The end of summer is upon us.
Around this time, I always feel so much pressure to do to all those things on my summer bucket list that I somehow didn’t have the time to accomplish before.
This year, I'm trying not to think about the end, and instead focus on savoring all the time that still remains.
Summer is the time when the world feels young. It reminds us of when we were kids and had no worries, and endless energy. Don't worry about trying to make it go out with a bang, but instead take this opportunity to enjoy the little things. Think of all the memories you have that define the summers of your childhood… I believe that it was all in the sweet, simple moments.
Take what remains of this summer to bring out that kid inside you.
Here are 8 simple and nearly free things to do that will take you back to that care-free time, and remind you that the kid inside you never really went away.
1. Cover a surface in sidewalk chalk
Buy yourself some chalk in lots of different colors. You can find it in arts and craft stores and most department stores around the toy or seasonal sections. Go to the sidewalk in front of your home, your driveway, a big open parking lot, a patch of cement or asphalt at a park, any open surface on the ground that will take the chalk, and color away. Draw flowers, your friends, a path through a fantasy land of your creation, dragons, monsters, games of tic-tac-toe… whatever your heart desires. Bring a towel or a mat to cushion your knees if you draw for a long time. Draw until every inch of your space is covered with colors and creations, and you are covered in chalk dust. Revel in the beauty of your artwork until it rains and it is all washed away. There’s something beautiful in the transience of chalk drawings.
2. Run through a sprinkler
You can buy a simple one at a hardware store, around seasonal toys in a department store, or you can even make one yourself out of an old plastic bottle. Just set one up somewhere on a hot day, turn on the water, and run through the spray. Even if you just pass on in a neighbor’s front yard that happens to spray over the sidewalk, don’t avoid it. Just once, decide to get drenched. It’s just a little thing to do that costs next to nothing, and for a moment will make you feel like you’re six years old again.
3. Catch some fireflies
The peak time for fireflies to be out and about is usually early July, but sometimes they will linger until the very end of summer. The Museum of Science in Boston tracks fireflies every year, and you can see if any have been spotted recently in your area. You can learn more about the cool creatures and even join in the firefly tracking team here. If you spot a few around, chase after them! Even if you don't catch any, it'll remind you of the good ol' days. If you do catch any, collect them in something that will allow them to breathe and enjoy your own little blinking lantern for a bit. And of course, let them go free after you've had your child-like fun.
4. Read a book outside in the shade
Pick up something you've been meaning to read, find a nice spot under an awning or a tree, on a swing or in the grass, and spend all afternoon reading. Better yet, find an old book that meant a lot to you when you were a kid, maybe an old picture book, or a book of poems that your parents read to you, or a book you read in elementary school that had one line that really stuck with you. Remind yourself why that story had so much meaning to you. Take yourself back to the first time you read it. You may have advanced in reading abilities, but I promise, you didn't grow out of the lessons you learned from those books as a kid.
5. Make your own popsicles
Pick up a popsicle mold from the store, or make mini-pops with in a regular ice cube tray. Just fill up the tray, lay some plastic wrap over the top, and stick popsicle sticks through the plastic. You can find a bunch of awesome and easy popsicles recipes here, or you could just fill them up with your favorite fruit juice. Stick it in the freezer, and few hours later, you've got homemade happiness that'll keep you cool during the dog days.
6. Spend a day watching cartoons in your pajamas
A bunch of the shows that a lot of us grew up are on Netflix now. Queue up some of your favorite old episodes, stay in the clothes you slept in, pour a hearty bowl of cereal, and spend a hot day enjoying the AC and reminiscing on the Saturday mornings of your childhood.
7. Have a picnic
Pack up a blanket, some sandwiches, snacks, and drinks, and head out to a comfy spot on some grass to dine. Meals are the best when shared with good company, and everything tastes better when you're surrounded by fresh air and sunshine.
8. Play the games you learned during recess
Monkey on the Woodchips, Tag, Red Rover, Simon Says, Hopscotch, Red Light Green Light, Hide and Seek, Duck Duck Goose, Capture the Flag... While it's still warm, gather some friends, go outside, and play some games. They will get you moving, but don't really require much athleticism. And if you don't know the rules already, they are easy enough for anyone to learn quickly. They are still fun. You haven't grown out of them. There's a reason they have been passed around by kids everywhere for years.
School starts soon, the weather will begin to get chilly quickly, and the official first day of Autumn is September 21. While the world is still warm and exuberant and bright, go out and be a kid.
