It’s finally here; the last day of school.  Kids are ready.  I’m ready.  Now, it’s time to celebrate!  At our house, that celebration comes in the form of a family water fight.   It started on a whim as we welcomed our first kindergartener home with a few water balloons and very lame water guns.   Now 10 years later, it is a highly anticipated event.  

My husband and I pick just the right hiding spot and await the arrival of our children.  Our buckets are filled with water and balloons are ready to launch.  Flip top water bottles and filled water balloons hide nearby ready for the kids to find.  In the distance we hear laughter and see the first of many excited children heading for home; arms full of treasures from the last day.  Friends become “watchmen” and signal when our children are within sight.  They watch with anticipation and begin offering cries of warning as we hoist our “weapons” for attack. 

They’re home!  Eyes widen just as the first stream of cold water hits.  School treasures are safely tucked away in the corner of the yard and they’re off; screaming, yelling, and defenseless!  We laugh and declare victory until they find the hidden stash.  Balloons begin to fly and the water hose turns on.  The tide has turned.  Four against two—we are all soaked and the kids declare victory.  It’s summertime!

Each year the strategy of attack varies, but the end result is always the same.  Our family connects and celebrates together.  As our kids have grown, so has their creativity and resourcefulness.  My personal favorite was when they recruited another family to join the fun. They made arrangements for a ride home on an alternate route and snuck into our backyard to attack us from behind.  Victory was all theirs!

Connection is different for every family.  For us, it’s a water fight.  What does your family need?  In the next few days, consider what they would enjoy.  Then, take action and create a moment—keep it simple.  Invite hearts to connect as you celebrate the end of the school year and welcome in summer.

“Mom, I’m bored!  What can I do?”

We hate the words and are out of ideas.  Pinterest?  Sure, but 15 minutes later I have lots of ideas, no real plan and someone (including me) is either frustrated, crying, fighting, or has completely lost interest in the proposed “project.”

Having fun, quick activities prepared at a moment’s notice can be an overwhelming task.  With a little collective effort, creativity, and planning you can assemble a collection of ready-to-roll “ACTIVITY KITS.”  These have been a big part of our summer fun for years and our kids love it.  Now that they are older, they help with the selection and preparations.

1.  Select a group leader.
This person will coordinate efforts to prevent duplication of activities.  The group leader will compile a list that identifies the participating families, how many boys and girls per family, and the total number of children participating.

2.  Determine the ages and number of children who will participate.*
You can plan for similar age groups or for a wide variety of ages.  Older children will simply exercise more creative license for a project targeting younger children.  Likewise, younger children will adapt or create to their level of ability when a project is geared for the older children.  When the focus remains on the process rather than the product, most children will naturally adapt with guidance.

3.   Get creative!  Select 1 Activity Per Participating Child

• These could be baking kits, science projects, crafts, story-telling activities, indoor or outdoor games…anything!!!! When age appropriate, include children in brainstorming ideas to determine their areas of interest.  The activities can be simple or elaborate…it’s up to you.   Resources:  Google, Pinterest, Family Fun Magazine, Science for Kids books.
  
• If you are receiving kits for 3 children, then you will plan and duplicate 3 activities based on the number of participating children.  

4.  Email activity selection to your group leader.  
Activities are first come first serve basis so email your group leader before purchasing. This avoids duplicates.

5.  Stock your Household Basic Supply Kit: 
Glue, Paint, Paintbrushes, Markers, Crayons, and Scissors.

6.  Plan and purchase.

• Each activity kit should include ALL materials needed to complete the activity.  
  
• Only one instruction sheet with specific directions and/or photos is needed per family.
  
• Highlight any materials from the “Basic Supply Kit” and household items, like a kitchen bowl or hammer that every household has “at their fingertips,” on the front instruction sheet. 
• You are creating one kit for each participating child.  If you have 12 children in your group, then you are purchasing materials for the activity to be duplicated 12 times.  If you have 24 children in the group, then materials for 24 kits are purchased.  If an item can be shared among family members, only one needs to be included for each family.  

7.  Divide and Package

• Divide the materials for each activity proportionate for the number of children in each family.  When helpful, pre-measure and individually package supplies.  Gallon Ziploc bags work great and are easy to store. 
• Label the kit using the family’s last name.  

8.  Set a Time and Place to Swap Kits
Have a party!  Bring a laundry basket or box to carry your kits home.

Example:
We have 10 children total in the group.  I have 3 children.  I choose three activities:  making play-dough, Minute to Win-It games, and Jack and the Beanstalk Story with planting activity. 

• Play-dough:  I will supply the materials for 10 children to make an individual batch of play dough.  Each family will receive a kit per child.
•  Minute to Win It Games:  The finished product will be 4 family kits, with adequate supplies for each game based on the family size.
• Jack and the Beanstalk Story and Planting Activity:  I will include one copy of the story for each family then package 10 planting kits to distribute based on the number of children.

Family Name                        Number of Children

Family A                                                3             2 boys, 1 girl

Family B                                                2            2 boys

Family C                                                1            1 girl

Family D                                                4            2 boys, 2 girls

Total Kits: 10

*Note on selecting activities for multiple ages:  If participating children will be between 3 and 10 years old and you are responsible for 2 activities, select one appropriate for 3-5 yrs. and another for 6-10 yrs.  If you are making more than 2 kits, then you choose the age group for the remaining activities.  Not every activity will fit “perfectly” for every age, but that’s okay.