For many parents, summer planning began in January! How do we keep the kids busy?

I realize there's a need to think about child care since both moms and dads work. That's understandable. But really, do kids really need a scheduled summer? Do we really need to spend hundreds of dollars on camps and organzied sports?

What happened to just playing with the other kids in the neighborhood? My kids did that when they were younger. We had a great neighborhood with lots of kids. The kids played in the yards, running from one home to the next. Popsicles were abundant at our house and every kid on the block knew it!

Swingsets in the backyard kept them occupied. Riding bikes; going to the pool and just using their imagination in creating fun!

I know it's not popular but shouldn't a child's summer just be a time for carefree play? Or is that just a thing of the past?

For me and mine this summer, our plans include: unhurried mornings, restful afternoons and leisurely nights!