The Ultimate Summer Bucket List (That Won’t Break the Bank or Your Sanity)

Summer parenting tip: your kids don’t need a packed schedule — they just need your attention, some sunscreen, and snacks that won’t melt.

Every year, I try to remind myself that summer isn’t about making every day epic. It’s about small, sunny moments that add up.

Here’s our low-pressure, high-fun summer bucket list:

• Sidewalk chalk obstacle course (bonus: it gets them tired)

• “Water day” with a sprinkler, buckets, and no rules

• Movie night - bonus if you can do it outside (projector optional — a laptop on a chair works too)

• Exploring one new park or trail each week

• Popsicle taste test with a homemade scoreboard (it's science)
  

Parenting in the summer is about embracing the chaos and the joy. Yes, they’ll get dirty. Yes, they’ll stay up too late. But that’s kind of the point, right?