If you have school aged children, you know that sometimes their summer vacation can be stressful. Children whine that they are bored, watch too much television, or forget everything they learned in school. Fortunately, there are summer activities that can help keep them entertained, let them learn useful skills without studying, and prepare them for adulthood without tears.

One of the most productive summer activities for children is growing some of their own food. Whether you supervise your six year old child in caring for a tomato plant, or start an even younger child on a herb garden (mint is particularly difficult to kill), or ask an older child or teenager to grow some fruit or vegetables, gardening provides them with an education on where food comes from, what plants need to survive, an overview of biology, and there is nothing to compare with the pride a child feels when the family serves their produce at the dinner table!

The other extremely productive summer activity that I have found is to help your child start their own dream business. Whether that business is programming web sites, dog grooming, a craft-related activity, or something else, you will be helping your child on the path to independence and happiness in life. In addition, your child will learn something of what the working world is like, and be better prepared when he or she goes to work.

With these two activities, it is highly unlikely you will ever hear complaints of boredom, or encounter the normal stresses of summer vacation, and your children will be all the better for it!