Get ready for the memories.

Getting ready for the summer can be a daunting task. The kids will be out of school and running around like crazy, leaving no break for their parents. Though the summer can be stressful at times, now is a great time to plan ahead to make some amazing family memories this summer. Here are some tips to get ready for the best family summer adventures!

1. Spring Cleaning

Okay, okay, I hear you. Cleaning is likely the last thing you want on this list. That’s why it’s first on our list—to get it over with. Getting a good spring cleaning done on your home can do wonders for your mental health. It helps regain a sense of control over your life, as well as reduce stress and lessen depression and anxiety. In general, decluttering can make it easier to reach our goals and live a more relaxed life.

So, what are you waiting for? Turn up that music and get cleaning!

2. Summer Survival Kit

It might be a good idea to create a survival kit for the summer. Get a colorful box and fill it with those easy-to-forget essentials. Put a few bandaids inside (yes, even if you have a first-aid kit. You can never have enough!) for emergencies, as well as some sunscreen and a mini umbrella. If your children are still young, consider throwing in an extra outfit for those spur-of-the-moment water adventures.

3. New Food

Let yourself go nuts on Pinterest and scour for new, soon-to-be favorite recipes for you and your children to make together. Get them involved in the hunt as well!

For dessert one day, maybe try the Bing Cherry-Ameretti Fool. This recipe is filled with cherries and amaretti cookies. It’s sure to be a hit on a particularly warm afternoon.

On another day, why not try the chocolate and strawberry stuffed French toast? Don’t worry about how difficult it sounds, it’s essentially French toast with strawberries and chocolate sandwiched in the middle. This recipe would be perfect to make with the kids. One can dip the bread in the egg mixture, another can put the strawberries inside the sandwiches.

Don’t forget to remind your children to brush their teeth after indulging in these tasty treats! But make sure they wait 30 minutes to an hour after they eat before brushing those pearly whites.

4. Preparing the Calendar

Calendars are a great way to keep everyone organized throughout any season, not just the summer. If keeping up with a calendar hasn’t worked for you in the past, you might consider changing things up. If you have used a physical calendar before and didn’t enjoy it, maybe try out an app or two.

Google Calendar is a popular option, but it’s not the only one by a long shot. Another fun app for family organization is OurHome. This app syncs to everyone’s phones and lets you put in tasks for each individual member of the family. When your children complete different tasks, you can easily reward them.

When you are getting the calendar ready for the season, get the family’s help. Have everyone brainstorm things they want to do, then find the perfect times for each item on the list. If one kid wants to go peach picking, do some research together to find where and when would be the best.

Perhaps they might enjoy going paintballing instead. Contact their friends and see if you can make a big day of it. Then, get it on that calendar!

For even more events, be sure to check online. Look at the library’s website to see what they have planned for the summer season. You can even see if any of the local parks have any upcoming events.

Whenever your children have an event picked out, make it just a little more fun by letting them decorate the day on the physical calendar. They can decorate the activities however they choose—as long as you can still read the words, of course. While you’re at it, dedicate a specific sticker or design for each of their birthdays as well!

5. Dentist Day

While you have that calendar open, don’t forget to get your children booked for their next dental cleaning! The summer schedule can become swamped incredibly fast, so it’s best to get those necessary appointments in quickly.

Now, remember, going to the dentist doesn’t have to be dull. We have tips on how to make it into a fun family day!

Life is a little messy.

Remember that life is messy. Plans go off the rails, tornados whip through at inconvenient times, and this means you have to be flexible. At least one of the master plans you create this summer will fall through, and that’s okay. Breathe, adjust, and keep going. If you can reschedule, do that. If not, see if you can come up with something equally as fun, whether it’s playing a classic game of “the floor is lava” or splashing in rain puddles.

Summer is a time for memories. Sure, it can be stressful at times. As long as we are spending time with our family whenever we can, that’s what counts. Remember to give yourself a little grace this summer and have fun!