Make a Summer Experience List for Your Family

Create a family plan together that meets all your summer goals and wishes.

Jun 21, 2018

Ages

3-13

Make a Summer Experience List for Your Family

Jun 21, 2018

It's said that if you write down your goals, you are more likely to accomplish them. When the kids are out of school and it's time for summer fun, it's the perfect season to make a list of all the things your family wants to experience or needs to carry out.

Creating goals together, as a family, is beneficial in many ways. First, you'll be spending time together to flesh out the list and planning more time with one another. And, you're building communication skills amongst family members which is also healthy. Finally, you are working towards creating memories that your family will remember for years to come.

We put together a printable list to help you get your ideas down on paper — plus, see below for tips for writing up your own Summer Experience List. 

1. Get Everyone Involved 

Your kids probably have plenty of ideas for things they'd like to do, such as visiting an amusement park, days at the pool, and trips to the ice cream stand for a triple scoop cone. But with this list, the grown-ups also get to add to the list. Keep in mind the things that teachers may have asked their students to work on over the summer. Reading throughout the summer is always a smart goal too.

2. Keep in Mind How Time Flies in the Summer

Summer flies by quicker than a blink of a firefly. Don't set so many goals that you won't be able to accomplish them in the amount of time you have before school begins again.

Create a mix of one time and longer-term goals to even out your list to make it feel like it can be accomplished.

3. Bigger Goals Need Action Plans

Perhaps you will have a trip or a special event on your list. If so, jot down who will be responsible for creating an action plan for it.

Action plans for goals should include who is responsible for doing what and when the tasks need to be done in order for everyone to meet the goal.

4. Don't Forget Literacy Goals

We don't want our kids to slide on newly acquired reading skills. Adding a few literacy goals to the list will provide lots of practice over the summer. Here are some fun suggestions.

  • Read a certain number of books together or set individual goals. You could even take the Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge.
  • Visit someone and then create an experience book about the visit. Take a look at one my family created after an apple-picking trip. Use a blank book to make yours or you can use an online service to create your masterpiece.
  • Visit a new library in a neighboring community.
  • Try a recipe from a children's book. If you need some inspiration, check out these books that'll get your kids cooking
  • Read in an outdoor location such as a park, poolside, or in a hammock.

Make this a summer for the memory book. Create your family summer wish list and get ready to celebrate your accomplishments at the end of the season.

Connect with Jodie at Growing Book by Book.

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