A few boards and a sturdy tree will give the children in your life a leafy retreat. Add a slide for a speedy exit. Get all the kids to write their names and ages in weatherproof paint on the side of the structure. For inspiration, check out Treehouses.com or TheTreehouseGuide.com.
Build a Tree House
Wake the grandkids at midnight — or have the teenagers wake you — to watch the annual Perseid meteor shower. In the early morning hours of Aug. 11, 12 and 13, hundreds of shooting stars will flash across the sky.
Stargaze
Map all the playgrounds in a 10-mile radius. Next, make up a booklet with room for notes on each park on your map. See how many you can visit together.
Make a Movie
Gather a crowd and start training now for one of the many fundraising walks that take place in the fall.
Explore With a Schoolchild
Recall a great memory you shared together and send a photo, CD or other memento of the occasion, suggests Jacquelyn Mitchard, author of The Deep End of the Ocean, who has written about falling out with friends. "Tell them, 'We could have that good time again.'"
Paint With a Preschooler
Secretly fill a trash can with water balloons. Call the kids outside and let the battle begin.
Walk for a Cause
Secretly fill a trash can with water balloons. Call the kids outside and let the battle begin.
Host a Film Fest
Secretly fill a trash can with water balloons. Call the kids outside and let the battle begin.
Seek Out an Old Pal
Secretly fill a trash can with water balloons. Call the kids outside and let the battle begin.
Hunt for Treasure
Secretly fill a trash can with water balloons. Call the kids outside and let the battle begin. Cancel You are leaving AARP.org and going to the website of our trusted provider. The provider’s terms, conditions and policies apply. Please return to AARP.org to learn more about other benefits. Your email address is now confirmed. You'll start receiving the latest news, benefits, events, and programs related to AARP's mission to empower people to choose how they live as they age. You can also by updating your account at anytime. You will be asked to register or log in. Cancel Offer Details Disclosures
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