Compliments of COVID, I came up with the best summer checklist to make your summers feel like the 1950’s. With mandatory stay at home orders followed by phased openings, more things were closed than open. Everything that once kept us busy scheduled playdates, organized sports, school activities, etc came to a screeching halt. 

Kids all over the world were forced to find alternative ways to keep themselves entertained. They were finally able to experience what “bored” feels like. Kids are accustomed to constant stimulation, so even though they like to throw out the words, “I’m bored,” most kids don’t know what bored really feels like. Unfortunately, electronics have become the worlds form of distraction and constant stimulation.  

Most of us know the benefits of silence.  It creates a space and time to be, think, use our imagination, and get creative.  In today’s world with the constant stimulation with electronics, they forget how to use their imagination, the things they once loved they begin to hate, and playing outside becomes a thing of the past. I worried with schools being out I would be in a constant battle with both myself and my kids over time spent on electronics. Thankfully, I was wrong. With warmer weather and the excitement of schools closing early, they were ready to start their summer. This summer checklist leads to how I imagine summers of the 1950’s felt like.

It’s quite magical if you think about it. Like everything in life, COVID has brought pros and cons, and while the cons heavily outweigh the pros, let’s focus on the good. Do you know the acronym KISS (keep it simple and stupid)? Most of the time, we tend to over complicate things. I always take on a little more than I can handle, so knowing this summer would be very different, I knew I had to keep it very basic and straightforward. However, that doesn’t mean my summer must-haves are basic. A couple of things you should know about me; I research something for hours, never sacrifice style, and I’m super picky! It’s a perfect storm for hours of online shopping with little return, which is now justified because I get to share my knowledge and finds with you guys using a fancy “Summer Checklist” title. 

What Our Summers Look Like

We live in a neighborhood that has large trail/creek basically in our backyard. Prior to covid, I’m embarrassed to say I didn’t know a large part of it even existed.

Since covid, my boys spent almost every day down at the creek and trail. When I think of summers before a summer checklist even existed, I imagine it to be identical to how this summer has been. Days spent swimming, searching for crystals (aka rocks), building forts, hunting for coyotes, looking for crayfish, and catching bugs.  They ride their bikes everywhere, only home for lunch and dinner, and rinse outside in the garden hose because they are covered head to toe in mud.   Every night they have popsicles/ice cream cones on the front porch and go back out to play flashlight tag or catch fireflies until the sun goes down.  Needless to say, as soon as their heads hit the pillow, they are out. 

Summer checklist to bring back the 1950’s

Shoes

Shoes and boys don’t get along. They end up muddy, smelly and broken before the summer ends. And then I found the native Jeffersons, my number one summer checklist item. My boys don’t go a day without wearing what they refer to as their “creeks.” All of the things I once hated about boy’s feet are a thing of the past. They’re easy to clean, don’t carry an odor, get wet but dry quickly, and come in super cute color patterns, so you don’t have to sacrifice style. I purchased mine from both Nordstroms and the Native website. If you click on the picture, it will take you to their site.

Another favorite is the Adidas Adilette sandal. If you have kids in sports, you can use these all year round. I pack them with their sports equipment to change their cleats and into their sandals, saving your car from turf pellets, grass, and mud. In summers without COVID, it’s a great pool sandal. My boys use them to run outside without the hassle of putting on a pair of shoes. They can be hard to find in kids sizes, but my almost 11-year-old wears a size 5 in men for this particular sandal. My “picky” side comes out when buying these for my boys. You can usually find the softer ones called the “aqua,” but I only buy the classic ones without the Adidas written on the side. I know, I’m super picky!

Swimsuits

Board shorts should be on every summer checklist. All four of my boys all have tiny waists, and most surf brands like Billabong, RVCA, O’neil, etc. have slim fit sizing. 

J.Crew is another brand that makes life easy with the adjustable waist. I’ve been able to hand down every J.Crew swimsuit from my eldest to my youngest without the color fading like most other brands. 

Towels

We have gone through more towels this summer in one day than we typically go through in one week.  To preserve my bath towels, I recently bought more beach/pool towels, so I decided to add them to my summer checklist. Plus, I love a good beach/pool towel.

The first towel is a collaboration with RVCA and Luke Pelletier that I found last summer. It’s called the Panther towel, and let’s just say I’m obsessed. Surprisingly, my boys didn’t hate pink.

The next one is also apart of the RVCA/Luke Pelletier collection, and it’s called the Luke Pelletier II Towel. Unfortunately, they are sold out, but I can usually find anything on Poshmark, of course, at a discounted price.

The last picture is by Billabong, which I purchased a few days ago. When I bought them, I didn’t zoom into the pattern, so I missed the bikini pattern. My boys must have missed it too because I only heard them fighting over who got the “towel with the flowers.”

On a sidetone, the Billabong towels aren’t as thick as the RVCA’s with a noticeable difference, but still, get the job done.

Sunscreen

Sun Bum is my absolute favorite brand for sunscreen. I also LOVE their shampoo/conditioner for my boys, which is why I added it to my summer must-haves. All of their products are amazing, so you really can’t go wrong with Sun Bum!

Before using Sun Bum sunscreen, I used a lotion SPF for a base layer and the spray to reapply. However, with Sun Bum, I noticed it sprays the perfect ‘radius’ (not sure if that’s the correct way to describe it) to cover an entire area entirely so I can now skip the lotion part. When I was looking for a picture for this blog post, I noticed they have a picture of how their product sprays, so it confirms my thoughts.

When it comes to applying sunscreen to their face, I learned the hard way. NEVER USE LOTION OR SPRAY, ONLY STICK. If they sweat or get in the water shortly after applying, it will get in their eyes and create a downward spiral for the rest of the day. (Be careful with Sun Bum face sticks. If you get the one labeled for “baby” or the one with zinc, they will look white as a ghost)

Comfortable Shorts

Mini Boden shorts. I buy a pair of “jersey baggies” every summer. They have become our go-to pool shorts for my boys to change into for the ride home. If you have younger kids who fall asleep in the car. Having older kids now, having them change at the pool gives me control of where their wet swimsuits end up. I’ve had many laundry baskets growing mold because of wet clothing left on the bottom.

Soft Tees

J.Crew has the best tees for kids. They come in either v neck or crewcut in every color, including neon. J crew always has excellent sales, and with 40% off, you can get their tee shirts at a phenomenal price. They have a great fit, soft on the skin and last many many washes. Most of the tee shirts I bought for my now 11-year-old, have been passed down three times and are still in great condition.

Nununu is one of my top brands. I was drawn to their skull designs, but what really hooked me was the quality and phenomenal smell they add to their clothing. Because I love reading about how brands started, I, of course, read about Nununu and learned they have a patent for their scent. I don’t know how they do it, but the smell lasts through multiple washes. I personally think it’s a great idea for branding purposes. It’s unique and provides something no other brands have done. It’s kind of like walking into an Abercrombie store. Something about the smell that draws you back, even when you outgrew their clothes years ago. If I could afford to dress my boys in Nununu every day, I would because the price is worth it.

Picnic Blanket

Beach People all the way. I get so much use out of these blankets and even more compliments, and I love the mid-century modern patterns. I bring this towel everywhere. I have two of their blankets and keep one at home for the backyard and one for the car. I get the most use out of it during my kid’s practices and games. Carrying a blanket vs. a chair is so much easier! It also ended all the fights about who sits on my lap. I bring the blanket, and all of a sudden, nobody wants to sit down.

Spill Free Water Bottles

I love these water bottles from Pottery Barn Kids. I had each of their names monogrammed on their bottles to use at school and during the summer.   They travel well so if you have to throw them in your purse they won’t leak all over your bag.

Large Bag

When you have kids, a small purse just doesn’t work anymore. My Louis Vuitton neverfull will never be the same after what it’s been through. The amount of leftover snacks, toys, water bottles, mouth guards, melted chocolate, protein bars, etc., I find in my purse is embarrassing.

I found this bag while in West Palm Beach at one of my favorite spots in Delray called Love Shack. I use it to travel, and as a go-to summer bag. It fits all of the above then some. I know I say I will never sacrifice on style, but at this point a trash bag would probably work the best.  Finding a bag that is convenient, easy to carry and clean (or throw away)  is an all year round must-have. A Fanny pack was a great invention and is on my list of most wanted items.

Like the fanny pack, a backpack is another one of those bags that can work for both style and convenience. My goal is to be handsfree.  My only issue with a backpack is you have to take it off, flip it around, grab what you need and put it back on. I know I’m getting really picky with this one, but honestly when you already feel like you live a circus life, without knowing how to for real juggle, it just becomes more of a cluster (insert four letter word).  But I do think this Moschino backpack is worth the juggling act.

Outdoor Toys

Besides the regular year-round toys, there are a few that are reserved for the summer months. After discovering The Beach People blanket, I noticed they had a ‘beach cart, which btw is almost always sold out. After finally getting my hands on one, it’s become a summer must-have. We don’t use it for the beach, only because we don’t live by a beach, so it’s more of a modernized wheel barrel for my boys. They love to bring it into the woods and collect wood for bonfires or other things like rocks, leaves, dirt, and other crazy things boys are into.

Pools have been a hot commodity this summer thanks to COVID. If you’re like me and can’t put a pool in your backyard, there a couple alternatives. Have you seen this one by Minnidip? They have an array of adult/kiddie pools in the most chic modern patterns. Of course, they sold out everywhere and getting on preorder waitlist is almost impossible! But can you blame them? Who would have known pools for the summer would be closed, or only allowing 1-hour reservations? Not I! So if you can’t get your hands on a pool, a sprinkler becomes the next must-have.

There are a ton of really cute sprinklers, especially for girls. If I had girls, this unicorn would be perfect. Trying to find one for boys isn’t that easy. You have to take into account that they break/pop everything. I decided to go for more of a traditional sprinkler. I ended up finding one recently because everything water-related was sold out everywhere.

My kids either came up with this idea, or found it on Tic Tok.  After you fill the balloon kit with the hose, the balloons fall off. If you leave the stem attached to the hose it creates a great sprinkler effect. 

Other fun water toys are water guns, slip n slide and water balloons.

Bikes, scooters, skateboards, or any other ride-on toy

Officially all four boys can ride their bikes without training wheels. At the beginning of the summer, they were on their bikes from sun up to sundown. Then they went through a skateboarding phase, and now we’re on to scooters. Scooters are great for the airport as long as you lay ground rules. I always get more compliments than I do crazy looks as long when they weren’t weaving in and out of the crowd. The Micro Scooter is super easy to break down, so it’s a great travel scooter. We have unfortunately graduated to a trick scooter.

Summer checklist aside, if your little one is just learning to ride a bike, I recommend getting a balance bike. I purchased this one from ‘like a bike,’ which helped all four boys learn to ride a bike without training wheels. We have hardwood floors, so I would let them ride around the house, which made it a little easier. They were able to try it on their own without feeling the pressure of learning to ride a bike for the first time.

Summer Checklist Essential: Popsicle molds

I bought these popsicle molds from Williams and Sonoma. There’s so many great recipes on the internet. You can create your own to be as healthy or as unhealthy as you want.

Backyard BBQ Supplies

Last summer, I found these hot dog and hamburger baskets from Target that had the matching tray and tablecloth. Now that we are home or for dinner every night, we use them a lot more, and it’s a great way to spice up the week.

Every Summer Checklist Should Have A Bucket List

Every summer, the kids and I create a summer bucket list, which I will create another post about. Some of the things on our bucket list are; catch fireflies, flashlight tag, fly a kite, message in a bottle, fishing, game night, build a fort, and indoor camping. I fill my Amazon cart with all of the items needed for the bucket to have ready to go.

Some of our bucket list items from this summer were; flashlights, kite, bottle, Mason jars with screen lids, fishing poles, board games, tents, and sleeping bags. There are so many creative ways to create an indoor camping experience. I found these sleeping bags from Crate & Barrel kids along with the tents and pretend play firepit. I even had the sleeping bags monogrammed with each of their names.

Here is a picture from last summer. It was super fun! I bought canvases, a canvas stand, and washable paint to have them each paint a canvas outside. I intended to hang their paintings in the house, but one of my boys decided to create a “creepy clown” so I haven’t had the “chance” to hang them yet 🙂 Needless to say, outdoor painting will stay on the summer checklist and bucket list. 

Summers are my favorite season. We usually take a long road trip down to amelia island. Everyone thinks I’m crazy taking four kids on a 12-hour road trip, but honestly, its the best, and I’m the happiest during these trips.

This summer has been very different, and finding a balance between kids and work has been a struggle. Everything from our summer bucket list to our summer checklist changed.  I’m both lucky and unlucky that I work from home. Some days I wish I could leave, to actually focus. I’m sure the parents who have to leave wish they could stay home. There is no win-win right now. Either way it’s a struggle. In times like these, we have to let go of expectations and learn to go with the flow. I have to frequently remind myself that I can only do so much, and back in the olden days, this is how summers were spent. Maybe it’s for the best.

Kids need to learn to use their imagination and become grounded in nature. I’ve loved watching the neighborhood kids playing in their yards, and exploring in the woods. More families have been taking walks and bike rides together. It’s been amazing to watch the way covid has transformed some ways of our being for the better. We are all going through the same struggles, trying to keep it together. We all need to help and support one another. To lift each other’s spirits. Friendship is so important right now. Even though we are socially distant doesn’t mean we need to become socially isolated. Which leaves me to my last must-have item for hopefully only the summer of 2020 is, of course, who can forget…..

MASKS

I found these masks for my boys. I didn’t want to get the ones that strap around their ears because they would end up swinging around their fingers, eventually landing in a bush somewhere. I bought the kid’s neck gaiters from Sleefs. They come in trendy patterns, and they can leave them around their neck when they aren’t using them. I’m hoping masks are on my summer checklist short-term.

My biggest piece of advice…Commit to enjoying your summer with our summer checklist and surrender to COVID!

XOXO ♥

Sketched by a HAUTEmess