8 Ways to Extend Your Summer During the Back-to-School Madness

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The end of summer is always bittersweet, and the start of a new school year is always exciting — new pens, new teachers, new book bags — but it’s also the end of those all-day pool sessions, mid-afternoon ice cream treats and watching lightning bugs well after dark. Just because you’ve tried to make the most of your active summer and school is back in session, it doesn’t mean you can’t hold onto summer a little longer. Besides, in most locales, it’s still warm well into September so there is no reason to go into hibernation quite yet!

If you’re not ready to give up summer fun just because school is back in session, check out our tips for making the fun last as long as possible. Whether you have kiddos or you’re a kid at heart, there is plenty of summer fun yet to be had — even if you can’t get into the public pool after Labor Day!

8 Ways to Extend Your Summer Fun

1. Make time for play time. Everyone needs activity — and lots of it. Kids should get about an hour each day to run around and burn off all their pent up energy. If gym class and recess are cut short at school, get to the park or the indoor pool for some extra play time at the end of the school day. Even playing tag or catch in the backyard will keep kiddos moving and enjoying the fresh air. Be sure to make time for play for yourself too — hit the gym or go for that long bike ride you’ve been planning all summer.

2. Keep splashing. The outdoor pools may shut down immediately after Labor Day, but we all know it can be plenty warm outside to keep the water play going. Water tables, sprinklers, and kiddie pools can all be enjoyed well into the school year and are great ways to get outside and be active with kiddos. If you’ve got your own pool, keep swimming laps until it’s just too chilly to jump in!

3. Do homework outside. There’s no need for kids or adults to stay cooped up inside while doing their homework or office drudgery. Some fresh air and sunshine may be just what everyone needs after a long day indoors. Take the math worksheets and TPS reports out to the back porch for some fresh air and algebra, sunshine and spreadsheets!

4. Stay stocked on essentials. Bare knees in the summer lead to inevitable bruises and scraped knees. Even adult runners and cyclists can have the occasional run-in with the pavement, so make sure you’re stocked up on BAND-AID® Brand Adhesive Bandages and ready to take care of the entire family’s warm-weather wounds. I never let myself run out of bandages for our family’s injuries, ever. And even if their injuries are so minor that they can’t be seen with the naked eye, sometimes a well-timed bandage featuring their favorite characters is all that’s needed to get a smile! Need I also mention that fingers can also get blisters after long days of writing after some time off? Stay stocked for those school learning injuries, too!

5. Get moving on the weekends. After a week of trying to sit still at a desk, adults and kiddos alike should take advantage of getting their move on during the weekends. Those two glorious days off are great for exploring and seeing new sights on hikes, going to the zoo or doing something active and fun like putt-putt or flying a kite. This NEOSPORIN^® + Pain Relief NEO TO GO!^® First Aid Antiseptic/Pain Relieving Spray for Kids is perfect for taking on active adventures — it’s super small, portable, and easily cleans cuts or scrapes while relieving pain — and what could be better when you get an unexpected blister on a hike or long walk than these BAND-AID® Brand Advanced Healing Blister Bandages? Ahh…

6. Get active with friends. Friends who took a backseat during the busy summer are front and center again once school starts — and friendships are rekindled quickly for kids. Invite your kids’ favorite friends over for backyard fun or a healthy after-school snack. If you’re sans kids, plan a fitness activity with a good friend.

7. Don’t forget sunscreen! Just because it’s 10 degrees cooler doesn’t mean the sun is any less damaging! Throw on the sunscreen before you work out outdoors or join the kids for backyard fun. Remember to lather everyone up even when it’s cloudy.

8. Hit the farmers market. Many farmers markets stay open until well into fall, so don’t forget about your local farmer just because school started. Make it a point to take the kids to pick out fresh fruits and veggies at all times of the year to see the changes in seasonal produce.

Do you do everything you can to hold onto summer once September hits or are you ready to move to the next (cooler) season by then? —Erin