Summertime is filled with family vacations, summer camps, and outdoor adventures. After all the excitement is over, it’s nice to have some laid back family time at home. In fact, some of my favorite summer memories were made right here at home.
You don’t even need to spend a lot of money, because luckily, the amount of magic an experience has is not directly correlated to the price tag. Making summer memories at home can cost you nothing at all, and be just as much fun as an expensive outing.
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Papa John’s. Papa John’s provided the pizza featured in this conversation to me free-of-charge. The opinions and text are all mine.
If some laid back fun is what you are looking for, check out these ideas for making summer memories at home:
Sell lemonade. Some of my best childhood memories were made out on the sidewalk selling homemade lemonade to the neighbors and passerby’s. Part of the fun is making signs and crafting a lemonade stand. Make it an even more memorable experience by donating half or all of the proceeds to charity.
Backyard camping. Setting up a tent on the deck or in the backyard is so much fun. The evening can be spent star gazing, making s’mores and telling ghost stories. You could use a hula hoop and a sheet to make a simple hula hoop tent.
Play miniature golf in your own yard. Last summer we made our own miniature golf course in the yard and really enjoyed it. It was a low cost project that yielded fun all summer long.
Arts and crafts. Summer is the perfect time to raid your art and craft supplies. This time inside being creative is the perfect respite from the afternoon heat outside. If you want to take it outdoors, I recommend using an old sheet and craft paints to create a masterpiece out on the lawn.
Water fun. My family loves spending afternoons in the pool. If you don’t have a backyard pool, playing in the sprinkler or on a slip and slide can be just as much fun. You can even organize a water balloon war.
Make your own bubble solution and wands. Blowing bubbles is a lot more fun when you make your own bubble solution and blowers.
Gardening. There is nothing like digging in the dirt and growing your own veggies. Growing a vegetable garden or planting flowers can be both fun and educational for the family.
Go on a nature walk. You needn’t go any further than your own backyard to go on a nature walk and bug hunt. Make it even more fun by doing a nature scavenger hunt.
Have some science fun. Keep minds sharp during the summer months by doing some fun science experiments like making fireworks in a jar and this color changing milk experiment.
Pizza and a movie. My gang enjoys good pizza and a movie, especially during the summer months.
