Summer Survival Series: The Making of Childhood Memories

On a hot summer play day, my kids and I love to linger longer at the beach, park or around the neighbor’s backyard inflatable pool where we’re all enjoying our friends.  “Ok, we’re leaving in 15 minutes,” I say half-heartedly every hour or so.  When the sun is significantly lower in the sky, and I’ve completely shot any margin for dinner preparation, we phone Dad, and meet him for a cheeseburger, fries and a root beer.

Because this is rare, the last-minute trip for burgers makes a special summer memory.  “Special” means “not normal.”  This doesn’t happen often.  The occasion stands out and becomes memorable.  Recall that really special events typically happen only once a year or less!

Thankfully, it isn’t the big price tag that makes something memorable for kids, but a combination of sensory experiences. When I was in grade school, we celebrated the last day of school with a trip to Dairy Queen where we could order whatever we wanted! I vividly recall my younger sister throwing up a strawberry parfait afterwards.  Another memorable sensory experience.

Once a year, my aunt would prepare shish-kabobs on the beach. We’d linger on the shores of Lake Michigan until the sun went down, ending the night roasting s’mores around the fire. I can still feel the cold, clammy sand on my toes as the evening chill set in. 

We knew summer had arrived the day my mother dug the Tupperware popsicle mold out of the back of the closet.  How we loved choosing the flavor of juice and pouring it into the containers. It still amazed us that juice could turn into a popsicle!  That closet teemed with fascinating picnic supplies and gadgets we hadn’t seen for a year.  Half the fun was playing with the colorful picnic plates, corn boats and 4th of July ice trays. Children find wonder in the simplest things!

Simple experiences can create the fabric of summer memories. For example, setting a picnic cloth in the grass and eating grapes and cheese cubes threaded on sticks is an exciting lunch for kids. Don’t forget to let them do the washing, threading, touching and tasting. A bit of mess is a necessary and valuable part of the memory making. 

Remember it is the pairing of sensory experiences that makes memories. The greasy feel of the french fries on my fingers, their delicious salty taste and the feeling of spinning around on a twirlable counter seat at a McDonalds all the while are still vivid memories to me. I was 5 years old at the time.
 
Summer is a great time to make memories with your children.  The accessibility of the great outdoors provides ample opportunity for kids to have rich sensory experiences outdoors. Picnic food can be inexpensive and fun.  Spontaneity is free. All this proves you don’t have to spend a lot of money at the local Splash Park to give your kids a summer they’ll talk about the rest of their lives!

-posted by Donna Mershon Detweiler who has neon twistable straws, watermelon plates and corn on the cob holders in her kitchen storage.