Summer is just around the corner. Bring on the sunshine and lemonade! For kids, it’s time to unwind from school and enjoy freedom and relaxation. As parents, we want to make it memorable for them because we know we have a limited number of summers with our kids, and they’re quickly ticking by. Great summers are made of a mix of creativity, adventure, togetherness, and downtime, and it all begins with a good plan. Here’s how to make the most of summer with your kids.

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Start planning now.

The crafting of epic summers begins in March or April! Get out your calendar and pencil in your big to-do’s like that beach vacation or concert you don’t want to miss. Look around locally for summer happenings and add what interests you to your calendar. Block out a few days for a road trip to nowhere (or somewhere!) and then intentionally shade in a good amount of free, no-plan, no-fuss days. Plan at least one unforgettable adventure!

Take a road trip.

Nothing screams adventure quite like throwing a few packed bags in the trunk and hitting the open road with your family – windows down, music up. If you have a destination in mind, great! But sometimes the grandest adventures are spontaneous. Go where the road looks most interesting. Stop at small bakeries and new parks. Visit caves, caverns, and hiking trails. Sit on the hood of your car with a pizza and watch the sunset. Sleep under the stars. Wander where the wi-fi is weak!

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Read together.

Choose a great book at the beginning of summer and read aloud together every evening. Reading to big kids has benefits to, and it’s a great way to cozy around together and connect. My favorites: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, The Hobbit, Alice in Wonderland, Harry Potter, Wonder, and The Emerald Atlas.

Unplug and play.

Bored kids want to be on screens, and that’s okay sometimes, but we don’t want zombie kids who lay around all summer watching YouTube videos. You know what they say, “Kids don’t remember their best day of television.” Lead the way by putting your own devices away and inviting kids to play. Board and card games are a great, low-key way to end boredom and get the family together. We are loving Castle Panic and Boss Monster. My friends love Catan, Forbidden Island, Dragonwood, Ticket to Ride, and Pandemic.