Summertime Family Fun (Episode #115) with Jennifer Maner
This is just what I’ve needed! I’ve been in a slump, burned out from entertaining my kids at home for months. Jennifer Maner, wife, mother of 6 kids and YouTuber @ALittleFamilyFun gives us a fresh outlook and perspective about the importance of being intentional with the time we have. She saves the day by giving us ideas for making our 4th of July special and memorable during COVID, as well as TONS of ideas for making summertime more fun with our families!!
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Show Notes:
How A Little Family Fun Got Started
It all began when Jennifer was in charge of the Christmas party for her church. She wanted the children to have a memorable time so she decided to video them telling the story of Christ’s birth in their own words. She got some very fun responses such as “there were camels and alligators in the stable”. She and her husband purchased some video editing software and made a really fun video for their congregation. They decided they had taken so much time learning these new skills, they wanted to put these skills to more use. That was when their YouTube channel, A Little Family Fun, was born.
“A Little Family Fun Goes a Long Way.” - Jennifer Maner
Fourth of July Fun Ideas:
In COVID our days are tending to all meld together. The big goal for 4th of July is to make the day stand out, make it different for our kids. Here are some areas of focus:
Food - make special foods that are different from your normal. Jennifer’s family loves to make homemade rootbeer every 4th of July
Lemon Raspberry Ice Cream Sandwiches- by Helping of Happiness
Play patriotic music
Water activities outside - add something novel and new like getting a new fun sprinkler head, get out the slip and slide, have a squirt gun war, water balloon games
Fireworks- depending on the restrictions in your area
Delegate! Have the kids get involved. Let them be part of the planning and put different in charge of different aspects of the day such as the menu, decorating, games to play, etc. They are then more invested and excited about the fun you are having.
Summertime Fun:
Hiking, exploring different areas with water, enjoying nature together
Play board games: get games that trusted friends recommend, look on Amazon for good reviews. Spice up old games or add new funny rules
Logic games, puzzles or jokes
Parlor games
Karaoke
Dance Party
Kids Choice Night - kids get a turn to pick what the family is going to do together
Science Experiments! Great book with 100 experiments: Awesome Science Experiments for Kids & Steam Projects
For more fun family games and activities, check these other podcasts:
Fun Family Games (Episode #86) with Megan Hess
Simple Family Fun Every Day (Episode #107)
Classic Movies the Whole Family Loves:
Court Jester
White Christmas
Support Your Local Sheriff
Support Your Local Gunfighter
The Great Race
7 Brides for 7 Brothers
Singing in the Rain
Miracle on 34th Street
It’s a Wonderful Life
Calamity Jane
The Happiest Millionaire
Road Trip Tips:
Delegate tasks to the kids: Have one of the kids pick out all the snacks, another can map out the trip in an atlas, another kid can grab all the fun toys and entertainment for the tiny kids
Put the electronics away and enjoy the scenery of the different locations you are driving to and through
Have a car schedule such as a movie in the morning, then some sort of other activity, a snack at a certain time, etc.
Getting along better in the car (or at home):
Ask the kids: Are we being selfish?
Are we making big things out of small things?
Scheduling in Special Family Trips:
One night Jennifer and her husband were on a walk when they realized they only had 5 summers left with their oldest son still at home. They realized they had been putting off trips they had always dreamed about doing with their kids. They made a list of experiences they wanted to have with their family before their oldest left home and began scheduling those in. A few of those were trips to Disneyland, a Disney Cruise and a trip to Hawaii.
“It changed our perspective when we realized time is short. We have to be very intentional about how we use our time, because we have a limited amount of it. We’ve been much more intentional about the little stuff.” - Jennifer Maner
Helpful and Happy Questions:
Favorite Food or Meal: BBQ Chicken Salad (Our Helping of Happiness BBQ Chicken Salad Here)
Favorite Trip: National Parks anytime being in the outdoors
Homemaking Hack: She has some amazing ideas for how they clean out their rooms! Check out this YouTube video to see how they do it! Cleaning the boys' room: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UfyJQuASiY&t=11s
Where you can find more from Jennifer:
Website: https://alittlefamilyfun.com/
A Little Family Fun YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8N6r9EVTUvAtJHfWRRj-RQ
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alittlefamilyfun/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alittlefamilyfun/
Links to videos we talked about:
Selfishness/Making small things into big things: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSh0qtkYAS4&t=12s
Spa Day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vBq820MILc
Riding a Rip Stik: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hy3D-MBIMSc
One of the science experiments: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xrokxGKzQ4
Just Dance videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1YKQed-P68&t=13s
Cover Your Assets: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hy3D-MBIMSc
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