Summer Survival Tips

Commercials come in all shapes, sizes and degrees of ludicrousness. Whether it is an ad for some sort of must-have techno-toy or some must-see TV program, we are bombarded night an day. And while I can tolerate all the ignorant beer commercials during Frasier and the insane previews for Fear Factor, there is one that drives me nuts. You know it. It starts out in a peaceful rural setting of kids riding bikes down a dirt road and swaying on a tire swing over a pond. Then you hear a kindly voice reminding you that, "This year, summer has only 83 days, so enjoy every minute.", while a pitcher of Countrytime lemonade fills the screen.

Eighty-three days?!? With my kids!?!

There is not enough unspiked lemonade on the planet to make that scenario enjoyable.

Like all parents, I began hearing the age-old chorus of the "I’m bored" blues being sung at approximately 9 am the day after school let out for the summer. And I suppose it makes some sense. These same little creatures who loudly complain about school while it is in session, are suddenly stripped of all routine and left to fend for themselves. They are faced with an empty void (known to you and me as DAY) and no clear ideas as to how it will be filled. (My initial suggestions, that of laundry, vacuuming and toilet scrubbing resulted in several sprained eyeballs when they rolled them too far back in their little heads.)

So how will you keep the kids occupied and still manage to hang onto several shreds of your sanity this summer? Well, pour yourself a glass of lemonade and read on...

Christmas In July: Why wait for December 1^st to roll around? You know your kids will want to give a gift to everyone they know, from the music teacher to the check out clerk at the video store. Start now. Whip up a simple batch of Salt Dough (1 cup flour, ½ cup salt, 1 cup water, 2 tsp cream of tartar, 1 TBSP oil - stir over medium heat for two minutes till a dough forms - roll out like cookie dough) Give the kids cookie cutters and VOILA! They will be making ornaments, frames, magnets in no time at all! Dry them overnight on the counter or in an oven set to 200 degrees. Once they harden, they can be decorated with paint, markers or crayons, so even the youngest Picasso can be involved!

Water Works: All kids love to play in water. A whimsical sprinkler can be had for less than $10, a more elaborate favorite - the Slip-n-Slide - for under $25. They will play for hours (just don’t forget the sunscreen)! Also, some sponges, a couple buckets of water and squirts of dishwashing soap will have the entire neighborhood washing your minivan in no time! Now granted, the van will only get cleaned up to the four-foot mark, but they all had fun and were occupied!