth your while when it is time to enjoy your trips.

Stay Active

Not only is it good for your health to stay active, but it can also be a fun time if you are creative. Winning a few golf tournament trophies (and maybe some prize money, too) or joining a softball league is a great way to get some steps in and enjoy some time with friends and family. If none of these things sound appealing, you may be surprised by how going for a daily walk can improve your mood.

Appreciate the Little Things

Taking the time to appreciate the little things like a rainbow after a storm or a nice dinner with loved ones is a fabulous way to make the best out of the warmer months. Sometimes, all you need is a weekend snuggled on the couch, watching your favorite show to feel re-energized and ready to tackle anything.

There is no one size fit all instruction manual to the perfect summer, but you can always try out a few different things to see if anything sticks. Above all else, taking the time to relish in the warm weather will mean a much more productive school year.

Buy Local (Strategically)

 

photo courtesy of Dreamstime

Many people talk a big game about buying local, but when the rubber hits the road, it may be better for the community and the environment but sometimes just isn't the most affordable or convenient option. So instead of just saying "you should always buy local" or even "you should buy local when possible," it's time to talk about buying local strategically. Where can your locally spend dollars do the most good, both for you and your community?

Produce

Fresh produce, even when not perfectly unblemished and shiny, is generally better tasting than that which you find in the supermarket. Finding a fresh produce supplier Medley FL or your area can instantly improve the quality of your cooking. You can't buy everything local, most likely, but you can't deny that local tomatoes grown in-season are going to be better than what you find at the grocery store. The grocery store will always be there later. 

Books

Books are another thing that you should absolutely buy local, for two reasons. First of all: when you buy from a local bookstore, the author gets paid more than if you buy from a big conglomerate. If you want to support your favorite author, buy their book from your local independent bookstore. 

Spaces 

Also, bookstores are often important community spaces not just for writers and readers but for artists of all kinds. Think of the spaces that you value in your local area, like small restaurants, hair salons and coffee shops. They all need your support to stay in business. 

Don't beat yourself up for buying from a chain. There's a reason that chains exist and a reason that they're so popular. However, it's worth investing in your local economy in ways that are meaningful to you and can do the most good, so be strategic with your money and your purchases.

Easy Ways To Keep The Kids Entertained This Summer

Now that summer has arrived, parents are faced with the summer holidays. It can sometimes be
challenging to know how to keep the kids busy through the summer. You don’t want to risk not
organising anything, by the time the end of the summer arrives, you’ll be sure to be pulling your
hair out. 

Photo by Mac DeStroir from Pexels

Things of things to do, however, doesn’t have to mean you are going out and about. You can stay at
home and have just as much fun. Parents often get confused into thinking they need to go out all the
time and fill the summer with expensive activities; this isn’t the case. 

If you’re finding it hard to think of some ways to keep the kids entertained this summer, have a look at
some of the ideas below: 

Out And About 

Ok, so we will start with a few days out, but inexpensive ideas. There is a load of fun activities that
you can get involved with over the summer when the weather is perfect.

Visit The Beach -  A trip to the beach is often a great success for the kids. It’s something that the
whole family can get involved with, with water sports, sandcastle competitions, picnics, and much
more the beach is a winning, cheap day out for the whole family. 

Theme Parks - You may think that this is an expensive option; however, if you shop around and find
coupons, you can often find a great deal for these kinds of days out. 

A Trip To A Park - Whether you choose a play park or a national park, they are both brilliant. Ride
your bikes, playing ball games, have a picnic, relax in the summer sun, or enjoy a box of
pretzels delivered (order them in advance).

There is plenty that a park can offer you and the kids, and it’s a popular go-to for many parents in
the summer holidays. 

Days In 

Days in can be just as entertaining as days out in the summer. They are also a great way to keep
the costs down if you have spent some savings on trips or week away already. Being at home also
enables your children to free play and choose some activities they would like to do in their own space. 

Home Cinema - An enjoyable day at home is a home cinema. Recreate a cinema feeling in your
lounge. Pick out some favourite movies and munch on some hotdogs and popcorn. You could even
set the living room up as a den that surrounds the TV with comfy seating and blankets. 

Back Yard Camping - Who said you have to travel to camp? Camping in the back yard can be a
brilliant way to introduce your kids to nature without worrying if they’ll enjoy it, they will automatically
feel safer because they are in their back yard. Why not go the whole way and create a mini-camp
site complete with a seating area, fake fire (or real under supervision), lanterns, and chairs. 

These ideas should get the creative juices flowing and give you a good starting position with
your summer holiday plans. Is there anything that you are planning for this summer? Please
share your ideas in the comments below. 

Here's How To Prepare For An Awesome Family Trip

Are you planning on taking the kids camping? If so, then there are definitely a few things to consider. Here are the important factors to keep in mind to ensure that your camping trip does go off without a hitch. 

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Check The Tent 

Before you head out camping you do need to make sure that all your equipment is working effectively. This is crucial to ensure that you don’t run into issues when you arrive at the campsite. Believe it or not, this can happen. One of the most common mistakes people make is thinking the tent will be okay because it’s been in storage for a while. Well, that’s just not the case. The reality is that a tent in storage can develop numerous issues, particularly if it wasn’t put away the right way. Use a dry run to check the tent before camping. Look for issues with leaks and other issues that could cause you problems when you’re out for a couple of weeks in the wilderness. 

Get The Right Equipment

You also need to make sure that you have all the right equipment for a fantastic camping trip. You’ll probably find that there’s more to purchase here than you might expect. For instance, you do need to make sure that you have all the right cooking supplies. Cooking outdoor equipment is definitely not the same as what you probably have lying around your kitchen so don’t make the mistake of just relying on this. You also need to think about whether a power supply will be necessary for your camping trip as well. 

Research Campsites

It’s definitely worth researching the different campsites that you can go to because there are a lot of choices that could suit your needs. You could think about the different activities that are available nearby. You might also want to consider whether the campsite in question is suitable for your requirements. For instance, some will provide electric outlets for devices while others will not. Some campsites will have lakes nearby that are going to be ideal for those interested in exploring some fun water sports. 

Prepare For The Best And The Worst

You might also want to think about the worst situations that you could encounter when camping. Specifically, you need to consider what you’re going to do if the weather takes a turn. This can happen, even if you are planning to go camping in the middle of the summer. There need to be contingency plans in place for this. If the weather makes it impossible to continue camping, make sure that you know where the nearest hotel or shelter is. You might also want to ensure that you pack some fun activities for those rainy days in the woods. 

We hope this helps you understand some of the best ways to prepare for your next family camping trip the right way. If you take this advice, you can guarantee that you have a fun-filled adventure that is sure to bring you closer together. 

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