Published June 1, 2024 | Updated April 2025

Ever feel like summer flies by in a blur of screens, stress, and never-ending to-do lists? Let’s rewind the clock and bring back the barefoot, unplugged, joy-filled summer days — the kind that live in our memories long after the season fades.

I fall into that "elder" millennial group, and because of this, I have incredibly fond memories of a *mostly* analog childhood. I did have those original Nintendo sets (you know what I'm talking about), but for the most part..it was outside, backyard, in our kid-sized pools, and with friends riding bikes. We were fortunate to live in a little beach town, so just a hop, skip and a jump across the street, and we were in the sand and sea.

Shoes barely were worn on feet, even to walk on the scalding pavement to the beach or riding our bike.

Our lawn chairs were those aluminum-weaved ones left over from the 70s—remember those?!

Badminton was the family fun activity; the net always stayed up, and birdies would always be scattered among the freshly cut grass.

We took our Igloo cooler, filled with most likely toxic-colored drinks or cola, to the beach, and our floppy plastic beach bags dragged behind us.

We would wait for the ice cream truck to make an appearance on our block, get that little piece of "free" bubblegum with our cold treat, and then compete to see who could blow the biggest bubble.

We would walk to our neighborhood video shop to rent a movie to watch with friends.

We lived in the moment.

We enjoyed every single summer day.

I want my children to have summer memories of lightness and fun, not one with a stressed-out mom wishing away time!!

So, this year, I decided to pull from these simpler times to create our own retro-inspired, intentional summer experience!

A Summer Unplugged

And part of that intention? It's choosing to disconnect a little more. This season, I’m craving a deeper kind of presence — the kind that comes when I’m not scrolling, or half-distracted. I want to really see my kids — the giggles during a game of tag, the stories they tell when we’re not rushing. Stepping away from tech, even just a little bit, makes more room for those slow, sacred moments that actually feel like summer.

Intentional Outdoor Fun: Games, Adventures & Good Old-Fashioned Play

Outdoor play was a constant in our childhood, and even though I’m personally grateful that my kids love being outside (and ask to be out there most days), let’s be honest… when it’s sweltering, sometimes I’d rather be anywhere else. Still, I’ve found that when we all have something fun to do together, it changes everything.

In the past, I’ve often sat on the sidelines watching my kids get totally lost in their own little world — which isn’t a bad thing at all. But this year? I want to be part of the fun. These are some of our favorite ways to play together and soak up the season:

〰️ A game of Badminton, Bocce, or Croquet — these are classics for a reason and get everyone involved, from toddlers to grandparents. They're simple, nostalgic, and actually make you want to get up and move around.

〰️ Super Soakers — a total '90s throwback, and yes, you will absolutely find yourself getting into it. Bonus points if you surprise your kids with an ambush.

〰️ Nerf Football or Throw ’n Stick Sets — We gave these to the kids for Easter, and it’s become a go-to activity. Perfect for backyard tossing or beach days. (And if you know the joy of that perfectly squishy Nerf spiral, you’re my kind of people.)

〰️ The classic Slip ‘n Slide — I’ll be real: I’m not risking my hips anymore, but watching the kids fly down the slide brings back all the childhood memories. Pure joy.

〰️ Water Balloons — but make them better. While there’s definitely a time and place for the classic version, I’ve fallen in love with the new reusable ones. They’re easier on the environment, safer for little kids and pets, and budget-friendly since they last all season long.

Oh, and don’t forget to grab some extra beach balls to toss over that badminton net, or just around the yard. Best dollar spent at target, ha!

Indoor Nostalgia: Books, Movies & Memory-Making

One of our favorite things to do during the summer is to take advantage of everything going on at the library! As a kid, our little town library always had the reading club; each week, you read so many books and then get a prize. It was an exciting time! As a pre-teen/teen, when I was too old for the kid-aged program, I was able to volunteer my time a couple of times a week to assist the. younger kids in getting their books and prizes. It was such a great activity, and when I had kids, I looked forward to always bringing them to the library for these experiences, too. So this is a sort of retro-sort-of-modern one. But the nostalgia hits are present!!

Check out your local library to see if they have a reading club. Most do these days, and most are for both kids and adults, so you might as well get in on the fun and pick up some books for yourself. This has been a BIG part of my own self-care and mindset—getting off the phone and the tech and being present in books…or even magazines.

MOVIE NIGHTS

But make it retro—

Do you not have the best memories of going to Blockbuster (or even your neighborhood video store) to pick out a Friday night movie!? I seriously miss those times…

But you can still make this happen.

Once again, it is using the library, the only place that I know of where we can still rent a movie. Plus, it is for FREE, so that is even better!

Make a list of your favorite retro movies. I have one below to get you started. Obviously, use your own discretion based on your kid’s age and maturity. While I know you can get basically anything on demand these days, this makes it a bit more fun! If you have a DVD player, that is…(you can get them super cheap now, though!)

You can peruse the shelves of your local library and look for a movie to pick out together, rather than just scrolling the apps—which, if you don’t have a movie in mind, you can end up getting into a scroll or sibling fight on what to watch—don’t ask me how I know…

Our Favorite Retro Summer Movies

I have a hard time believing most of these are considered retro movies now (meaning they are 20 years or older—some are actually now “vintage,” yikes!).

The Little Mermaid

The Sandlot

The Land Before Time

Flight of the Navigator

Beethoven 1 & 2 (2 is set during the Fourth of July, so more summery to me than the first)

The Goonies

Jurassic Park

Back to the Future

The Parent Trap

3 Ninjas

Honey, I Shrunk the Kids

The Princess Bride

Homeward Bound the incredible journey

Jungle to Jungle

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Space Jam

An Intentional Summer Reset for Moms

In June, I find it's an ideal time to take a pause and reflect on the year so far and set intentions for the rest of it. After an intense period, I'm focusing on deep reflection and healing this summer, stepping away from the tech-obsessed culture and learning to be more present in our everyday life. I desire clarity, simplicity, and a real, intentional family life without the noise. I encourage you to join me in resetting and recovering, limiting social media, and focusing on realistic wellness. Read about the Intentional Summer Reset (designed just for moms) below. It includes journal prompts and practical steps for a summer retreat, including decluttering, improving our diets, and engaging in uplifting self-care activities!