A Memorable Summer

As kids grow many of their earliest memories fade, as childhood amnesia kicks in. Once they reach the years from when memories can be retained, it’s important to give them special memories, so that they can remember things via incidents, as in ‘…that summer when we went to Niagara Falls..’ or ‘…that winter when we built a snowman and have him wear grandpa’s red jacket…’ and so on. 

Here are 4 activities which are guaranteed to help build great memories:

tents by Marina Kuperman Villataro

Go camping
Kids love this one, inside or outside. Yes, I said 'inside'. Sometimes, as parents, we don't have the time or resources to take the kids camping. Well, we can always simulate it. Pitch a tent inside the house or in your backyard. have some interesting 'camp' food, sing songs, sleep early and make great memories!

Go on a trip 
Short, long, with extended family or just the immediate family, children love trips, the games played and the sights seen. Make sure there are lots of activities for younger kids. My kids remember a fireman’s pole they first saw on a holiday. It was ‘that’ holiday, when they saw it. Don't be hesitant. Soak in local stuff, go to farmer's markets, local parks, eat local, go fruit picking and do something totally silly. 

Visit relatives
Seriously - visit relatives. It can be pleasant, if everyone makes the effort to be well behaved. Kids need to know they belong. To grandparents, immediate family, cousins and close family friends. There are people they will fall back on in case of an emergency. More than anything else, large warm families meetings help build good behavior in kids. Kids insulated from families, need to learn about where they come from. 

This summer go do something off beat, which will build some great memories.