This post is sponsored by FAGE; however, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
It’s almost here, friends: SUMMER. For those of you with kids out of school, may the force be with you. However, let this be our summer to shine! I have 10 mom hacks that just might help save your sanity this summer. Because you know how kids can be wild and crazy, especially in those dog days of summer.
Have no fear, mom hacks are here!
Stock up on snacks with protein.
It never fails. I get settled doing something around the house, and then bam. One of my kids is hungry.
Keep these FAGE Total Split Cup in your fridge at all times. FAGE makes it easy to grab a protein filled snack that’s a little bit sweet. Protein = longer wait time between snacks and meals. Talk about convenience.
FAGE Total Split Cups are the perfect anytime delicious snack with 30% less sugar (reduced from 16-17 grams to 11 grams/serving), tons of protein, and are Non-GMO Project Verified.
Or grab the FAGE Total 0% Nonfat for another rich and creamy high-protein snack that you can drizzle honey and organic granola onto. Yum!
Create a summer schedule.
We thrive when we’re on a schedule, don’t you? During the school year, we have our set times of where to be and what to do. Summer, while more lax, is still a great time to implement a schedule. I have alarms set on my phone for my work day during the school year, but when school is out, I’ll have to make some adjustments*. I’ll be block scheduling our day so that no one gets bored and no one goes crazy.
+ See also: hiring a sitter during the week for at least 6-8 hours.
Plan out daily outfits.
Plan out each family member’s outfits on Sunday night so there’s not a battle every single day. Look at the schedule of activities you have lined up during the week and go from there.
Also, place play clothes in the bottom drawer of dressers for when a quick outfit change is needed. This is perfect for your bigger kids. They can help their younger siblings easily when clothes are at arm’s reach.
Have a baby? Keep a spare outfit in your baby bag at all times. You never know when you’ll need it!
Pre-cut fruit and freeze it in snack bags.
When you go grocery shopping, wash and cut your fresh fruit immediately. Put them in plastic bags, then freeze.
Take out a few bags each day, and by afternoon snack time, it’ll be ready to eat.
Pro tip: add the fresh fruit to the FAGE Total 0% Nonfat yogurt!
Keep an activity bucket in your kitchen.
How many times does your child ask you to play? While I would love to sit and play with them all day, it’s just not feasible. (Someone has to fold the laundry.)
We have a million things for our kids to play with, but I think when they have fewer options of things to do, they’re more interested and will stay engaged longer, especially if it’s a new activity. How do you do that? Rotate the items out each week to keep it entertaining. Puzzles, play dough, blocks, construction paper, stickers, bubbles, and sidewalk chalk are just a few items you can throw in the there. When they ask for something to do, tell them to check to the bucket!
Have a basket at the bottom of the stairs for each child.
No matter what area I designate for toys, they always end up in the living room and everywhere else they don’t belong. Keep a basket at the bottom of your stairs for each of your children and have them fill it up each night before they go up to bed and have them return everything to its place before bedtime.
Don’t have two stories? Leave the baskets in a designated spot in the living room for easy reach. Fill it up and return things daily. Make it a habit.
Keep cupcake liners in your pantry.
There are so many things you can you do with cupcake liners besides make cupcakes! Who knew?!
Cut a hole through one and use it upside down as a drink cover. Stick a straw in and keep the bugs away when you’re outside.
Cut a hole through a cupcake liner and place it right-side up as a popsicle holder to stop the drip.
Use them as bowls for toppings when making a yogurt bar. FAGE Total 0% Nonfat is the perfect yogurt to use for this!
Make an “I’m bored” jar.
This little jar is going to be a fun one this summer. Find a printable of age-appropriate activities and make your kids an “I’m bored” jar. When they have done all the activities in the bucket, tell them to go to the “I’m bored” jar. Add in chores and reading and quiet activities. Thank me later.
Use a fun timer for screen time.
We let our kids use screens for activities and videos from apps we’ve approved, but we do set limits. We’ll definitely be enforcing stricter screen time limits during the summer. Use a fun timer on your phone or on an alarm clock to keep things interesting.
Go with the flow!
And last, but not least, go with the flow! If your schedule gets thrown off, your house is a mess, and your kids are driving you (and each other) crazy, just remember, it’s only a season. Grab a snack, blast a fun playlist, and dance it out.
You’ve got this!
