With the temperatures soaring high, schools are shutting down for summer vacations. All the kids are ecstatic about the upcoming holidays. Wait. But are you?

We, at Team Explore have made a bucket list. You can follow one or you can follow all. But we promise to help you create unforgettable memories for you and your kids.

1.       Bond with your kid: Whether you want to take your kids out to the hills or to the beach, a week-long getaway wouldn’t hurt. Make use of this perfect time to bond with your child. We suggest that before you start planning a holiday, do a thorough research if the place is a kid friendly destination. Just in case you cannot manage to take time off work, plan a weekend getaway to a nearby destination.

2.       Connect with nature: Plant a tree in your backyard or in a park near your house. Before you do that, educate your child with the advantages of plants/trees in our environment. You could talk about trees that bear fruit, or plants that flower. Then ask them to think over and decide what tree they would like to plant and plant the same one the next day. Do not forget to water them regularly!

 3.       Car Wash: Park your car in your driveway or under the shade of a tree and invite your child to help you scrub your car clean. You could make the activity fun by singing songs or playing word games alongside. This way your car gets cleaned, the kids stay busy and nobody is annoys you with a nonstop chorus of “we’re boooooooooored.”

 4.       Whip up a meal together: Drag out your cookbooks and let your child select 3-4 new recipes. Then, make a shopping list and tick them off one at a time. You could make some yummy sandwiches, pizzas, burgers or even bake a cake. Keep them away from all the sharp objects and the gas. You could ask them to help you do the decoration or mix the batter.

 5.       Watch a movie: You don’t necessarily have to spend every day of the summer vacation outside. Pick a day that’s unbearably hot and relax in the comfortable chairs and cool air conditioning at your local movie theatre. Some of the biggest movies of the year come out over the summer months, so pick one everyone can agree on.

 6.       Clean up: Fix up a day with your kid and go through his/her old books, toys and clothes. Sort out the ones you do not need and make a separate pile. Look up for an orphanage, school or an NGO that will happily take your stuff and pass it to a child in need. This activity will not only help your child to learn to clean up, but also teach him the values of life.

 7.       Make homemade Popsicle: Popsicle moulds are inexpensive and easy to find, and once you see how much the kids love them (and how easy it is to whip up healthy frozen treats), they’ll become a regular in your snacks. You can fill the moulds with your favourite fruit juice, or check thousands of fancy frozen recipes available online.

8.       Throw a fancy brunch: Pick a Sunday and throw a fancy brunch for your kids and their friends. It can involve a lot of fancy food (which the kids can decide upon), yummy fruit punches and a lot of group games like Pictionary, Tail the Donkey and Treasure Hunt. If you have pets, you can also invite the other kids to bring along their pets. The more, the merrier!

 9.       Start a book club: Ask your kids to make a list of their friends. Speak to their parents and host a “Read In” day once every week. Pick a book which all the kids will read. In the end, ask them to either talk about their favourite character, or what made them like/dislike the book.

 10.   Burn the calories: Make sure that your child isn’t stuck inside the house all the time. While we understand that the heat can make your child sit in front of a screen (TV, laptop, mobile), you must ensure he/she enjoys outdoor activities like riding a bike, swimming, or playing lawn tennis/badminton/cricket.

So, all you parents out there – let’s make memories. While these summer days are long, these years are short. These aggravating, fighting kids will be gone in just a few years, and then you’ll miss them. May your summer be filled with laughter, adventure, and happy kids!