Beat the Midsummer Blahs — 10 Ways to Recharge a Kids' Space

Ask any kid and you're sure to hear that summer off from school is the highlight of the year — but keeping kids happily occupied for three months can be a challenge for parents. By midway through the summer, if your kids' spaces are in need of a refresh and your mental list of fun activities is beginning to run dry, you have come to the right place. Here are 10 ways to tweak your home and yard to encourage creativity, adventure, fun and even (could we be so lucky?) a bit of order.

1. Get sleepover-ready with multiple bunk beds. You would never guess that the bunks in this gorgeous kids' room are from Ikea, but it's true. Painted white and doubled up, the bunk beds look like a custom piece. And having four beds means there is no scrambling when your kids want to have friends sleep over.

Easy decor: Oversize letters spelling out a word or your child's name are easy and high impact. A simple blue and white color scheme keeps a busy kids' space feel clean, even when stuff is everywhere.


2. Get creative with storage. When it comes to getting kids to help with tidying up, sometimes the container makes all the difference. Recommission a wagon to tote books from room to room and hang buckets from hooks on the wall to corral chalk, crayons and odds and ends.


3. Create your own adventure playground. Add an element of surprise to a run-of-the-mill backyard play area with a zip line or tree house. Have a steep hill? Set up a rock climbing area on the hillside.

Get creative and have fun — but remember to consult a pro to make sure any structure you build is safe before your kids use it.

Drop in on one incredible playhouse


4. Get a game table. There is no need to spend tons of money on a brand-new one; search Craigslist or shop local yard sales to source a used Ping-Pong, foosball or billiards table for a bargain.


5. Create a table where projects can be saved from one day to the next. Cleaning up is hard to do ... and sometimes it's really not necessary. If your kids are working on more elaborate projects, giving them space where they can save their work will be much appreciated — not to mention will save cleanup time.


6. Set up an outdoor art area. If you wish you were doing more messy projects with your little ones but keep finding excuses not to, an outdoor art and messy play area may be the perfect solution.

Set up an easel or art table with paints and other supplies on the deck or lawn. Keep old T-shirts handy to use as art smocks and fill a dishpan with sudsy water for washing hands and brushes.


7. Add fun furnishings. Poufs, beanbag chairs, swinging chairs, hammocks and indoor swings are beloved by children everywhere. Why not add one or more to your own home? It could become your own favorite spot to sit in, too!


8. Put spare cupboards and awkward spaces to use. Kids love small spaces, so if you have a cupboard, closet or nook that is not being used, try converting it to play space. Put a few toys inside, cover it with a curtain or just empty it out and let your child find his or her own way to use it.


9. Set up a self-help arts and crafts zone. Stop the incessant asking where this or that material is by setting up a simple but well-organized area your kids can access on their own. A child-height table and chairs, various papers, crayons, markers and colored pencils are all you really need to get started. For older kids, consider adding scissors, envelopes, colorful masking tape and a watercolor set.


10. Pare down and simplify. Give yourself and your child some breathing room. Go through the house — together with older kids, but on your own if your kids are small — and gather up all of the old, broken and superfluous toys and games to toss or donate to charity. A simplified space is more calming to kids and parents alike.

Tell us: How are you coping with kids' being home for the summer? Any tips or fun activity ideas to share?

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