Listen weekday morning, mid-day and afternoon for the Summer Fun Tip of the Day, a fresh idea on how to have fun and stay safe all summer long!
Monday, 7/14 | Tip #36: Fresh fruit is a delicious way to stay healthy during the hot summer months – just adding berries to your morning cereal can make a difference. The real summer fun fruit? Watermelon! Enjoy some and have a seed spitting contest with your family!
Friday, 7/11 | Tip #35: Nothing is more energy efficient for cooking than your microwave. It uses two-thirds less energy than your stove. So, cook faster & save more! (Nothing says “summer fun” more than nuked Hot Pockets & Bagel Bites, right?)
Thursday, 7/10 | Tip #34: Water-play on hot summer days never goes out of style: You will be amazed how much fun you and your kids can get out of a lawn sprinkler or a garden hose. Or you can save precious water and take a trip to the nearest lake, river, or beach (or bayou!). Check out these 10 places for water fun in and around New Orleans!
Wednesday, 7/9 | Tip #33: Step away from those electronic devices! From sprinklers and water balloon fights to bike rides and bug hunts, there are lots of things to do when you unplug and go outside! Click here to check out a few more fun ideas on how to spend some of these summer days outside!
Tuesday, 7/8 | Tip # 32: Don’t forget the sunscreen! Protect your skin with an SPF of at least 15 each and every day. More 
sunscreen tips to help you protect yourself from those summer rays can be found here!
Monday, 7/7 | Tip #31: On a rainy Summer day, unplug the TV and grab the board games and playing cards for some fun that requires human interaction! Click here for a few more creative ideas for the kids on those rainy Summer days.
Friday, 7/4 | Tip #30: Always leave fireworks to trained professionals. That means sparklers too; they can get as hot as 1,000 degrees! Ouch! Have a safe and fun July 4th Weekend!
Thursday, 7/3 | Tip #29: Have a family homemade pizza night! Shop together for ingredients, and make your dough from scratch. Step outside your comfort zone and experiment, even if the kids want to try some strange combinations.
Wednesday, 7/2 | Tip #28: Stay in the shade whenever possible, and limit sun exposure during the peak intensity hours – between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. (So, basically, all day.)
Tuesday, 7/1 | Tip #27: Want to conserve enough water to run the sprinkler this summer (and save a little $$$ too)? Surprise! Your dishwasher uses less water than washing dishes by hand. Plus, let those dishes air-dry to save even more!
Monday, 6/30 | Tip #26: To get rid of junk and clutter, have a yard sale! Be sure to post it on social media, neighborhood apps (or on the community calendar at lifesongs.com), and start early – like around 7AM! Want more garage sale tips? Click here!
Friday, 6/27 | Tip #25: Camp safe! It’s best to go camping with at least one companion. Before going, check weather conditions and leave a copy of your itinerary with family or friends. And don’t forget the s’mores!
Thursday, 6/26 | Tip #24: Have a family cooking night once a week. Let the little ones help on those days it’s too hot to use the stove or oven. Rotate family members picking a new recipe to try and make sure everyone contributes to preparing the dish – including doing the dishes afterwards! Because a family that cleans dishes together stays together…
Wednesday, 6/25 | Tip #23: If you go on vacation, it can get expensive to bring back souvenirs for everyone on your list. Instead, buy lots of postcards and send them to everyone you know! Everybody likes to get postcards, and they are a great way to let others know you’re thinking of them. Plus, they are more affordable than buying lots of gifts! That’s more money saved for your vacation!
Tuesday, 6/24 | Tip #22: Dress for the heat. Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing. (Light colors will reflect away some of the sun’s energy.) It’s also a good idea to wear hats or use an umbrella. You never know when an impromptu second line may come along…best to be prepared!
Monday, 6/23 | Tip #21: How berry cool would it be to take the family on a berry picking trip, and make some creative berry-recipes once you get home? Berry, BERRY cool. And delicious, too! To find a pick-your-own berry farm near you, click here!
Friday, 6/20 | Tip #20: Scented soaps, perfumes, and hair spray attract bugs – and with mosquitoes to worry about, it might just be better to smell like DEET. So spray away! Mosquitoes are common around these parts. If youʼre going to be outdoors for an extended time, be sure to use insect repellent. Spray it on your clothing for added protection. Experts also suggest you avoid being outside at dawn or dusk, and (if you can stand the heat) try wearing long sleeved shirts and pants, too. For more tips on how to keep those pesky bugs at bay, click here! (And HERE is a link to the bug stickers Josh was blabbing about)
Thursday, 6/19 | Tip #19: Turn a coffee can into a time capsule. Have your children put things inside that will remind their future selves of what they were like this year. Then bury the can. Just don’t forget to keep track of where you buried it! (Bonus – that means you get to drink more coffee to get an empty container!)
Wednesday, 6/18 | Tip #18: Most dogs enjoy swimming (doggy paddle!), but some cannot swim, and others may hate the water. Be conscious of your dog’s preferences and skills before trying to make him swim.
Tuesday, 6/17 | Tip #17: It’s a summer tradition to make homemade popsicles. Ditch the store bought stuff and fill some ice cube trays with fruit juice, lemonade or KoolAid, cover it with saran wrap and stick toothpicks into each cube. Freeze for a couple of hours and enjoy your “sunshine on a stick!”
Monday, 6/16 | Tip #16: Put that garden to good use and set up a tea party! Get the kids involved in helping to make finger sandwiches and cookies, and play dress up for the “fancy” event! Click here for some more ideas for your summer fun tea party.
Friday, 6/13 | Tip #15: Love your neighbor well. Maybe this looks like picking up groceries for them or offering to babysit or mow their lawn. You can also join the giving family of LifeSongs and help fill the Giving Hope food bank to feed those in our community in need.
Thursday, 6/12 | Tip #14: Pray for someone in need. Click here to visit PrayerWorks and join our online prayer community! It’s one of the ways this ministry makes a difference in our region, and YOU make that possible through your giving. Thank you!
Wednesday, 6/11 | Tip #13: Make a difference locally. There are hungry families in need here in SELA, and you can help provide for their tangible needs while providing HOPE for their hearts, too, when you give a gift to LifeSongs today!
Tuesday, 6/10 | Tip #12: Stay hydrated! Drink water continuously, even if you don’t feel thirsty. Avoid caffeine, which can dehydrate the body. And water’s not the only way to keep hydrated. Click here for some surprising edible ways to hydrate!
Monday, 6/9 | Tip #11: Thank your mail carrier! On these hot summer days, nothing says thank you like a cold bottle of water!
Friday, 6/6 | Tip #10: CANNONBALL!! Swimming is a great way to cool off in the summer, but children should always wear life jackets when on boats or near bodies of water. It’s also a great time to learn how to swim! Kids should never swim without supervision. For more tips to help your kids swim safe, click here!
Thursday, 6/5 | Tip #9: Be a tourist in your own town – visit downtown, museums, parks, and other monuments that you might have not seen in a long time. Maybe you’ll discover something new! The New Orleans Library even offers Culture Passes to get into many museums and other experiences for FREE! Plus, it’s an inexpensive way to have a vacation and support the local economy, and there’s SO much to enjoy in Southeast Louisiana. Click here for more hometown tourist ideas!
Wednesday, 6/4 | Tip #8: Host a family talent show. It’s a great way for kids to show off their singing and dancing, or reveal hidden talents, involve the family in their hobbies (magic tricks! yo-yos!) and more.
Bonus: it’s a great indoor activity for those occasional thunderstorm-y summer afternoons!
Tuesday, 6/3 | Tip #7: Add a very important (and fashionable) summer fun accessory to your wardrobe and keep those shades on! Sunglasses are like sunscreen for your eyes. Protect them against damage that can occur from UV rays. Click here to find the best shades to fit your face. (Wear glasses? Josh has a pair of THESE that he loves.)
Oh… and never look directly at the sun, even while wearing sunglasses!
Monday, 6/2 | Tip #6: Today’s the day to try a snowball flavor you’ve never tried before. Tried them all? Well, this time, try not to spill any of your snowball all over your shoes. (Lookin’ at you, Tigers Blood.) Can’t avoid the snowball stains? Have a craft day with the kids and let them paint their canvas sneakers with fabric paint pens or acrylic paint! (Two tips in one day!)
Friday, 5/30 | Tip #5: Be prepared for fun at any moment! Keep a fun kit in the back of the car with a Frisbee, a soccer ball, an inexpensive kite, and maybe some bubbles for younger kids. (Basically a Summer Fun Bug-Out Bag) And check out these summer fun printables from iMom.com for more ideas!
Thursday, 5/29 | Tip #4: If your dog is outside on a hot day, make sure he has a shady spot to rest in. You may even want to fill a child’s wading pool with fresh water for your dog to cool off in. Click here for more tips to keep your pets safe this summer!
Wednesday, 5/28 | Tip #3: Make plans to send the kids to Vacation Bible School this summer! So many local churches are planning so many fun things all summer long, and it’s a great way to help your child learn more about Jesus. Find a VBS near you on our LifeSongs VBS Calendar!
Tuesday, 5/27 | Tip #2: Summer Fun is on a ROLL with the LifeSongs Summer Fun Skate Nights! They’re back, every Tuesday this summer, starting TONIGHT! What’s more fun than showing off that you can still backwards skate or shoot the duck? We’ve got your summer fun soundtrack 6-8pm!
Monday, 5/26 | Tip #1: Today’s the unofficial kick-off to summer fun, and the perfect day to get your Putt-Putt on! Can’t make it to an actual golf course? Try setting up your own home course in your driveway by laying different sized containers on their sides!
