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Memorial Day
Celebrations
Memorial Day is a day to honor those men and woman who have served in the armed forces. It is celebrated on the last Monday in May.
This holiday weekend also starts the beginning of summer vacations, pool parties and "Mom, I have nothing to do".
On this page you will find some creative ways to spend your summer.
Patriotic things to do on Memorial Day:
The most important thing to do on Memorial Day if you are an American is to take time to remember those who have served our country, who are missing in action and those that are now serving.
Put up your flag.
Visit a cemetery on Memorial Day and place flags on the graves of soldiers. Girl Scout and Boy Scout troups do this every year, please join them.
Memorial Day parade. Take part in your towns' parade or help support it by going. When I was in the high school marching band, we marched in the Memorial Day parade. At the end of my senior year school let out for seniors before Memorial Day but we all wanted to march in parade.
Host a neighborhood parade. Let the kids decorate their bikes and give homemade ribbons as prizes for the most creative, most colorful and most patriotic. I can still remember decorating my bike with red, white and blue streamers and adding baseball cards to the spokes of the wheels. All the neighbor kids rode together up and down the block.
Have a family picnic: Gather the family together to celebrate Memorial Day. Serve food on red, white and blue dishes. Set off fireworks after dark if your city allows them.
Family picnic ideas
Things to do this summer:
I love this time of the year. The weather has started to level out with more sunny and warm days compared to cold and rainy days. (It's rainy as I'm writing this, but it's warm!). Here are some ideas of things to do this summer:
Go Camping:
This is a great way to escape the city for a few days. We used to go for just a weekend and allowed the kids to each bring a friend. Choose a camp ground that is only an hour or two from your house. Don't plan on going during a holiday weekend as they are typically packed. Go during the week for the best choice of camping spots.
Have a Pool Party:
If you have a pool you have the spot already picked out! If you don't own a pool call your local recreation center and ask about renting their pool for the evening.
Host a Family Picnic:
This can be held at your house or at a local park. Call your local parks department and request a picnic shelter for the day. Some parks even offer game rentals.
Fun picnic ideas
Visit an Amusement Park:
Take the kids and their best friends to the local amusement park for the day. We had their friends spend the night so that we could get an early start towards the park in the morning. This can be expensive but the day is well worth it. Don't forget to bring sunscreen. Pack a large lunch and some extra munchies to keep your costs down.
Visit a Museum:
Museums are packed full of fun things. If you enjoy the arts then visit an art museum. If you have children visit a museum geared towards kids. In my state there are Natural history museums which have tons of hands on things for kids to do. There is also a Center of Science and Industry that keeps kids of all ages busy with fun science exhibits.
Huge list of Museums
Plant a Garden:
Gardening is fun for all ages. Grow vegetables and flowers. Take the kids to the garden center and allow them to pick out some plants. Show them the proper way to plant and care for them. Explain that weeds take the food from the plants and need to be kept out of the planted area. Have them weed around the plants once a week.
Start buying and making Christmas gifts:
Sound silly? Just think about it for a minute. If you start buying now you will have most of your shopping done before the season rush hits. Buy one item every payday, your winter paychecks will seem much larger! Spend this Christmas enjoying the holiday rather than spending your time in a checkout line.
Great site full of Christmas ideas
Activities for chasing away boredom:
The best way to keep boredom at bay this summer is to plan plenty of creative activities to keep the kids busy.
Indoor Picnic:
Pack a lunch into a basket, spread a blanket on the floor and have an indoor picnic. Kids love eating somewhere besides the dining room table.
Craft Day:
Plan on holding a craft day once a week. Stock up on poster paints, crayons, chalk, glue and paper.
Games to keep your child busy this summer
Free Coloring Pages
Backyard Camping:
This can be so much fun for the kids. Leave the backdoor unlocked so they can come inside if they get scared.
Visit the Library:
Have your children join the summer reading program at the library. If your library doesn't have a summer reading program make up your own. Give small rewards for when they read ten books, fifteen books or twenty books. To get credit for reading the book have your child tell you their favorite part of the book. If your child is too young to read, read to them or have an older child read to them.
Bake Cookies:
Let the kids help you mix up cookie batter and place them onto the cookie sheets. When the cookies are ready to eat sit down with the kids and enjoy some quiet family time.
Movie Night:
Sunday nights were my favorite night as a kid. My family would gather in front of the television to watch Mutual of Omaha Wild Kingdom followed by Wonderful World of Disney. Start your own family tradition for Sunday nights by renting a movie and gathering your family together for the showing.
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