It's almost summer vacation and I cannot wait. May and June are crazy months with soccer, dance recitals, and year-end school activities and July and August can't come soon enough.

I dream about long, lazy days by the pool, sleeping in, reading a book on the porch swing while the kids draw on the sidewalk or ride their bikes up and down the street. I dream of flipping through magazines while they run through the sprinklers and eat Popsicles on the back deck.

I dream of days with no plans. Days where nothing is scheduled and we can be free to do whatever we please. Walk to the store for ice cream? Sure, why not! Watch a movie at noon? Of course. Play Lego all day? You bet!

Like I said, I dream. Sure the first week or two (or day or two) might be made up of a mixture of relaxation and kids at their peak of creativity but I've been through summers before. I know that give them a few weeks (or days) and they'll be picking fights with each other, telling me that they're bored, and eager for me to play social planner for the rest of the summer.

The following are some fun activities to help keep you and your kids busy all summer:

Visit the H20 Centre – Kelowna's new indoor water playground is a great way for kids to burn off some energy this summer without having to worry about sunburns and heatstroke. They'll love the waves and the river run and older kids will get a kick out of the water slides and can even try to learn to surf.

Go On A Day Trip – Hop in the car, pick a direction, and see where the day takes you. Summerland makes a great destination. You get a sandy beach and spray park all in one location. Vernon has the science centre and outdoor water slides, and Salmon Arm has outdoor water slides, and some great places to enjoy a waterfront walk.

Play Games – Kids love a good board game. Make it even more fun by keeping a tally or turning it into a tournament. The prize? Well a freezie or a Popsicle should do the trick.

Craft out the boredom – Keep a well supplied craft cupboard, complete with a list of ideas. Have them make puppets and then put on a puppet show, or let them cut, glue and colour to their heart's content.

Playdate – Schedule regular playdates with their friends and schoolmates to keep them in contact over the summer.

Visit The Library – The Okanagan Regional Library is offering a Kids Reading Club to reward kids who keep reading during summer vacation. In addition to the club, many branches are offering fun scheduled programming throughout July and August. For more information visit

Okanagan Regional Library

Above all, have fun! Summer is a great way for kids (and parents) to relax, recharge their batteries, get their creative juices, and play. Hopefully by the time vacation is over both kids and parents will be looking forward to school and a return to their regularly scheduled activities.