If there is one phrase that hurts my ears (not to mention my head) it’s the ol’: “MOM, I’M BORED.”

That’s why we started doing this:

It’s our Giant List o’ Summer Fun!

We’ve been doing it for a few years now, and it’s great. Not only does the activity itself eat up a couple hours (brainstorming activities and illustrating them all takes time you know), but it becomes a big “go-to” for when we’re looking for something to do. My goal is always to include smaller things the girls can do without me (have a tea party, play a board game, read a book, play at the park, have a pyjama day) as well as some of the bigger things I don’t want to forget to do as a family this summer (do some backyard camping, hit up some of our favourite museums, and go on day trips).

The best part is that when I hear that dreaded phrase I can point to our Giant List and tell them to just pick something.

Here are some of the things that are on our list:

• camping (done!)
• Parc Omega
• vacation
• go see the Harry Potter movie (maybe make some Harry Potter crafts too?)
• Calypso Water Park (done!)
• swimming at the local pool
• make pudding
• go to our Nana and Papa’s
• visit Babi
• continue our tree hunt/neighborhood leaf collection
• check out the workshops at our local kid’s art studio
• crafts (I have a bunch planned already)
• make ice cream
• bake yummy things (HELLO EASY BAKE OVEN)
• picnic in the park – somewhere new!
• go for a hike
• go to the beach
• go on a family bike trip
• sleepover with friends
• tea party (make invitations to make it official)
• play with friends
• mom’s birthday celebration in August
• camp in the backyard
• go for ice cream
• go the library
• check out our favourite museums
• Saunder’s Farm
• go to the movies
• visit the Farmer’s Market
• Papinack Zoo
• Summer camp (one week away from home!)
• write a letter to a friend
• Spa Day
• explore Ottawa
• fly kites
• make bubbles
• decorate t-shirts
• host a lemonade stand (done, but we can do it again!)

What would you add to your Giant List o’ Summer fun?