Spring Break just ended, and it made me think of one thing: What the heck am I gonna do with these kids in the summer?!
Confession time: I love my kids, but I could very easily see myself going slightly insane with 3 months of no school. I’m a mom of four kids. My oldest is in kindergarten, my 4 year old is in Mother’s Day Out, and my younger 2 kids are home with me during the week. So really, I felt like I shouldn’t notice a big difference having everyone home for a week. But I did. Now I’m slightly scared.
What is it about young kids being together in one space? If I take each of my kids individually in the same environment they are so calm and well behaved. If I take all my kids and put them together, they act like they’re on speed.
Do you know what I find helps with their behavior at home? Getting them out of the home!
For us, I find if I take them somewhere in the morning, then we come home, have lunch and naps, the afternoon is much more pleasant. So, I wanted to share with you a few of my favorite places to take my kids in the summer.
Texas State Aquarium
The aquarium is great because it can be enjoyed by all my kids, from my 9 month old to my 6 year old, and there’s plenty for your teen to do too. There’s much more than just fish in an aquarium. They have an exciting bird show your kids will love, a stingray exhibit where you can pet the stingrays, a splash zone where your kids can play in the water, an interactive library where you’re kids can explore treasures from the sea… and best of all, they have a Starbucks. Don’t you want a membership now?
Corpus Christi Public Libraries
Most of us have a public library near us, but so few of us utilize it. Y’all, go get yourself a library card. They do so many fun activities for the kids in summer, and it’s FREE! They have craft times, sing and movement classes, movie nights, and so much more. Not to mention, if your older kids love to read like I did, there’s an endless supply of books to keep them quiet. Go check out all the fun free stuff your local library has going on this summer!
Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History
My younger kids love this museum. They have a really great indoor play area for the kids with things to build, toys to stimulate their imaginations, and role playing toys like grocery store items. Your older kids will enjoy all their science and history exhibits, and there’s a playground outside for when they need to run out their energy. A bonus for you is that there’s a Hester’s Cafe within walking distance.
Beaches
Y’all, we live on the water, but this is something I am prone to forgetting. Take your kids to our local beaches! Be smart about it, of course. I like going in the evenings so I can just throw my kids in the shower when we get home. Wear sunscreen {I like the natural varieties,} and if you have 4 kids 6 years old and under like me, bring a buddy {for you, mamas. I’m not talking about bringing a buddy for your kids!} Check out different social media platforms to stay on top of local events going on this summer on the beaches.
Now I don’t have enough space to tell you about all the things I love to do in the summer, but I’ll list a few more without elaborating:
- Local parks {our favorite is the Oso Bay Wetlands and Preserves}
- Farmer’s markets
- Botanical Gardens
- Community gardens {there are a couple in Corpus Christi}
- Vacation Bible Schools {no one will judge you for taking your kid to more than one!}
- Chick-fil-A {sometimes we simply go so they can play indoors when the temperatures hit the ceiling.}
