So far this summer, Ayva has gone to a week of dance camp, an amusement park, the movies, and had a playdate. Not bad for a kid that’s only been out of school for two weeks, huh? Terrence and I have filled several of the remaining weeks of summer with more camp, swim lessons, and a family vacation, but there are a couple of weeks where Ayva is going to get a chance to attend Camp Mom. I created programs for summer camps and afterschool programs for years, so I don’t see why I can’t give Ayva the exact same awesome time I was able to give thousands of other children.

Kids have been attending and enjoying Camp Mom for years. A little bit of planning can ensure that us Moms have just as much fun as the kiddos do!

Decide On A Schedule

The first thing you should do when getting started with Camp Mom is to decide what your schedule is going to be. Are you going to start early and go all day? Is Camp Mom a half-day camp? Even 2 hours of intentional and structured learning through fun activities can be considered Camp Mom. Pick a schedule that works for you and your family and stick with it.

 Pick A Theme

Now, you really don’t have to pick a theme, but it’ll make things feel more official for you and your little ones. It can be something as simple as Fun With Water or Outdoor Adventures. Then you just have to plan activities around it. Make sure you let your children know what the theme is each week so that they can get excited and maybe even help you come up with ideas of things to do.

Plan Activities

 Once you have a theme, you can start to plan out the activities you’re going to do. Think about subjects like Science, Math, Cooking, Art and Physical Activity. Don’t schedule out every second, though. Start with a skeleton plan and leave room for discoveries. It’s summer, you know. Anything goes! If you guys are having tons of fun with something, you don’t have to stop just because it’s time to move to the next thing. Be flexible. It’s Camp Mom.

Gather Supplies

 Before Camp Mom begins, you’ll want to make sure you have all of the supplies you need to complete the activities you’re going to do. You don’t have to spend a lot of money on supplies. Look around your house first and see what you already have before you head out to stock up on materials.

Don’t Forget Field Trips

Camp Mom doesn’t mean you have to be stuck in the house! Field trips help you to extend the learning and fun. You might even consider creating a theme around the trip, to make the trip even more meaningful. Oh, and a field trip doesn’t have to break the bank. A visit to the library or the playground can be just as engaging as one to an amusement party (especially if you’re present and plugged in to your kids!).

Remember To Document

What happens at Camp Mom shouldn’t stay at Camp Mom. You are creating memories, Mama! Keep a camera handy and take pictures of all of the fun stuff your kids do with you this summer. Even better, make a journal and have filling it out be one of the activities you do each day.

Want more ideas on fun stuff to do this summer? Check out my Summer Fun Board on Pinterest!

Follow Mama Knows It All’s board Summer Fun! on Pinterest.