https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 15 Apr 2026 03:11:50 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/summertime-at-home#post-2810913 Tue, 20 Mar 2018 14:23:56 +0000 meganmp 2810913@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Last year my then four year olds made a bucket list of all of the things we wanted to do that summer- it had stuff like go to the beach, have lunch with Daddy, go to the science center, go to local tourist attractions, wander around downtown, go on a shell hunt, ferry ride... all kinds of stuff. Having that list ahead of time helped us structure our days, and we could adapt to weather and whims. It was fun! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/summertime-at-home#post-2810791 Tue, 20 Mar 2018 08:42:01 +0000 Anagram 2810791@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: hiking trails are a good idea. I always forget about that because I'm not super outdoorsy, BUT, I think it's good for kids in a town like ours to get out in nature some. My kids will probably be old enough this summer to do some small trails near us.</p> <p>I've heard that there's a park near the GW bridge that's good with a little trail and views of the city, and then there's a "fairy trail" somewhere in the suburbs. I need to google. But definitely adding it to the list, so thanks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/summertime-at-home#post-2810788 Tue, 20 Mar 2018 08:29:19 +0000 skipra 2810788@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We haven't done camps yet because I can't commit to them so far in advance. But we try to do a couple sessions of swim lessons at the very beginning of summer and they are daily for a week at a time.</p> <p>We visit family a lot during the summer. We will spend a few weeks with my parents who live near the beach and DH joins us on the weekends. He will also take some time off so we can do a short road trip or vacation within driving distance.<br /> When we are just home we have a lot of playdates. We meet friends at playgrounds or splash parks or the beach. We meet DH for lunch quite often. I set up the sprinkler in the yard or a kiddie pool. We do a lot of gardening too. The kids love to help with that. Walks in the woods or around town. Visits to the zoo and local farms. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/summertime-at-home#post-2810784 Tue, 20 Mar 2018 08:07:31 +0000 looch 2810784@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: I love reading about your summer plans!</p> <p>A few other things I thought of that my son enjoys are hitting up miniature golf places and looking up hiking trails in the area. We plan to make use of the trails at the local nature center very soon. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/summertime-at-home#post-2810707 Mon, 19 Mar 2018 18:29:09 +0000 Anagram 2810707@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I always have really ambitious plans for the summer when I'm off work. Last summer, we basically did everything I wanted, except we didn't do day trips to the shore as much as I hoped.</p> <p>But this summer it's on. Now that they will be turning 3 and 5 this summer, they are at a really good age for adventuring. I make a big list of things I want to do (and don't tell the kids so I can be flexible) and then I just have fun checking off the list all summer. </p> <p>I may sign up the kids for 1-2 weeks of a half day camp but I really like the rest of the summer to be kept free. </p> <p>My husband's company gets us free entry to the children's museum and usually has a few free entry days at each borough's zoo and garden that I'll try to hit up. I want to spend a few days at Governors Island, I want to hit all the big NYC splash pads and playgrounds, take the girls to tea at the American girl store, day trips to the beach (I've already bought some groupons for Boardwalk passes and other entertainment).</p> <p>We already have a family membership at the science center and the Philly aquarium, so we'll spend a day there. </p> <p>And then we like doing simple things too, like just taking the ferry over in the afternoon and playing in a splash fountain near my husband's job till he gets off work and can meet us for dinner. There are a few sand parks my kids like to go to to build castles, and we'll spend a few afternoons at the nearby community pools/baby wasing pools. As many play dates as I can schedule. </p> <p>Basically a lot of unstructured play time. I'll travel south to see my family for a week or two, and we have 2 trips planned, so that will use up the whole summer. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/summertime-at-home#post-2810698 Mon, 19 Mar 2018 17:45:21 +0000 Silva 2810698@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>WE have weekly play dates with a friend, go to the playground, the beach, or children’s farm. We go hiking. Most afternoons are just outside in the yard with a swing set, wading pool, water table, garden, brook and small wooded area. I try to keep our summers slow because that’s what I enjoyed as a kid </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/summertime-at-home#post-2810696 Mon, 19 Mar 2018 17:31:57 +0000 gingerbebe 2810696@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our town has:</p> <p>- A weekly kid's crafting class<br /> - Story times at the library several times a week based on age<br /> - YMCA sponsors a summer-long day camp<br /> - YMCA has 1-2x a week kids classes ranging from cooking to painting<br /> - A public park that has a splash pad<br /> - A community pool<br /> - Local movie theater has family matinee pricing days once a week.<br /> - An agricultural museum (its indoors, has a kids play area, you can ride on some of the tractors, etc. which is important when its 110F in the summers here).<br /> - Gymnastics gym with classes but also an open tumble time once a week.<br /> - 1 major large gym with childcare provided.</p> <p>Within 30 minutes driving, there is:<br /> - A bounce house/trampoline park<br /> - A children's museum<br /> - A few other museums of varying kinds (air and space, railroad, contemporary art)<br /> - A zoo<br /> - A children's theme park<br /> - 2-3 indoor play places<br /> - Art center</p> <p>If you're religious at all, most churches run a weeklong vacation Bible school that is usually very cheap and keeps the kids occupied in the mornings. I have a friend who literally drops her kid off at a different VBS for 4 weeks out of the summer!</p> <p>When our kids were home for 3 weeks over the winter, DH was mostly solo parenting with them and he generally fed them breakfast at home and then took them to one of those places for the morning. He would pack a light snack and then they would eat out somewhere and then head home for nap around 1:30pm. Even if our oldest doesn't sleep, he's expected to rest/play quietly in his room in the afternoon since DS2 still naps. Then everyone has an afternoon snack and they either play or watch a little TV until I get home and make dinner.</p> <p>We also make liberal uses of restaurants with kids eat free options during these periods, since we're usually a lot more frazzled. Tuesdays you can eat at IKEA free, Denny's and IHOP have free kids meals one night a week, Firehouse Subs, etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/summertime-at-home#post-2810671 Mon, 19 Mar 2018 15:33:53 +0000 Mrs D 2810671@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We dont stay home with our kiddos but here is what we have lined up:</p> <p>-3 Day summer Camp at the local Farm<br /> -5 day summer camp (maybe twice) at the nature center<br /> -5 day summer camp at the Zoo<br /> -wait-listed at community pool...hoping for this or next year to finally get in!</p> <p>DD will be turning 5 in september, she'll still technically be in Daycare though we'll pull her out for full weeks for those camps. Next summer we hope she can spend a week with each grandparent to help round out the weeks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/summertime-at-home#post-2810663 Mon, 19 Mar 2018 14:58:02 +0000 jhd 2810663@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My plans for my 4yo this summer include library story time and summer reading program (our library has tons of events in summer), vacation bible school at our church, one week of 1/2 day camp, trips to park, farmers market, etc. He doesn’t like the pool and we will also have an infant otherwise pool would be a good option. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/summertime-at-home#post-2810660 Mon, 19 Mar 2018 14:31:10 +0000 looch 2810660@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If I were at home, I'd probably send my son to a few special interest camps (this is what we do anyway) that are a few hours a day. What I noticed is that not a lot of my circle of friends are "around" during the day and while we could spend the entire day at our pool at home, it would be on the lonely side for my son and I. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/summertime-at-home#post-2810658 Mon, 19 Mar 2018 14:27:25 +0000 Littlebit7 2810658@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I’m putting my 3 year old into camp three days a week for most of the summer. It’s a half day camp (so she can still nap at home). That leaves Mondays and Fridays for adventures. And keeps me sane bc I will have a 6 month old at home also. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/summertime-at-home#post-2810657 Mon, 19 Mar 2018 14:21:57 +0000 Foodnerd81 2810657@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I stay home, but my kids are 4.5 (turning 5 this summer) and 2. Last summer was the first one we did any kind of camps and I’m planning on more this summer. We will probably do 4 or 5 weeks of half day camps spread throughout the summer (school ends the very beginning of June). She gets bored and antsy at home with just me and I just don’t have the energy to adequately entertain her and care for her little sister! We also belong to a pool as part of our gym, so I anticipate a lot of mornings where I bring them to the gym childcare for an hour and a half while I exercise then play at the pool and lunch before coming home for little sisters nap. Plus play dates with friends, and playing outside with our neighbors. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/summertime-at-home#post-2810655 Mon, 19 Mar 2018 14:20:44 +0000 MamaBear87 2810655@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My little is only 2.5 so we have all year still 😂 but we live in Phoenix so outside isn't really an option. We have a great locally owned kids "museum". We also have my husband go in late or not at all on days it rains and we do a quick zoo outing, but he has a flexible job so I know not everyone can do that. We also have a coffee shop that has a kids play room but stuff like that might be a bit young for 6. </p> <p>You might also want to check out and see if there's any kids productions of plays if you think your little might like that. They're usually only a couple weeks and sometimes free </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/summertime-at-home#post-2810652 Mon, 19 Mar 2018 14:11:07 +0000 mediagirl 2810652@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If you or your spouse stay at home, what do you do all summer when the kids are out of school?</p> <p>If what we're planning works out, our 6 year old will stay home with DH. My current plan is joining the pool and a local museum. Maybe a few inexpensive camps mixed in. </p> <p>What else do you do all summer when one parent works and the other stays home? </p>