School’s Out For Summer Care Packages

When you’re a kid, nothing compares to that feeling of the last day of school, do you remember?  It’s like you have a lifetime of Summer before you with mornings of sleeping in, late nights playing, and days spent at the pool or beach.  I thought a Summer Care Package would be a fun way to help make sure kids make the most of it.  Kind of like a stocking is to Christmas, and a basket is to Easter – basically I love filling up anything with fun little things, so really this was right up my alley and a great excuse for a new tradition.

You can make the gift for any age – boy or girl, and get creative with what you fill it up with according to their interests.   Just a little something to say “You did good and welcome to Summer” and let them know you love them.

I came up with some ideas for different age groups for boys and girls, and a few printable cards too. Catch me after the jump for all the details, you’re going to love this one!

Summer Care Packages

First you need a little something to stuff all the goodies in.  Have fun with it, and think of something that your kid would love and use for the Summer.  Here are a few ideas:

• sand bucket for little kids
• beach or pool bag for girls
• baseball cap for boys

Now stuff it with summer goodies.  Really this will vary with the age of your child and their interests but here are some examples:

For The Little Ones:

• sand toys
• sidewalk chalk
• jump rope
• water gun
• water balloons
• flip flops
• goggles
• pool floaty
• beach ball
• a book about summer (our favorite)
• bubbles
• water bottle
• sunscreen
• beach towel
• sun hat
• envelope with a few dollars stuffed inside for the ice cream truck

Older Kids:

• I think this book of Kids Summer Games would be great
• water balloons
• water toys
• goggles
• snorkel and mask
• pool floaty
• easy chapter book
• water guns
• friendship bracelet kit
• beach towel
• sunscreen
• chapstick with sunscreen
• sunglasses
• sun hat
• flip flops
• magazine (they have fun kids sections at book stores)
• sling shot

Tweens and Teens:

Boys:

• gift card or pass for favorite summer hang out (pool, skate park, dirt bike track…..)
• sport sunscreen
• sunglasses
• flip flops
• beach towel
• hula girl for their dashboard
• magazine with a topic they like
• itunes gift card
• movie passes
• an envelope with a little gas money stuffed inside
• a book

Girls:

• gift card to their favorite hang out (pool, skate rink..)
• sunscreen
• sunglasses
• flip flops
• beach towel
• sun hat
• flip flops
• magazine
• book
• itunes gift card
• nail polish in a fun summer color
• lip gloss
• friend ship bracelet kit (love this tutorial, just print it for them)
• movie passes
• new razor
• an envelope with a little gas money stuffed inside

Free Printable Cards

Then just add a little note about how you thought they did a great job this school year (or though there were moments of doubt somehow they pulled it off…kidding, kidding!), and to enjoy their summer – right after they mow the lawn that is.  Oh, and pull some weeds, and water the flowers….

Here are a couple cards I whipped up.  You can just download them using the link below and then print to fit page or when printing select scale to page.  There is a template telling you where to cut and fold.

School’s Out For Summer Card

Enjoy Your Summer Card

Hope you have fun with this one.  I am excited to start the tradition with my little ones.

Do you have any ideas for stuffers?  I’d love to hear them!

~Destri

Linked to the fabulous Skip To My Lou