Hi Everyone!

I’m so excited to introduce you to our guest blogger, Brad. Brad Krause created Self Caring after years spent putting his own self-care on the back burner. Brad discovered his real calling-helping people implement self-care practices that improve their overall wellbeing. His website is intended to share his own knowledge and the many great resources he finds on his self-care journey. Hope you enjoy.

xx MommieMix

Summertime and the livin is easy… right? Not so if you are a parent! While the kids may be excited to be free from the shackles of school, the season really only presents you with that age old dilemma: What am I supposed to do with them all day? Left to their own devices, kids tend to veg out in front of the television watching cartoons or playing video games. However, that kind of sedentary lifestyle can be bad for a child’s health. As a parent, it is up to you to support and encourage your children to go outside and enjoy the beautiful summer weather while they can. Here, we’ve highlighted some great ideas on how you can achieve just that.

Sign Them Up for Summer Camp

A big dilemma for many parents in the summer is how to make sure your kids are safe and entertained while you are at the office. A great way to do that is enrolling them in a summer camp where they can be entertained and even educated during the day. When some people hear “summer camp,” they think of the overnight or “sleepaway” option. While that is certainly a possibility to consider, not all families like the idea of being separated for an extended period of time. Furthermore, sleepaway camps can be quite priceyfor families on a budget. For those families, day camps are a great option. You can find local day camps that appeal to your child’s specific interests including science, arts and crafts, horseback riding, soccer, and more. Or you can look into what your local community center or church has to offer for a more affordable option.

Introduce them to Geocaching

Who doesn’t love a treasure hunt? Your children will get to tap into their inner explorer-slash-pirate all while honing their ever important STEM skills when you introduce them to the fun activity called geocaching. Geocachinginvolves getting out in nature and exploring our natural surroundings combined with the fun of a scavenger hunt. While they create connections with nature, they also learn about essential skills including recording data, observation, and identifying flora, fauna, and minerals. Buy your kids their very own notebook where they can write down what they find. At the end of each day, go over their discoveries and discuss the ideas and dreams they conjure up while they wander around. Geocaching is especially a great way to get kids who aren’t super athletic or into sports outside.

Bring the Park Home

Erica’s brother built this fort/swing set in his yard! The kids LOVE it!

Investing in a backyard swing set may seem like a big expenditure, but it pays off in the long run by encouraging outdoor play and exercise. If you can fit a swing set into your budget, you want to be sure you pick a safe option. Look for a version that is steady and made from solid materials. When installing it, anchor it at all angles to prevent toppling. Teach your kids about how to use the swing set safely so they don’t participate in reckless behavior such as jumping off the top or going down slides face first. When it comes to protecting your children, an ounce of prevention is definitely worth a pound of safety. Another great option is building your own swing set (view photo above) or as in Erica’s, getting a hand me down swing set. One of her friends with older children was getting rid of their swing set, so Erica paid for a handyman to breakdown, deliver and put together the swing set at her house. It was in great shape and extremely cost effective!

If you don't have a fence installed in your backyard, you should make this investment as well, to keep your kids safe and reduce the chance of losing a toy like a ball or frisbee. A fencing company can install just the right fence for your budget and preferences; check for good ratings on a website like Angi before making your decision. You should also compare the average costs of fence materials to help you spend wisely. For instance, a vinyl fence can cost around $30 per foot to install, while chain-link and wooden fences are cheaper (albeit less durable than vinyl), running at around $13 and $16 per foot, respectively

Most kids today do not get enough activity in their day-to-day life. This summer, encourage your kids to get off the couch and instead go outside for some exercise and fresh air.

Thanks for reading and be sure to follow my blog Self Caring.

Brad

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