Several years ago, when my children were still young enough to not have devices and cars and an overflowing schedule of activities, we began a tradition of creating a summer bucket list. Everyone contributed to this list, including my husband and me. Our lists were overflowing; there were endless ideas and requests posted on our colorful paper and marker list. Each year we posted it in a prominent spot on a wall or door where all could see it. It became a good conversation piece for when friends would visit; they were always jealous of our lists of plans.
When the kids were younger, the requests usually required time and little money; visit the zoo, buy a slip-n-slide, and go for ice cream appeared on more than one summer bucket list in our home. Middle school years showed their budding maturity: visit the bounce house, play the Wii together, and go for ice cream. And finally high school years came and the lists became longer and a little more expensive: visit the Christian music festival, head to the amusement park, and go for ice cream.
This year we graduated our third child from high school. We have one daughter who remains at home. We still made a bucket list. We still look forward to the things that we can do together, with or without the older siblings who are now on their own schedules with their own responsibilities. The list is not too complicated for my intellectually disabled daughter: visit a new Mexican restaurant, see a movie in the theater, and go for ice cream. We will enjoy the summer and try to slow down and spend some time with one another. Whatever schooling we did not finish up this spring, will still be there in a few weeks….after our bucket list items are all checked off. After we rediscover the joy of playing together and just being together.
Here are some bucket list ideas for you to consider!
- Head to the zoo, aquarium, or wild life center
- Water balloon fights, slip-n-slide, waterpark, swimming
- Meet up with friends at a playground or new park
- Have a family reading challenge
- Have a family hiking challenge
- Make popcorn and watch a favorite movie together
- Have lots of family game nights
- Do a difficult puzzle together
- Cook dinner once a week together, or bake something everyone enjoys
- Try frisbee golf, pickleball, or kayaking
- Have a lemonade stand to raise money for a charity
- Offer to babysit for a friend who needs a night out. Do this as a family.
- Plant a garden together. Have each child choose 1 or 2 things to grow.
- Go camping, even if its just in the backyard
- Catch fireflies
- Jump on the trampoline together, use the basketball hoop, set up the cornhole