Boys and girls, it’s a time-honored tradition to eagerly await summer vacation for months – and then be completely bored before the first week of vacation is over. It happens, and it’s been happening for decades. So kids, don’t let your parents tell you they were different; they got bored during their summers too.
But what can both kids and parents do to avoid boredom?
We have a bunch of great general and specific suggestions.
Let’s start with some general tips:
• have the right attitude Be curious about things. Just because school’s out doesn’t mean you should shut your brain down for two months. Now that you have an abundance of time at your disposal, use it to learn about things you’re interested in.
• don’t waste your time Sleeping late can lead to staying up late, which leads to sleeping late, then staying up late again, sleeping late again, and so on and so forth. Summer is not that long. Before you know it, school will be back in session. If you have months of ingrained poor sleep habits, readjusting will make the first week or two of school a nightmare. Reserve sleeping late as an occasional treat, not a daily event.
• make a schedule It doesn’t have to be rigid and inflexible, but summer shouldn’t be a blank canvas where every day parents and kids are trying to figure out something to do. Instead, establish some recurring landmarks: Monday is reserved for yard and inside chores; Tuesday mornings: trips to the library; every Wednesday afternoon: movie matinee; every Thursday evening: miniature golf; Friday afternoon: swimming; and so on. These are just some general ideas; obviously you can create your own recurring weekly events.
• it’s not all fun and games Don’t expect every moment of summer to be about fun. That just sets you up for disappointment. In fact parents, in the Medical Examiner’s view you are remiss in your duties if you don’t make work part of your kids’ lives on a regular basis. Whether they’re going to grow up to be ditch-diggers or CEOs, they need to learn the value of work. Chores – whether big or small, major or minor – should be on the daily schedule. And as alluded to in the weekly suggestions above (Monday: yard work and chores), chores come first, play second.
Stay active
What about some special places to go and things to see?
Below is a list of suggestions to get you started. Many of these require parental involvement. If both parents work, put forth a real effort to keep your kids from turning into slugs all summer long, sleeping late and spending the majority of the day playing video games, watching TV and by every other means possible looking at a screen during most waking moments. Suggestions: enlist stay-at-home neighbors, nearby grandparents, and good friends to include your kids in an outing from time to time, whether once a week or once a month. But where to go?
• When was the last time you were on Riverwalk? Maybe it’s time to go back. This time, take a moment are check out the historical markers along the way.
• The Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art not only has great exhibits; they also offer art lessons. Get some details and see if you’re interested in any of their offerings.
• The Putt-Putt in Martinez is one cool place. You can tell that just driving by. Imagine going in and playing.
• There are free movies on the Augusta Common. Did you know that? These are the remaining shows:
– June 19: Annie
– July 24: Big Hero 6
– August 21: Cinderella
Pre-movie activities begin at 7:30; showtime: 9:00 pm
• In Columbia County, free movie matinees are shown on Wednesdays at the main library in Evans. (Children 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult.) The remaining schedule:
– June 10: Mr. Peabody & Sherman
– June 24: The Lego Movie
– July 8: How to Train Your Dragon 2
– July 15: Box Trolls
– July 22: Rio
Doors open at noon and movies begin at 12:30 pm
• Concerts in the Appleby Library Garden have been a staple for a long time. Coming up on June 16, for instance, is a poetry reading by Kendall Driscoll. She will also be featured playing the flute accompanied by a string chamber ensemble. That’s just pure class.
Phinizy Swamp Nature Park
• Clarks Hill Lake is a spectacular asset to have so close to Augusta. Head up for a day of swimming or a weekend of camping.
• Get a little dose of culture at The Morris Museum. Rotating exhibits mean no two visits are ever quite the same, and admission is free on Sundays.
• North Augusta has a long, cool, green and leafy tunnel that most people simply call The Greeneway. It’s a great place to ride a bike, walk or jog. It’s beautiful.
• Have a picnic at Aiken’s beautiful Hopelands Gardens. Then stroll its downtown, which looks like a movie set for some perfect small town.
• Take a tour on the Augusta Canal on a Petersburg Boat. Your launching point (inside Graniteville Mill) houses one of the niftiest gift shops around.
• The Augusta Museum of History is the kind of place that could actually make learning fun. If such a thing was possible.
James Brown is part of Augusta’s history
• Catch a Greenjackets baseball game.
• Artist’s Row in downtown Augusta is home to an array of working galleries. In other words you can see art both framed and hanging on the wall, and in the process of being made. By the artist!
• Diamond Lakes Regional Park and Patriots Park are but two of many parks conveniently located around the area for your baseball, basketball, soccer and other sports convenience. Get to know your neighborhood park!
• Do you have a pool? Use it. But if you don’t, city pools are waiting for you. Your neighborhood may have its own pool. Summer-long membership may be required. But ask if they have a day fee, Or check out a neighborhood close to yours that has a pool. Some allow non-residents to use their pool for a modest admission cost.
• Historic Trolley Tours of Augusta are offered every Saturday morning. 24 hour advance reservations are required, and the cost is $15 person (which includes admission to the history museum. For details, call 706-724-4067.
• The Augusta Canal towpath is a superb place to ride your bike or break in some new tennies. As an added bonus, the scenery is postcard-worthy.
Out of town
There are tons of things to see and do on the road. Athens, Columbia, Savannah, Atlanta and Charleston are just a few of the options available that can easily be a day trip.
To take just one example, check out these stellar attractions just an hour up the road in Columbia:
• Riverbanks Zoo and Garden https://www.riverbanks.org/
Check out the scoop on their zip line here: http://www.riverbanks.org/plan-your-visit/other-things-to-zoo.shtml#zip-the-zoo
• Downtown Farmers Market and Mast General Store http://www.sodacitysc.com/ https://www.mastgeneralstore.com/
• Farmers market, West Columbia (April-October) http://agriculture.sc.gov/divisions/agency-services/state-farmers-markets/sc-state-farmers-market/
• Saluda Shoals Park (kayaking, canoes, hiking, splash pad) http://www.icrc.net/saluda-shoals-park
• Palmetto Falls Water Park, Fort Jackson-Open to the public Tues-Fri only. http://fortjacksonmwr.com/waterpark/
• Frankie’s Fun Park-Harbison (in the Columbiana Mall area) Mini golf/Go carts etc http://www.frankiesfunpark.com/columbia/
• Plex indoor sports and Hiwire trampoline park. Irmo and Sandhills http://plexindoorsports.com/
• SC State Museum and EdVenture http://www.museum.state.sc.us/ http://www.edventure.org/
• Sandhill REC Farmer’s Market Tuesdays 2-7pm May-November http://www.clemson.edu/public/rec/sandhill/programs/market/
• Congaree National Park (hiking, camping, canoeing, kayaking) http://www.nps.gov/cong/index.htm
• Finlay Park in the heart of Downtown Columbia http://www.nps.gov/cong/index.htm
• SC Confederate Relic Room and War Museum http://www.crr.sc.gov/Pages/default.aspx
• SC State House http://scstatehouse.gov/studentpage/index.html
All in all, this compendium really hasn’t even scratched the surface of things you can do. We didn’t mention the BMX park or the new trampoline facility, for example. We made no mention of music or art lessons that could lead to a summer of enrichment followed by a lifetime of enrichment. We mentioned the library only in passing. We didn’t mention baking cookies, having water balloon fights or running through sprinklers, squirt gun fights, setting up a lemonade stand, having a scavenger hunt or playing hide-and-seek, building a bonfire and making s’mores, making homemade ice cream, going bowling, going to Steed’s Dairy Farm, camping out in your own backyard, playing a board game on a rainy day, drawing in chalk on your driveway, playing card games, washing the car for your parents, doing some chores for your elderly neighbors, visiting your grandparents, building a bird feeder, drawing and painting pictures, or making a fort with a card table and sheets. In short, if you look like this girl (below), even for part of one day, it’s your own fault.
Do not be this girl.