I stopped by WalMart the other day and was confronted by a giant wall of school supplies.

School supplies?  But it's still summer!

Not for much longer!  

It's the end of July, when moms are looking forward to a quiet house and kids are starting to see that looming smudge of desks and classrooms and teachers on the horizon.  I've been there!

Or maybe homeschool moms are gleefully digging through piles of supply catalogues, looking for that totally amazing thing that's going to make the next season of learning as exciting to their kids as it is to them.  Yeah.  I've been there, too!

But it's still summer!

I always found myself swinging back and forth between these emotions.  The summer heat grows old, the constant struggle to find something to keep kids engaged gets tiresome.  But the beginning of school means the end of vacations and days at the beach and fun in the sun and barbecues and picnics and...

The August Swing.

When I was a kid--a LONG time ago--summer meant freedom, school meant slavery.

I think for a lot of kids, that's changed to some degree.  Kids seem to like school more these days.  They seem to take fewer opportunities to simply be free spirits, compelled to make the most of every moment of daylight kicking around outdoors with the neighborhood gang, racing the setting sun home, because we all had to be home before sunset in the olden days.

So, for me, even now, the end of July is a bit melancholy. 

I love this song by John Prine.  It says it all for me:

Summer's End by John Prine

August is the last hurrah before life goes back to "normal," before the weather starts to tilt toward winter, before the days grow noticeably shorter.

August, for moms, is also a time to prepare.  It's time to go shopping for notebooks and markers and pencil boxes and an awesome new outfit for the first-day-of-school photos we're all going to take.  

It's that swing back and forth.  Summer fun, school's coming.  Fun in the sun, registration day.  Sleep in, school shopping.  Camping, carpools.

So how can we make the most of both in these last few weeks?  How can we celebrate the beginning of something new for the kiddos AND say goodbye to the memories we've made over the summer?

Want some ideas?

Here you go!

Say Goodbye to Summer Ideas:

1. Go to the fair!  August is prime season for state and county fairs, as well as town founder's day celebrations.  Look for one near you, even if it's not your town or county!  Stay until after dark, ride a carny ride, get some fresh-fried churros or corn dogs, pet a goat!  
2. Go to a farmer's market!  Stroll around and just look if you don't want to buy.  Give each of your kids $5-10 dollars and let them spend it however they choose.  Purchase an armload of fresh produce then take it home and cook dinner with it.
3. Host a neighborhood outdoor movie night. August is a perfect time because the days are getting shorter and it's starting to get dark early enough to start a movie at a more reasonable time.  It's highly likely that SOMEONE you know has a projector.  Or you can haul the big-screen TV into the yard.  Ask everyone to bring a lawn chair or blanket and their favorite drinks.  You'll provide the popcorn.  
4. Go on a splash-pad adventure.  Give yourself a set amount of time to visit as many splash pads in your area as you can.  Have the kids produce rating/review videos of each one.  
5. Make (or buy) ice cream.  Share everyone's favorite summer memories as you all eat out of the same big bowl.  
6. Go to an outdoor concert or play.  You can often find small community productions that aren't too expensive.  If you can't find anything within your budget, DIY!
7. Find a hiking trail near you.  Take the whole family!  Pack a simple lunch to eat under the trees.
   
8. Get them a SUPER AMAZING summer-themed coloring poster to commemorate an awesome summer!  Did you go to a super-cool zoo?  One of our ANIMAL POSTERS, maybe.  A super-rad camping trip?  How about a CAMPING WASHABLE TABLECLOTH?  Are you still cleaning sand out of your car after an amazing day at the beach?  How about an UNDER THE SEA 18' COLORING ROLL?  You saw that right.  18'.  EIGHTEEN FEET of coloring!

Say Hello to School Ideas:

1. Create a Back-to-School countdown!  Use paper strips to make a paper chain.  Fill a jar with strips of paper--one for each day before school starts--that have the kids do something silly or tell something they're looking forward to that's school related, like "What do you want for lunch your first day of school?"  Or, "Run around the house and find 10 pencils!"
2. Start a read-aloud book about school.  There are so many options I won't list any here.  But Google what works best for your kiddos.  Have a 5-year-old just about to head off to kindergarten?  A book about that first day of real school might be just the thing.  Maybe an older child headed to the chaos of middle school or junior high?  There are books about that, too.  Or just something silly everyone can enjoy. 
3. Get those backpacks early.  Hang them around the house.  Encourage everyone to leave little notes or tiny gifts in each others' backpacks in the days ahead of school.
4. Go yard sale shopping!  Have the kiddos look for specific things they might be able to use at school.  Pencil boxes, pens, rulers, etc.   Give them a set amount of money and let them spend it one one frivolous thing.
5. Set up a homework den!  Identify one spot in the house where each child (or everyone) does their homework.  Decorate that spot to make it something special to look forward to. 
6. Make a list of favorite after-school snacks.  Take the kiddos shopping the week before school starts to stock up.  Be sure each child gets one VERY MOST FAVORITE treat and save it for the first day of school!
7. Buy a coloring poster with an educational theme.  For younger children, I'd recommend our ABC POSTER, our FARM POSTER, or our CIRCUS POSTER.  For older kids, maybe our OUTER SPACE POSTER, or get them excited about reading with our fantastic DRAGON POSTER.  Maybe our USA MAP POSTER or US HISTORY POSTER.   For teens (or moms and dads) looking for a way to destress, try our MANDALA COLORING BANNER or our MENTAL HEALTH POSTER.

So lets start swinging!  Happy summer, and happy back to school!

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