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Happy August! Let’s set the scene, shall we? The heat is unbearable, the kids go back to school soon, and if you listen closely, you can hear your kids wandering through the house crying, “I’m bored.” If this sounds like your house, we feel you. The end of summer is always challenging. Some kids are excited about the prospect of school starting back up again, some aren’t, and it’s almost impossible to keep them from trying to wear their back-to-school shoes outside to play. As unbelievable as it may feel, the Kamali’i family has some experience preventing boredom. We have a few helpful tips and bright ideas to make sure all you can hear in your house is giggles (or the sweet sounds of silence, entertained kids).
Try these Tik Tok Viral Watermelon Popsicles
Recipe: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9iikunQfoQ
All you need is a watermelon, some popsicle sticks, and a freezer! First, cut your watermelon into slices so you have big circles. Cut around the rind (keep the process intact) and save it for later. Then cut the watermelon into chunks and toss it in a blender or food processor. You can get creative with it and add ingredients here to customize! If your kids like spicy food or Mexican candy, add Tajin and lime. Or, for a refreshing twist, add mint and citrus. Whatever your heart desires can get thrown in the blender too. Once you have watermelon juice, you could stop there, pour it into a pitcher with ice, and enjoy. But to make the popsicles, stick your popsicle sticks through the rind, place the circular rind in a cake pan and pour the juice into the hole where the watermelon was before. You can also sprinkle blueberries or chocolate chips into the mixture before it freezes to mimic seeds. Freeze overnight, slice like a pizza, and enjoy your delicious watermelon pops the next day!
Have a Themed Disney Movie Marathon
If your kid isn’t into Disney, never fear; there are many franchises for which this idea could work. This activity takes a bit more effort and prep from parents, but it’s worth it for a special occasion or one last back-to-school hoorah. Plus, it’s fun for the whole family! Choose a Disney movie with a sequel, trilogy, or prequel, and get ready to get creative. Some great ideas are Toy Story, Mulan, Pocahontas, or Cinderella. While you cue up the movie, it’s time to get snacking. Come up with some punny and delicious snack ideas to match the film. Think Cinderella’s pumpkin (pumpkin candies), Pocahontas’ raccoon friend (decorate some Oreos with white frosting), or anything you can come up with! Older kids will have a blast baking fun-themed treats, and younger ones will love eating them. And your family gets to enjoy some quality movie time together.
Go for Family Walks in the Evening
If your kids have endless energy, especially at bedtime, try spending family time together after dinner. After-dinner walks are beneficial in multiple ways! For adults, getting 10,000 steps per day is recommended to stay healthy and active. While you may not get to 10k dragging your kids along, moving your body is always great. Post-meal walks have also been shown to aid digestion and help prevent feeling too full or nauseous after a big meal. Also, your kids will have a tremendous and healthy opportunity to expend their energy before bedtime. Finally, the evening is a great time to take these walks because the weather will have cooled down enough to allow for some light exercise, and your family can enjoy the beautiful sunset together.
Have a Reusable Water Balloon Fight!
How to: https://msrachelhollis.com/2014/04/23/make-sponge-water-bombs/
If your child has a latex allergy, or if you don’t want your backyard littered with thousands of colorful pieces of popped balloons, reusable water balloon fights are the way to go. If you can’t beat the heat, join them! All you need is kitchen sponges and rubber bands. And water! You make a pom from the strips of sponge. Use a marker and some rulers to cut your sponge into 1″ strips, then gather nine strips (use different colors for a fun look). Tie the ribbons in the middle with a rubber band or piece of string to avoid snapping mishaps. Once finished, securing the sponges in the middle, shift the sponge pieces around a little, creating a ball shape (otherwise, they stay kind of flat and are harder to throw)). Soak in water and get ready for a fun fight with water balloons you can use repeatedly!
Whether you need your kids out of your hair or are looking to spend a night of fun with your family, Kamali’i has got you covered. We hope you enjoyed this blog and our tips to combat that inevitable end-of-summer boredom. From the Kamali’i family to yours, we hope you have a great end of summer and a super exciting back-to-school season.
