This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #PowerYourSummer #CollectiveBiasSchool is officially out, summer is finally here, and Miss Jade has basically been begging us to go camping every night. While we do have a trip or two planned for later in the summer, I thought it would be fun for us to practice (with a little indoor campout) and create some unforgettable summer memories in the process. If you’ve been thinking of adding this idea to your summer bucket list, check out my best ideas and please share yours in the comments!
- Get Everyone Involved
Get the kids involved by asking:
- What color PJs should we wear?
- Where would be the best location in the house?
- What snacks should be served?
- What job would everyone like to be in charge of?
I find that there are always more cooperation and involvement when everyone is involved in the planning process. Take the kids with you to Walgreens to pick out their favorite snacks, beverages and little extras like batteries (I chose Energizer® Ultimate Lithium™ batteries), and just let the kids be a part of the process. You might be surprised at how fun and creative their little ideas are.
I try to listen and accommodate when possible, it’s so fun to lets the kids see their own ideas come to life.
2. Set the Mood
One of my favorite childhood memories was making blanket forts at my Grandmas house. She would pull all of the house plants around so we felt like we were in the jungle. She let us each have our own flashlight and set up a special area for snacks, that were unlimited (every kids dream). I really wanted to re-create that feeling by bringing in some battery-powered lanterns, little plants, this sweet teepee (draped in flowers and a dream catcher), some fun activities, flashlights and of course a snack bar.
Don’t forget to plan for nighttime and make sure to have your Energizer® flashlight and Energizer® Ultimate Lithium™ batteries ready to go. I chose these ones because they are the #1 longest lasting AA battery, they are 33% lighter vs alkaline batteries (AA/AAA only), and Ultimate Lithium™ AA maintains peak performance with a 20 year shelf life! My kiddo is obsessed with flashlights so it’s smarter for me to invest in a better quality product that will last night after night.
Learn more about Energizer® Ultimate Lithium™ batteries on the Walgreens website.3. Snacks
This is where the sky is truly the limit, let your kids pick out and share their favorite treat. We kept things simple and light by serving up a DIY pink Smore’s bar, complete with chocolate, pink marshmallows and graham crackers. We also had popcorn to balance out all of the sweet stuff (salty + sweet = heaven). I’m definitely not as cool as my grandma, because I was putting the treats away pretty early in the night… But we still enjoyed ourselves as we “broke the rules” by eating outside of the kitchen. #ImACoolMom
4. Entertainment
This one is hard because now-a-days it’s just so easy to turn on the TV or watch a movie, to be entertained. It’s a lot more work to create your own entertainment and to use your imagination. I wanted this little campout to be special so I asked Jade about creating our own stories with a puppet show. She was SO excited and insisted on a princess fairytale plot. I created these DIY printables and we had such a blast making up our own little tales for our shadow puppet show.
To re-create this shadow puppet show at home you’ll need:
- Scissors
- Popsicle Sticks
- Tape
- My Fairytale Printables
5. Take Photos
As a blogger, I feel like I take too many photos… But you know what!? I never ever regret having them. So this last tip is a simple reminder to do the (sometimes awkward thing) and get a few pictures of the gang. Even if you never share them publicly, you’ll have them for your scrapbook or keepsakes, and I promise you won’t regret having the memories. You can find the everything you need to re-create this fun night in at Walgreens. Look for Energizer® Ultimate Lithium™ batteries at Walgreens near the electronic section.
For those of you who are part of the Balance Rewards program, from now until 6/30, you can earn 5,000 loyalty points when you buy an 8 pack or larger of Energizer® Ultimate Lithium™ batteries with Balance Rewards at Walgreens. It’s free to join the Balance Rewards program, which allows you to earn points every time you shop and turn points into dollars off future purchases. Join in-store, online, or by downloading the Walgreens App.
You may also find out more by following Energizer on Facebook Here.