Kick Boredom Out of the House with a Summer Fun Box

With summer vacation just around the corner, parents around the country are cringing at the thought of hearing the two most dreaded words in summer time parenting - "I'm bored!" The thought is nearly enough to vote for year-around school. If most kids are like mine they cannot wait for school to be out for summer, and then can't wait to get back to school in the fall. This year my wife and I have a secret weapon, a summer fun box.

The Box
Our plan is to pick up a plastic storage container at Wal-Mart and decorate it using some paints and stickers my daughter has as part of her art collection. We have two kids separated by four years so their interests are quite different, though they share some common favorites. For this reason I am going to categorize the contents of the summer fun box into two age-based categories.

Ages 2-5 Years Old

Bubbles - is there anything more intriguing to a toddler than soap bubbles? They're cheap and last forever, assuming junior doesn't spill the entire bottle trying to remove that silly bubble wand.

Hoola Hoop - this classic toy is making a comeback.

Sidewalk Chalk - another time taker-upper that makes those summer afternoons outside even more fun. We often use sidewalk chalk to line a basketball court, a four-square game or sometimes just to draw silly designs.

Play-doh - can be molded to make animal shapes, faces and balls.

Matchbox Cars - many grocery stores and pharmacies have a display of matchbox cars hanging on an end cap for a $1.00. These things can take a beating and keep on ticking, and should be in every little boy's summer fun box.

Beach Ball - you don't have to have an ocean in your backyard to enjoy this vacation favorite. Just remember to stick to a smaller ball as Dad will be the one stuck blowing it up.

Sand Bucket - Sticking with the beach theme, many toy stores and dollar stores have some dirt (pun intended) cheap sand buckets. Add in a shovel or two and you could turn your backyard into an excavation site!

Ages 6-8 Years Old

Chapter Books - Summer time is a great time to encourage reading. Many kids at this age are beginning to expand their literacy skills by reading chapter books. Your kids' teachers will thank you for investing a little time into keeping those reading skills fresh during the long summer break.

Writing Tablets - these are great for budding authors who like to practice their prose on paper.

Jump Rope - there is no better cardiovascular exercise than jumping rope. All you need is a jump rope, a pair of shoes and plenty of clearance from little brothers and sisters.

Board Games - when is the last time you sat down as a family and played board games? It might be fun one Friday night to have a "cable's out" night where all televisions and computers are turned off. Cranium for Kids is a great game and one that challenges kids' creativity. So spread some board games on the dining room table and have a fun night in for a change.

Puzzles - look for a really challenging jigsaw puzzle with an educational spin. Some puzzle makers offer puzzles that look like a world atlas, or just the United States complete with capital cities. It's a fun way for kids to brush up on their geography during the summer months.

If all else fails look for a nearby Monkey Joe's Indoor Playground. For just a few bucks your kids can play in a cool, indoor environment while you surf the internet or relax and catch up on your daytime television shows. The best part is the kids get some exercise as they climb, jump and slide down huge inflatable games set up inside the playground. Where were all these fun places when we were kids?