OK…so I did not schedule a whole bunch of camps and activities for the kids this summer. I figured at 12 and 14, with suggestions from me, one or two weeklong camps would break up the summer enough. I may have been wrong. Five things to keep them busy if you didn’t plan their summer out week by week…

I think my own son was begging for structure when he said he’d rather “get up and go” than take it easy this summer. Five things to keep ‘em busy:

1. Check out YMCA day camps, or camps at local colleges and universities. They typically let you sign up a week at a time, and keep the kids busy with tons of activities. Then let them have a week of down time.

2. Chore list, with money tied to each chore. I do believe the money tied to each chore is key. I tried it without, and returned to a sinkful of dishes and a pile of unfolded laundry. Not a lot of money…a dollar for folding laundry….fifty cents for letting the dog out…watch out, it adds up!

3. Vacation Bible Schools. No, neighborhood churches really do not get irritated if you sign your child up for their Vacation Bible School if you do not attend there. They figure the more the merrier, and kids can learn from other kids. It’s a few hours of structure in their day, and they will take something from it.

4. Volunteer. Enlist them, with their guidance of course, in some volunteer work. Call their school. My daughter helped set up the new computer center at her school last summer. It kept her busy, provided structure, and she learned some things about computers!

5. Neighborhood Camp. This takes some coordination, but I’ve heard of it being very successful. Check with neighbors on vacations schedules. You off a week in July? And you are the local grade school science teacher? It’s science camp at your house! And athletic camp at your neighbor’s house the following. It’s watch DVDs camp at my house the following week. Kiddin’.

Have a happy, and safe, summer!!!