 The end of summer blues...
So it may not be in the DSM yet, but we all know it exists! Right around labor day or at back-to-school time; it starts slowly; you're not sure what's wrong, you just don't feel like yourself; a little sad; you seem to HATE rainy days a bit more than usual and you seem to constantly crave sunshine and ice cream! Those are the "end of summer blues"! Children and adults may be susceptible to it.
What do to: PLANS seem to help the most. Having something on the calendar to look forward to and anticipate has shown to be helpful. Something DIFFERENT. Here are some examples...
Go Geocaching! It is like treasure hunting! All over the world, regular folks are finding and hiding little containers. Some with treasures and keep-sakes; most just for the fun of the hunt. GPS, like that on your phone is all that is needed. (and good shoes sometimes!) Great fun for adults and children together. Here's a website to get started: https://www.geocaching.com/play
Visit a State or National park and have a picnic. Enjoy the weather and the company. Plan to meet up with friends, family or schoolmates for a pot luck picnic or BBQ.
Movie/TV show binge watching... Catch up on that television show you always mean too or watch a movie and the sequels all in one day!
Back to school BBQ or cookout with games and prizes. Ask for help with planning and preparing to increase anticipation.
Go to a Major or Minor Baseball game. Go early-leave late. Remember the hot dogs and cracker jacks are part of the fun!
Go biking, hiking or rock climbing. (Now-a-days there are many indoor climbing facilities for both kids and kids at heart)
Check out a trampoline park, laser tag or paint ball.
Rent a row-boat or canoe or kayak.
Have a back-to-school sleepover with new classmates.
- Make Sand Castles together!
-Play volleyball, badmitten, bocce, horseshoes, corn hole or frisbee.
- Boardwalk/fair- play games and rides that you usually by-pass. Work together to collect enough tickets to get the silliest prize there is!
- Go to Midnight bowling
- Play miniature golf
- Order a HUGE ice cream sundae that everyone eats at once.
Use a "real" map to navigate to unusual or out of the way destinations. (i.e. "THE" field in Woodstock, NY; Lucy the elephant in NJ; the world's largest Fire hydrant in Tx; Apple Basket in OH; Troll under the bridge in Seattle; etc
Here's a website that lists attractions by state: http://www.worldslargestthings.com/wllist.htm
Visit a Museum: They say there is a museum for everything...from traditional art & science to fun and the unusual. Children's museums usually include many hands-on demo's and exhibits. Don't have kids? Borrow one! Make a bat at Louisville slugger or visit the crayola factory or a nearby cookie factory.
This Week's Special...
Next week: Making Interactive bulletin boards
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How to beat the "End of Summer Blues"
