“Most families tend to rush through dinner, especially the kids.  They can’t wait to get back to their computers and cell phones and iPods.  But they’ll stick around if the conversation is interesting.  And the biggest determinant is YOU.  If you see yourself and your life as a crashing bore, your kids will see the same thing.  But if you see your life as an endless succession of miraculous and fascinating events, your kids will be transformed by it.”  — Shmuley Boteach

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We were sticklers for table manners at our house. Our children (now adults) still tease me about our rule that you had to ask permission before stirring your ice cream and chocolate sauce into a malt in your bowl. However, summertime is a different story. We all  play with food in a sense, with more finger food and fruit decorations and pie-eating contests. Here’s a few things we sanctioned.

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 Summer often means soccer tournaments, baseball playoffs, and dance competitions. How does your child fare? Some thrive on competing to win while others melt. Saying, “Just relax and go for it” isn’t always helpful.

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Children love treasure hunts, and scavenger hunts, and treasure maps, and clues, and…the trick is to devise something that they’ll love without too much prep. This one works whether you’re in a park or camping or at the beach or at many other summer stops.

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