Jennifer

We have a ritual on the last day of school. When the kids get off the bus, they are greeted with a sign across the door that says, Hello Summer! Then they run through it signaling the end of the school year.

This year, I'm adding a something new. For the past couple summers, I’ve struggled with what to do with my kids all day. For a variety of reasons, we've never enrolled them in camps. But this year, I’m enrolling them in the Stay-at-Home Summer Camp. It's a self-directed camp where they can pick and choose what they want to do.

Here's how it works:

Each kid is given a box filled with books and ideas for things they can do throughout the summer. When they come to me looking for ideas, we can check the box. I put together four camp themes to start them off: Photography, Monster, Poetry or Rock & Camp.

For example, Photography comes with a camera and a card that reads:

• Take photos of your favorite objects
• Document your day
• Take a picture. Write a story to go with it
• Use your photos to make a collage
• Construct a photo journal out of construction paper

The idea here is that kids can pick and choose what they want to do. They don’t have to do everything on the card. Instead, the cards help direct them in a playful way.

Why do I love this idea? First, it’s highly adaptable to your child's interest and age. Have a preschooler? Include a pack of bubbles, balloons, and balls and call it circle camp. It’s also inexpensive. Instead of buying new books, use what's already on your children's bookshelves or include tickets for library outings. Repackage items your kids already own. And last, but not least, you can replenish Stay-at-Home Summer Camp with new ideas throughout the summer.

Happy camping!

For more playful stories from Jennifer visit www.classic-play.com/.