Lessons from our list of 100 things to do this summer

So a few weeks ago, I posted this list of our family challenge to do 100 things before September.  If that seems like nuts, it sort of is.  But so far, the good kind of nuts.  We will reach the halfway point this week, and as long as we are able to keep up the ten per week pace, we will finish our list before school starts.  So that’s kind of cool.  But we’ve learned some things along the way, so of course, why not share them as another list?  

1. 100 things is a lot.  50 would have been just as fun.  Or even 10.  But of course, 100 sounds more impressive.2. Not everyone in our family can do everything on the list.  You’d think this would be obvious, but it took us awhile to realize that if one of the six people in our family did it, it got crossed off.  3. Balance is key. It’s really important to have lots of things you’d do anyway on there if you’re going for 100.  Plenty of things like “jump rope” and “blow bubbles”.  And not so many “big” things that it becomes expensive or undoable.  Our “See a Broadway show” morphed into “See a show.”4. Revising is also key.  They THOUGHT they wanted to “sleep in a tent”, but having campfire with s’mores was just perfect for this year.  Plus, when you do unplanned fun stuff, it totally deserves to go on the list in place of something lame that you’d do anyway.  5. Having the list helps you celebrate the little things.  And makes you aware of accomplishing so much.6. The list brings all sorts of things to you that you wouldn’t have done or noticed without it.  See fireman story in the original piece.7. Keeping a joural or a scrapbook or a blog about the list is a must.  It’s a nice way to organize summer memories.8. Many things on the list helped to connect us with other people.  Sending a hug was a HUGE favorite for all involved, and it’s been great to share so many of the items on the list with friends.  9. Some things count for more than one item, and approximations totally count.  We had a movie night at our pool where the kids wore glow stick neckalaces… that checked off “movie night”, “take a glowstick bath” and “watch a movie outdoors”.  A three-fer.10. We still have a long way to go!   50 and some change.  Eeek.  

And if you just can’t get enough of lists or are looking for more free and kid-friendly summer activities, you can check this out too.  Did your family make a summer list?  If so, how’s it going?

 

NW Philly Parents is a partnerhip between Newsworks and Germantown Avenue Parents.