Children and adults look forward to summer. For kids, summer represents a break from school and a chance to sleep in and play with friends. For adults, summer means longer days, more sunshine, and more outdoor activities. Summer’s the perfect time for family vacations and holiday barbecues.
Making the most of the warm summer months does involve some preparation. Use these tips to ensure you’re ready for summer before the season starts.
1. Set up your outdoor space.
It’s nice to be able to relax or play outdoors during the summer months, especially if you’ve been stuck inside during a cold winter trying to warm up by the fireplace. Spend some time prepping your outdoor spaces to ensure you’re ready for summer.
For starters, check your barbecue and ensure it’s in working order. If you’re planning to splurge, you can install an outdoor kitchen, ensuring you have food prep space, an outdoor refrigerator, cupboards where you can store snacks, a pizza oven, and all the perfect grilling setup.
Add planters to your yard and grow vegetables you can eat and flowers you can enjoy all summer long. You can also add a patio table, patio chairs, and lawn chairs to ensure you can eat outside. Don’t like bugs? Consider adding a screened porch to your home or a freestanding screened-in gazebo where you can relax outside in a bug-free space.
Look for companies that install fire pits in Denver (or wherever you live) and work with their designers and installers to customize a fire pit for your backyard. You can choose between concrete fire pits and metal fire pits with different finishes to create a custom look for your fire bowl. Outdoor fireplaces offer warmth on chilly nights. These fire pits use natural gas or propane, so you don’t have to worry about hauling wood or struggling to start a fire. With an outdoor fireplace, you can enjoy an open fire any night of the week.
You could also install a pool to ensure you get plenty of exercise. Pools are a great way to keep the kids entertained, and a dip in the pool is a great way to cool off from the summer heat.
2. Take advantage of summer programs.
Parents and children might look forward to enjoying a lazy summer, but all that unstructured time can create challenges. You may struggle to fill the hours and find your children misbehaving when they’re bored. Fortunately, there are several options for filling their time with constructive activities.
Many libraries host summer reading programs. Participants may receive prizes when they reach goals. Some libraries host events children and parents can attend, such as craft sessions, magic shows, and musical performances. Summer reading programs are a great way to motivate kids to read and keep them busy. Registering your kids ensures they set targets before summer starts.
You can also sign up for vacation Bible school (VBS) programs. Many churches host VBS programs. Children who attend vacation Bible school enjoy story-time, crafts, music, and snacks during structured VBS sessions. Most VBS sessions last for a couple of hours in the morning or afternoon and wrap up after a week of sessions. If you don’t belong to a church or your church doesn’t have a VBS program look for churches in your neighborhood that offer VBS and register your children.
3. Stock up on personal essentials.
There are several things you need for a fun, safe summer. Stock up on bottled water and reusable water bottles to ensure your family can stay hydrated on hot summer days. You should also have plenty of sunscreen at home and ensure everyone has sunglasses to protect their eyes.
You’ll need summer clothes for the whole family, including shorts, t-shirts, and bathing suits. You’ll also want summer footwear, including sandals, flip flops, and water shoes.
Make sure you have enough beach towels. You may want to stock up on towels and swim clothes, particularly if you plan to spend a lot of time at a community pool during the summer months. It’s also a good idea to buy a cooler bag so you can take beverages and snacks with you when you go to the park.
You can make the most of your summer by ensuring you have the things you need for the season. Transform your yard and add appropriate summer furniture and features, such as grills, fire pits, and lawn chairs. Scheduling summer activities is a great way to keep kids busy, and your whole family benefits when you stock up on summer essentials, such as sunscreen and sunglasses.