Although kids usually have a long list of what they want to do during summer vacation, hardly a week has gone by before every parent hears that dreaded complaint: “I’m so bored.”

More than any other time in history, our children have an abundance of things to keep themselves occupied. But perhaps this is exactly the problem: children these days don’t know the delight of boredom.

Although most people hate being bored, boredom is the key to unlocking new ideas, games, and thinking. Here are some ways to embrace your child’s boredom this summer!

Benefits of Boredom

Children are often surrounded by endless toys and jam-packed schedules. They are rarely left alone long enough to experience the discomfort of boredom; if they are, it’s easy to “chill” and fill this time with video games. Why should we let–or even encourage–our children to be bored? Here are a few reasons:

• Fosters Creativity: Children overcoming boredom must dig into their creativity to find something inspiring and fun. Creativity in play will aid them in creativity with schoolwork, art, and social life.
• Problem-Solving Skills: Creativity requires problem-solving. How can they overcome obstacles to complete their idea? Successful adults are excellent problem-solvers, and these skills start in play
• Frustration Tolerance: Our modern, ultra-fast society gives children few opportunities to practice patience. Boredom helps them develop patience.
• Self-Confidence: Relying on oneself to overcome boredom increases a child’s self-confidence. They’re not reliant on a parent, peer, or technology–they can think and act for themselves. 

Don’t Give Them Ideas

Bored kids often seek out their parents to help them relieve their boredom. Parents, who often want to stop the complaining, are quick to provide solutions. However, this robs children of the opportunity to think for themselves. Additionally, children who find their own way to relieve their boredom are more satisfied in their solution and engaged in their play for longer.

Instead of rattling off a list of favorite or forgotten toys, try these phrases to help your child see the gift in boredom:

• “I’m so excited to see what you’ll find to do!”
• “I know you’ll think up something amazing to do!”
• “Boredom is your brain waking up to be creative!”
• “You have a great opportunity to decide what to do with your time.”
• “I’m glad you have some time to relax since we’ve been so busy.”

Embrace the Mess

Once kids unlock their creativity, a mess is quick to follow! To play camping, they might gather up blankets, pillows, play food and dishes, flashlights, backpacks, and more, for their campsite. This can result in a big mess! But it’s your job as a parent to not stress about the mess… yet. 

Of course, it’s appropriate to remind your children that whatever they get out or mix together, they need to sort and put away. But as long as they accept these terms, then let their creativity remain unhinged! If nothing else, it will teach your children the importance of only playing with what they want to clean up.

Set Boundaries on Technology

With a cell phone in nearly every pocket, adults and children alike are quick to alleviate even a moment of boredom with the touch of a button. It is rare to stand in line, wait in traffic, or even use the restroom without a device to occupy our attention.

To gain the benefits of boredom, parents must set boundaries on technology time. While it’s fine to have a tablet, phone, or game time, it shouldn’t be for hours on end. Most pediatricians agree that during the summer, kids should have no more than two total hours of tech time. These two hours should be further broken up into 15 or 20-minute increments with other activities between. 

Setting firm boundaries on technology will enable your children to have a healthy relationship with technology and branch out to find other interests in creative play.

When planning your summer activities, there is one outing that is guaranteed to be memorable: camping. 

Camping is like a sugar detox: most adults know that it would be good for them, but they also don’t want to give it a shot. Kids and adults alike balk at camping, and perhaps for good reason. There is unpredictable weather, uncomfortable sleeping arrangements, spooky noises of wild animals, and everyone is at least a little scared of bugs when it’s completely dark. 

But here are just a few reasons why you should consider–and even plan–a camping trip with your kids this summer.

1. Nature Immersion

Between work, school, and home, Americans spend 90% of their lives indoors. Less than 125 years ago, this statistic would have been opposite, with Americans spending the majority of their time outdoors.

Being inside, surrounded by artificial lights, unnatural electromagnetic fields like WiFi and Bluetooth, static airflow, and other man-made substances, is not conducive to proper development. All humans need to be connected with nature!

Camping is a fully immersive experience! Parents and children are constantly surrounded by beneficial natural elements. 

2. Skill Development

There are valuable life skills that kids can learn that only camping can provide. Things like pitching a tent, safely starting a campfire, identifying various plants and animal tracks, foraging, a sense of direction and use of a compass, teamwork, and survival skills are most impressive when camping. These memories will stick with your kids for the rest of their lives!

3. Increased Physical Activity

Camping encourages physical activity that promotes a healthy lifestyle. Pitching tents, gathering firewood, hiking, and exploring gives physical activity a purpose, and therefore makes it exciting and enjoyable. When kids (and adults!) see the benefits of being physically active, they’ll be more likely to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Be bold and plan a camping trip this summer! You can start small by camping in your basement (so everyone gets used to sleeping in the same room), then camping in your backyard, and then a campground close to your home. A summer camping trip may be your next family tradition!

Are the toy bins overflowing in your house? Do your kids have trouble keeping their toys picked up? Have they outgrown some of their toys or clothes? Are you looking for a little extra cash?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then you should sell old child items at a consignment or kid-to-kid store!

Many parents use consignment stores to buy gently used child items for much less. But did you know that you can cash in on your child’s gently used toys, books, and clothes? This is an excellent way to keep your house cleaner with fewer toys and clothes and get some extra bucks to put towards the next season.

If you’ve tried selling at kid-to-kid stores before, then you might have experienced some frustration with the store not taking your items or not giving you the monetary return you expected. Here are some tips to get the most back on the items you’re selling to a consignment store.

Have Right Expectations

Before bringing in your items, have the right expectations. You’re not going to make big bucks by selling your child’s old items, but you can still pocket a handful of cash–and it’s more money than donating it!

Consignment stores sell items for far less than the new listing price. The low prices encourage buyers to thrift and save money. However, to do that, they purchase your item for far less. 

Say you’ve purchased a darling 3-piece Easter outfit for $25. Your baby only wore it a few times, so it’s in pristine condition. The store may only give you $3. This is because they can only sell it for perhaps $5, and they have to make a profit to pay their overhead and employees.   

Focus on Quality Condition

Consignments will pay you more money for the quality of the items. Toys without (or minimal) dings and scratches, toys and puzzles with all the pieces, clothes without stains, and books with no (or minimal) tearing will always get you more money. This is because consignments can sell these items for more than items in good or poor condition.  

Try these tips to prove your toys and baby gear are in top condition:

• Leave batteries in toys so the employees can validate that the buttons work
• Place loose pieces in a baggie and attach to the toy so the employee can validate that all parts are accounted for
• Wipe all dirt, dust, and splotches from toys

Try these tips to prove your clothes, coats, or other weather gear are in top condition:

• Ensure clothes are freshly washed and stain-free
• Fold clothes for easy sorting. It also gives the impression that the clothes have been cared for. If applicable, fold brand-new clothes with the tag visible to the employee
• Pair matching clothing sets together so the employee knows they are sold as a set

Wait to Sell Items so They Are In Season

Consignment stores need trending items that you were looking for! At the turn of the season, kids need sandals, water shoes, swimsuits, shorts and short-sleeved shirts, dresses, baseball pants, and other summer items. Even if your child’s winter clothes are in mint condition, consignment stores are less likely to sell these items, and will therefore pay little for these items. 

However, put that box of winter clothes in a closet and set a reminder on your phone for six months away. You’ll be shocked at how much more you’ll get for the exact same items because they are in demand.

Immediately Sell Items That Are Trending

On the contrary, immediately sell any items that are trending. Consignments will pay far more for trending toys, characters, shoes, baby gear, and books than for similar items from five years ago. If your child outgrows a trending item, don’t hesitate to sell them! 

Most consignment shops will advertise the trending items they need to stock. You can access these lists on the shop’s website or social media platforms, by picking up a flyer at the store, or by calling the store. 

What Do I Do With Returned Items?

A consignment store rarely accepts all your items. The store will offer you reimbursement for the items they wish to buy and give you the rest. It’s up to you what you do with the returned items. You can try selling them at:

• Another consignment store
• Social media groups
• A yard sale

You can also donate them to a charity organization like Goodwill or Salvation Army. Donation is preferred over disposal because it keeps more items out of landfills.

Reading is one of the best ways to increase your toddler’s language skills, vocabulary, and literacy. But the benefits of reading to your child go beyond academic intelligence, you also develop a sweet emotional bond through reading!

This is why a children’s podcast, audiobook, or television series can’t replace reading. 

Babies can make no sense of stories without a visual context, but even the American Academy of Pediatrics states babies under two shouldn’t watch television. There’s a reason babies are so fascinated by another’s facial expressions, inflection, and mouth. Babies will frequently reach to touch your mouth or neck while you’re talking to understand how to move their lips and tongue to form words.

Toddlers and young children may understand basic stories from an audiobook or television show, but there is no emotional bonding, and oftentimes, there can be a technology “crash” after turning it off that doesn’t happen with reading. 

Build a Library

Babies and children love to have books be read over and over again. This is because children find comfort in the predictability of the story. The repetition also helps them learn new words (think of all the repetition you need to learn a second language!) and encode new information. 

While your local library is an excellent resource, you eventually have to take your favorite books back. Begin building a little library of special, quality books for your toddler that you don’t mind reading time and again. Here are just a few to get you started.

17 Classic Toddler Books

1. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
2. Little Blue Truck
3. Pat the Bunny by Dorothy Kunhardt
4. The Runaway Bunny
5. Goodnight Moon
6. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
7. The Going to Bed Book by Sandra Boynton
8. Blue Hat Green Hat by Sandra Boynton
9. Whistle for Willie by Ezra Jack Keats
10. The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
11. We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen
12. Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney
13. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin
14. Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson
15. Corduroy by Don Freeman
16. Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell
17. From Head to Toe by Eric Carle

How Do I Start?

Hopefully, you are inspired to read to your child, but maybe you’re feeling overwhelmed and don’t know where to start. Luckily, reading to your child is easy!

First, set reasonable expectations based on your child’s age and how much time you have. Babies won’t sit for long periods, and toddlers who aren’t used to reading stories may not sit for a long time, either. Start small by reading one short book and aim for just a few minutes of reading a day. Slowly add in one or two more stories, then add in longer stories. 

Before you know it, both you and your child will enjoy reading together!

Children’s Academy Childcare Values Reading

At Children’s Academy Childcare and Preschool, we understand how important it is to read to babies and children. That’s why we prioritize read-aloud time in our daily routine. While you should still read with your child, you can rest assured that your child is listening to quality stories and experiencing all the benefits of early-age literacy. 

Although it feels like Christmas was just last week, before you know it, it will be summertime! That means kids will be out of school and ready for those fun summer activities you have planned. (Hint hint)

One of the best ways to give your kids a fun summer experience is by enrolling them in fun but educational summer camps. These tend to fill up fast, so it’s best to start enrolling your child sooner rather than later! Here are some tips of what to look for in a summer camp.

Ensure Safety and Staff Requirements

You don’t want to drop your child off with adults who aren’t trustworthy or at a camp that doesn’t emphasize safety. Check out their website, policies, and independent reviews, and ask around on social media sites about the reputation of the camp. You can even contact the camp through email or phone call to learn more about the training the staff receive.

Some areas to research include:

• Staff background checks
• Child safety protocol, including policy on abuse
• How to get in touch with your child, and how your child can contact you
• CPR/AED certifications

One way to ensure the safety of a summer camp is by checking their accreditation with the American Camp Association. If a camp receives this accreditation, you can trust that the camp has met all safety standards.

Look for a STEM Camp

Summer camps should be fun, but children thrive with educational elements mixed in with their sunscreen and campfire time. 

STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and math. STEM camps can help grow your child’s brain and passion for education by incorporating interesting and educational activities. After all, the extra time in summer gives children the opportunity to make big, messy projects and experiment to their heart’s content. 

Identify Your Child’s Interests

What does your child enjoy? What are their natural talents? In what academic, athletic, or artistic areas can they grow?

Zeroing in on your child’s interests is an easy way to identify a camp they’ll be talking about for the rest of the year! You can’t go wrong with a camp all about the big thing in your child’s life. 

Diversify Your Child’s Interests and Peer Groups

While fun is a top priority for a summer camp, there’s nothing wrong with pushing your child’s comfort boundaries just a little. Perhaps they are brainiacs and don’t do a lot of sports; you might want to enroll your child in a camp that has regular physical exercise time or games. Or, if your child is super athletic, opt for a camp that includes STEM or volunteer work as well as physical activity. Your child is more likely to enjoy learning something new amid the excitement of being away at camp. 

Additionally, you can expand your child’s world by enrolling them in a camp with children from other cultures and backgrounds. This will increase their worldview, empathy, and care for all kinds of families. 

Budget-Friendly

You don’t have to spend a fortune on a summer camp! There are plenty of excellent summer camp options that don’t break the bank. These might be at your local YMCA, community center, or school program. Generally, day camps that only last for a few hours are cheaper than overnight camps. 

Some other ways to save money on kids’ summer camps are:

• Early bird registration: Often, the cheapest price for a summer camp happens months before the event. Do your research early so you can sign up before the price increases.
• Sibling discount: Many camps offer discounts for each subsequent child you register. 
• Scholarships: Some camps offer or receive scholarships based upon a child’s academic achievement, passion for learning, or other outstanding qualities.
• CRISTA discount: Some camps accept military discounts for children of military members. 
• VBS: Many local churches run Vacation Bible School camps that range from a few days to a whole week long. These are a fraction of the cost of other camps but include many of the games, crafts, and outdoor time that summer camps offer.  

Don’t Delay

Now that you know the top tips for finding a quality summer camp, don’t delay! Get researching right away so your child can have an excellent summer camp experience and you can save a little money, too.

Children of all ages love playdough. There’s just something about the squishy texture that delights children. And the colors provide endless creativity options!

It’s also irresistible not to squish those bright colors together. Almost every parent has attempted to enforce the “don’t mix colors” rule. But unless you sit and play with your child at all times, the colors inevitably get mixed. And then it’s not long before the whole lot is a muddle of brown.

Replacing playdough is expensive, but a much cheaper option allows you to experiment with colors before making your creations!

Why Should I Make Playdough?

Buying playdough is the easiest way to give playdough to your child, but there are benefits to making playdough that you don’t get by buying it. For instance:

• Budding Chefs: If your child is dying to help you in the kitchen, making playdough is an excellent alternative. They will experience the joy of making something and the connection with you, but it doesn’t have to be edible! Making playdough will increase their upcoming cooking skills so they can actually be a help to you in the kitchen. 
• Cheaper: This recipe makes enough playdough for 6 children for a fraction of the cost. 
• Customizable: You can make whatever colors you want! Make the deepest blue or the brightest yellow–it’s even an excellent opportunity to teach the color wheel. 
• Softer: This recipe makes beautifully soft playdough that’s easy on little fingers. Young children will especially benefit from working with softer dough. 
• Safety: Even though store-bought playdough is nontoxic, you still don’t know all the ingredients. This recipe has simple, real ingredients without any of the toxic stuff. If your child does happen to take a little nibble of their cookie creation, you know exactly what they’ve eaten. 
• Add-ins: You can add glitter, beads, or scents to the recipe to enhance your child’s playdough experience!

Playdough Recipe

Making your own playdough is simple and uses ingredients you likely already have in your house. This recipe comes from Jamielyn Nye of I Heart Naptime:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup salt
• 4 teaspoons cream of tartar
• 2 cups lukewarm water
• 2 Tablespoons of vegetable oil (coconut oil works too)
• Food coloring, optional
• Quart sized bags

Step 1: Stir together the flour, salt, and cream of tartar in a large pot. 

Step 2: Add the water and oil. 

Step 3: Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly. Continue stirring until the dough has thickened and forms a ball. 

Step 4: Remove from heat and place inside a gallon-sized bag or onto wax paper. 

Step 5: Allow to cool slightly and then knead until smooth. 

Step 6: Divide the dough into balls, one for each color. Add the dough to the quart-sized bags. 

Step 7: Add 5 drops of color (add more as you see fit). Knead the dough inside the bag (to avoid staining your hands). 

Note: Cream of Tartar minimizes the dough’s stickiness, so it’s essential to include. Cream of Tartar can be found in the spices section of the grocery store. 

Store the playdough in Ziploc bags and it will stay fresh for three months.

Give this recipe a try and you’ll be surprised by how easy and fun it is. Plus, you’ll encourage your child’s independence and creativity while making fun memories.