How to put a little “slow” into your summer

The “slow” movement is about slowing down our pace of life and taking our time so we can enjoy the present moment more. It's still a concept that varies from one person to the next, and everyone can interpret it in their own way. At my house, “slow” means all those little everyday moments when I truly take the time to be with my children. We forget about the stress and the chores and really savour the present moment together. That's the side of “slow” I'll be talking about in this article.

Summer is the perfect time to stop and get the memory factory running. It may sound complicated, but trust me, you can do it!

Here are a few ideas that might spark your creativity and imagination; the rest is up to you! I'll warn you right away: there's no competition or comparison here. What matters is taking a pause (longer or shorter, depending on the person) to truly enjoy the moment with your kids, and how you do that is entirely up to you. Like I said, what “slow” means varies from person to person!

Start from your child's interests

It may sound simplistic, but every child has interests all their own. Starting from what they love opens up a world of possibilities!

Have a little artist on your hands? Try setting aside a morning to play with modelling clay, explore different mediums (oil paint, acrylic paint, watercolour, pastels) or draw in the yard with chalk. You could also put their artwork on display by hanging it all over the walls. It goes without saying that you can also take the time to do crafts with your child just for fun!

Does your child have a flair for the theatrical? You could make puppets or put on a shadow puppet show. Put together a great performance to present to the other members of the family.

Is your little one more on the active side? Set up an obstacle course together using things you have around the house. You'll have a lot of fun going through the different routes.

I'll say it again: what matters is having a good time and enjoying quality time together!

Rock the routine

The benefits of having an evening routine are obvious, but with a little imagination you can combine the useful with the enjoyable.

First of all, everyone could pitch in with meal preparation. The kitchen is a place that brings people together and, personally, I believe kids absolutely belong there. Of course, the tasks we give them have to suit their age. As parents, we also have to be able to accept that it will take longer and there will surely be more mess when our child is at work. But once we get past that hurdle, we keep smiling and enjoy the moment!

Why not eat outside? A little picnic is out of the ordinary and does wonders for morale! Bring the plates, utensils and food outdoors and enjoy the beautiful evenings!

You can also have little board game nights. Pull out the classics (Monopoly, Scrabble, Candy Land, etc.)! It can also be done on a rainy afternoon. For younger children, there are also plenty of really fun games.

Story time is important in many homes. It's a little moment when everyone snuggles up close, and it makes for a lovely wind-down before bed. At our house, we like to have a small campfire in the evening. We bundle up in a blanket and watch the logs burn. This summer, I want to try reading the bedtime story outside by the fire. It will be our own cozy little moment, and it will let us stay outside a bit later!

And for bedtime, why not try camping in the backyard or even in the living room?

Reconnect with nature

We take less and less time to discover the nature around us and to pass that interest on to our kids. Yet it's a free activity and such an enriching one! You could get interested in stargazing or in observing insects, plants, birds and more. The internet is full of information that can help you. If you're more “old school,” libraries are there for you too!

To make birdwatching easier, you can build a bird feeder out of almost nothing (a toilet paper roll, peanut butter and birdseed). It will attract birds and let your children watch a nice variety of them right from your home!

Creating a nature notebook can also be a lovely way to keep the observations, drawings, photos, leaves and flowers you gather during your time in nature.

For a nature activity you can put together quickly, get our Nature Treasure Hunt printable!

Be truly present

Finally, to make the moment even more magical, put your phone aside. Turn off the wifi for that short while so you can fully savour the beauty of the memories you're creating.

The most important thing is to let your children have fun and to give yourself permission to have fun with them. Take the time to take your time, to be “here and now” with them. It's time to get your memory factory running and enjoy your summer a little more “slow”!

I'm curious and always open to new ideas: what do you do to slow down and take the time to be “here and now” with your little ones?