Summer 2014 Bucket List

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Beach with smiling sunSummer vacation is officially up and running in our house. While my toddler is not yet school age, she did go to a Mother’s Morning Out program two mornings a week. To say Nora loves “school” is an understatement. She absolutely adores it and the past two weeks without Ms. Sharon and Ms. Jamie have been, well, not the best.

I am trying to fill our days with fun play dates, trips to the zoo and park, and upcoming trips to visit family, but my little girl needs a little more stimulation. I thought long and hard about the things we could do this summer to keep busy, and created a Summer 2014 Bucket List. Columbia has some great things to do with kids this summer {many that are FREE!} but there are also a lot of creative activities you can do close to home {things that I enjoyed growing up many years ago}.

Use this list as a starting point to make your own Summer 2014 Bucket List. Get the kids involved by asking them what they want to do this summer! I know I am looking forward to marking things off our Summer Bucket List and falling in love with summer vacation!

Water Water Everywhere ::

  • Visit a splash pad, spray pool, mist pad or water park {here is a list in the Columbia area}
  • Play in the sprinkler
  • Set up the water and sand table
  • Go out to Dreher Island
  • Play at the beach at Lake Murray
  • Get an old school slip n slide, or better yet make our own
  • Hit up some friends’ pools
  • Run through the sprinklers
  • Take swim lessons
  • Have a water balloon fight-attack Dad when he gets home from work 😉
  • Build sand castles
  • Write Summer 2014 in the sand and take a family picture
  • Throw glow sticks in the tub and go “night swimming”
  • Dance in the rain (and do a rain dance if it hasn’t rained in a while!)
  • Go tubing on the river (like on the Riverwalk)

Day Trip It ::

 Get Cultured ::

Out and About in Cola Town ::

Yummy in my Tummy ::

  • Have a donut date at Krispy Kreme or Dunkin Donuts
  • Make homemade ice cream
  • Eat breakfast for dinner
  • Make homemade pizza
  • Bake cookies for the neighbors
  • Pick blueberries at Berry Hill Farm
  • Visit a roadside watermelon stand
  • Taste local honey
  • Have dessert at Sonic {half price milkshakes after 8pm}
  • Get custard at Rita’s
  • Tuesday night BOGO at Cupcake downtown
  • Bring Dad or Mom lunch at work
  • Let the kids plan and make dinner
  • Eat dinner outside on the patio
  • Make banana splits

Move that Body ::

  • Go on a hike
  • Take a bike ride through Harbison State Forest
  • Tumble at Little Gym Lexington or Columbia or Gymboree (first class is free)
  • Fly high at HiWire Trampoline Park – Monday – Saturday, 9-10 a.. is dedicated to kids 6 and under
  • Hoola hoop
  • Have a jump rope contest
  • Play Red Rover
  • Challenge your neighbors to a game of Flashlight Tag
  • Grab your friends and have a bicycle parade through your neighborhood
  • Go bowling {check out Kids Bowl Free}
  • Play miniature golf
  • Have a family dance party {Pandora has some nice stations for this!}
  • Make an obstacle course

Enjoy your Home ::

  • Build a fort in the living room
  • Have a lazy PJ day
  • Camp in your backyard
  • Decorate your driveway with sidewalk chalk {make your own for an extra project}
  • Blow bubbles
  • Catch fireflies
  • Finger paint
  • Play hopscotch
  • Make s’mores and sing campfire songs in your backyard
  • Make sun tea on the deck
  • Get postcards from the places you visit and send them to friends and family just for the heck of it
  • Round up old clothes and toys and donate them
  • Eat breakfast for dinner
  • Make a board game or create an interactive game
  • Host a tea party for your dolls and stuffed animals
  • Make recycled crayons
  • Play hide-n-seek in your neighbor hood
  • Make puppets {from paper bags} and masks {from paper plates}
  • Host a block party
  • Plan a at home spa day-manis, pedis, fancy hair styles
  • Get ready for back to school clothes shopping by trying on last year’s clothes and having a fashion show
  • Write and illustrate a summer adventure book
  • Learn how to fold origami cranes
  • Start a scrapbook
  • Make homemade silly putty
  • Host a book swap with your friends
  • Fly a kite
  • Act out your favorite book … dress up like the characters, make up songs based on the story line or create a related craft

Final Tips on putting your family’s Bucket List together ::

  • Ask your kids what they want to do this summer and add it to the list … make it unique to your family
  • The goal is to HAVE FUN with your family! It’s alright if you don’t finish everything on the list. {kudos to you if you do!}
  • Add to it as the summer goes on! You’ll think of great ideas as you go.
  • Display your list  on a chalkboard, on the fridge, on a poster board … whatever works for your family. {Search Pinterest for creative ideas.}

What would you add to your Summer 2014 Bucket List?

 

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