The Many Little Joys

Summer Plan for Fun! (your simple guide to a fantastic summer at home)

Summer is for making memories…but sometimes being the one to come up with the ideas can be exhausting. This free printable weekly calendar will help you create a simple, flexible summer plan without the stress. Ready…set…play!

Summer plan for fun: printable weekly calendar of activities

Note: This post contains affiliate links to products that I have used and loved. See my disclosure to learn more.

It’s official, we’re on summer break! This year, summer feels a little weird, because “summer” won’t be all that different from what we’ve been doing the past several months. Still, I wanted to find a way to make summertime feel special and fun.

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Daily summer schedule for kids that will save your sanity

Summer break is the time for lazy days, big adventures, and making lots of memories. Still, kids thrive on structure (and so do I). Having a flexible summer schedule for kids will help you keep life balanced.

Kids playing outside in summer

Note: This post contains affiliate links to products that I have used and loved. See my disclosure to learn more.

I LOVE summer time! Give me a sunny day and a big slice of watermelon and I’m one happy girl. I dream of roasting s’mores, exploring mountain trails, and splashing at the pool together. Summer is magic.

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Healthy breakfast banana split: a fun way to start the day

Who says you can’t have dessert for breakfast? Kids will love waking up to this fun (and still nutritious) breakfast banana split. Perfect for special occasions, but simple enough for weekdays morning, too!

Healthy breakfast banana split with strawberries, blueberries and granola

One truth I’ve learned in my eight years of parenting is this:

Successful parenting is all about marketing.

Really! I mean, how much time you spend every day thinking of creative ways to “sell” your kids on doing whatever you need them to do?

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How to clean…faster…simpler…easier (tips for moms)

Cleaning a house with kids around is a task that never ends, but these quick “how to clean” tips will help you tame the mess and give you more time to enjoy those messy kids.

gloved hand holding spray bottle

Note: This post contains affiliate links to products that I have used and loved. See my disclosure to learn more.

Let me be clear from the start: my house does not constantly look like the cover of Magnolia Home. I wish it was always spotless and free of clutter, but the reality of raising kids is that our house has people in it…quite a few people…several of whom are small and make lots of messes every day.

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“Trace the alphabet” scavenger hunt (upper and lowercase)

Turn boring handwriting practice into a fun game with this free printable “trace the alphabet” scavenger hunt activity.

Turn boring handwriting practice into a fun game with this free printable "trace the alphabet" scavenger hunt activity.

My kindergartner is brilliant and creative…he also has awful handwriting. That’s okay. He’s only five, but as I say to him:

“How do we get better at something? We practice.”

So we’ve been practicing this year (even back in the ancient days when we actually went to public school…remember that? Faintly?).

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What’s working right now in our social distancing “home school”

At home learning has certainly been a learning curve for parents as well as students. We’ve had our fair share of fails, but here’s what’s working for us right now!

At home learning has certainly been a learning curve for parents as well as students. We've had our fair share of fails, but here's what's working for us right now!

Note: This post contains affiliate links to products that I have used and loved. See my disclosure to learn more.

We are now seven weeks into social distancing/quarantine or whatever-you-want-to-call-this-weird-time-in-history. It’s been a wild ride! We, like many families, have done a lot of trial-and-error experimenting to figure out how to navigate this unique time, and I wanted to share today what is currently working for our family.

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How to simplify weekly meal planning + free printable templates

Meal planning is a life-saver, but sometimes it can feel like an overwhelming chore. Here’s how I keep things simple and delicious!

Meal planning is a life-saver, but sometimes it can feel like an overwhelming chore. Here's how I keep things simple and delicious!

Note: This post contains affiliate links to products that I have used and loved. See my disclosure to learn more.

I have been a firm believer in meal planning for years. It makes my life SO much easier. However, lately I’ve been simplifying my method even more to make mealtime doable during these crazy times we’re in.

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Boredom Buster Bingo

This free printable boredom buster Bingo game is a fun way to encourage independent play during daily quiet time or while parents work from home.

This free printable boredom buster Bingo game is a fun way to encourage independent play during daily quiet time or while parents work from home.

Note: This post contains affiliate links to products that I have used and loved. See my disclosure to learn more.

I love my kids. To the moon and back, really. But sometimes I also need a little “social distance” from them. You know what I mean?

Ever since my kids stopped napping, I have been a firm believer in having daily quiet time. I have three very high-energy boys, and I need some downtime each day for my own sanity. Having an hour or two in the afternoon gives me a chance to breathe, read, work on my business, and sneak to the pantry for chocolate (truth, people).

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Neighborhood Easter Egg Hunt I-spy Game

This fun and simple neighborhood Easter egg hunt game is a great way to celebrate spring and connect with neighbors while still social distancing!

This fun and simple neighborhood Easter egg hunt game is a great way to celebrate spring and connect with neighbors while still social distancing!

With much of the world currently on pause, many communities will not be hosting their traditional Easter egg hunts this year. But that doesn’t mean we have to give up on celebrating…we just have to get creative!

One of things I have been most encouraged by during this pandemic has been the way that neighbors and communities have come together to support each other–finding creative ways to build morale even when we can’t get together in person.

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