My fellow elder millennials will appreciate my annual screen-free summer round-up! Preserving the analog life and simple days before the Internet changed everything is something I write about in my book Mama Bear Survival. And for the younger moms who never had the chance to experience the beauty of an internet-free summer, let me paint the picture a little bit.
We spent our days outside jumping on inner tubes at the lake, catching frogs, riding bikes until the street lights came on, playing neighborhood tag, building forts… and all without our parents being able to call, message or overall helicopter parent us. Sure, there were a few things we can maybe leave behind, like drinking from the hose and never once wearing a helmet, but overall, it was a really special time growing up before social media. Before the hyped up video games, before smartphones, before someone was there to document every little thing, and even before most families had the internet at all. Childhood was slower, more imaginative, and more free.
And while I’m certainly not anti-technology (well, I’m getting there tbh), I do think many parents are craving more of that kind of childhood for their own kids now too.
I visited FOX 17 News on the Morning Mix, to share some of my favorite ideas for creating a more hands-on, screen-free summer, with activities that encourage creativity, outdoor play, family connection, and memorable experiences.
edZOOcation Subscription Boxes
If you have animal-loving kids like me, these edZOOcation boxes are such a fun summer idea!
We’re big fans of the outdoors and conservation with the Women Hunt Mama Bear Field Camp I host with mothers and daughters around the country… so this was right up our alley to keep the learning going all year.
These are wildlife and conservation themed subscription boxes filled with crafts, games, books, science activities and hands-on projects… not to mention, a big, beautiful STUFFY!
Unlike a lot of subscription boxes out there that are either aimed at real young ones, these are designed by a real-life mom who understands that kids of different ages need very different activities to stay engaged. So the boxes are tailored by age (3 different levels) so they will learn at a developmentally appropriate stage.
A portion of every box supports wildlife conservation efforts and helps kids feel connected to the world around them and understand the improtance of being stewards of our beautiful planet and the creatures we share it with.
Raddish Kids
Another great option you can basically put on auto-pilot to keep the fun and learning going this summer is Raddish Kids.
This cooking and baking subscription box is designed for kids from ages 4 through teens and is such a fun way to build confidence and practical life skills at home.
We are starting the global cooking subscription this year to go along with our global homeschool studies this year and I can’t wait to explore different foods with the kids. There are so many ways children learn when in the kitchen- math skills, following directions, trying new foods, and gaining independence, all while making something they’re excited to eat because they made it themselves!
I also love that they include table conversation cards to help bring back family dinner conversations. Their current “Stars & Stripes” themed kit is especially fun heading into Fourth of July season and celebrating America’s 250th birthday.
Micro Kickboard Scooters
Micro Kickboard scooters are basically the official scooter of West Michigan neighborhoods at this point. You really can’t go a block without seeing them everywhere. The US distribution is based right here in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and run by a wonderful family. They may have started local, but they’re the most awarded scooter around the nation!
They make scooters starting around age one all the way through adults.
My own kids have had them from the beginning, but I especially wanted to showcase these larger “big kid” and adult versions because honestly… they’re really fun.
The Micro Classic is smooth, fast, and perfect for older kids and adults, while the Micro Reloaded gives bigger kids that easy-balancing three-wheel style they already know and love.
Wondergarten
If you have younger kids at home this summer, Wondergarten is such a sweet resource for creating a slower, more magical childhood summer. We started using this program in the early spring and it brought so much beauty and rhythm to our days… even the older kids loved it!
It’s filled with weekly baking projects, seasonal crafts, nature activities, stories, and simple rhythms families can do together.
They also have the free Gnomes of Wondergarten podcast and their Songs of Summer music CD (or you can listen on Spotify). A really special component to this program is the community. You can download the free app and connect with families from around the world who are using Wondergarten, and get encouragement and support directly from the mom creator, Lisa. She makes incredibly helpful and inspiring monthly videos to walk you through every lesson of the program!
It really feels less like “curriculum” and more like bringing a little wonder and imagination back into childhood- and motherhood too!
Beautiful Feet Books — Far Field
If you have older kids, Beautiful Feet Books just launched a brand new nature and science study called Far Field that looks absolutely beautiful. Homeschool families have loved the “Seasons Afield” study for K-3, so I’m confident this is going to be extremely popular, too.
It combines literature, nature study, science, outdoor exploration, botanical illustration, hands-on experiments and guided activities in a way that feels rich and meaningful instead of dry and textbook-ish. In fact, the whole program is just one slim teacher guide along with a student nature logbook, watercolor card packet, and 18 beautiful picture and chapter books to help spark curiosity and connection to the world.
You can do three lessons a week to last all year, or just take it at your pace and do some this summer and continue on next summer! We’re going to dip our toe in this summer and continue on with our homeschool through the year. I’ll share more of my review as we go over on my @seekthegoodmotherhood Instagram.
Camp Snap Camera
And finally… this summer, you’ve got to capture all these memories. And now you can do it without a screen, too.
The Camp Snap camera is such a fun alternative to constantly handing kids a phone to document life, or having your own phone in your hands and getting distracted by notifications.
It’s all the nostalgia of the disposable camera we grew up with, without the expensive (and now impossible to find) developing and printing fees!
The cameras can hold up to 500 photos, but there’s no screen to constantly review them. You simply transfer the images to your computer later and maybe even print them out and enjoy them like we used to.
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