Six surefire ways to make your kids' summer fun, productive and memorable.

Summers come and summers go. Don’t let this one slip away without packing in as much fun as those short months allow.

Here are some ways you can ensure this summer will be the best your kids ever had.

1. Celebrate the end of school.

Have a big bash to celebrate the last day of school and kick off summer fun. Invite your kids’ friends, neighbors and even their teachers – they might like to kick back after a long school year.

Keep the food simple. Finger foods, veggies and dip, fruit, and cookies will suffice. This party isn’t about the food. It’s about the fun!

2. Don’t let the summer slip away.

Before summer vacation begins, take out a calendar and look at what you have before you. If you want to accomplish something, put it on the calendar. Remember all those times during the school year that you said, “I wish we had time to . . .” This is the time to do them.

Mark off any family vacations, camps or other scheduled activities you have planned. Take a look at the days left and ask yourself: How do I want my children to spend those days? Your kids won’t notice that the spontaneous fun was actually planned.

3. Set goals and have a plan to meet them.

What are your goals for the summer? Write them down and think of ways to implement them.

Want your kids to read at least one good, long book? Set aside some time each week and remind your kids to read. Take books with you to the park. Reading is more fun if you're lying on a chaise in the yard, drinking lemonade that your mom brought to you.

Want the family to hone their swimming skills? Join a swim club or YMCA pool and schedule at least one day a week as pool day.

4. Enjoy the outdoors.

Take advantage of summer weather and expose your kids to nature. Hikes, nature walks, rock collecting expeditions, bike rides, bug hunts and impromptu nature scavenger hunts are all free entertainment.

Kids' Outdoor Games on the Fly offers some fun things for your kids to do outside with little or no equipment.

Kids’ Gardening Projects has ideas for planting and growing ideas for children.

Summer Water Games for Kids has ideas for wet and wild games.

Take a picnic to a park or even to your own backyard.

Camp out in your back yard for a night.

5. Don’t forego all academics.

It’s always good to take a break from school work, but an entirely brainless summer isn’t ideal. Decide how much math, spelling or other skills your child needs during the break, to keep his mind in shape for the next school year. Then add it to your calendar.

Avoid "summer brain drain" by working in math, spelling and other skills to your everyday routine. Try to make anything school related fun, with contests, rewards and games.

Check out your public library for summer reading programs.

6. Be just a little wacky.

Let your children remember their summers as a time when their parents went a little wild.

• Rent a convertible for the day, put the top down and go for a drive in the country. For about $100 you can rent a Mustang convertible for 24 hours.
• Wake them up in the middle of the night to watch a meteor shower, lunar eclipse or just a beautiful clear night of star watching. Take sleeping bags outside and lie on the grass and sky-watch for an hour, or until the kids fall asleep. Astronomy for Kids lists things to watch for in the sky.
• Let them stay up as late as they want one night, with an all night party. Chances are they won’t last the whole night, but they’ll get that bug out of their system.
• Have a food fight. Let them put makeup on you and each other. Jump in a lake with your clothes on. The memories these things will create are more than worth the mess and embarrassment.

Want to organize a summer camp at your own home? Read Summer Camp at Home: Ideas for Backyard Fun, Outdoor Adventure for Kids.

For tips on preparing your backyard for summer, see Backyard Safety: Preparing Your Child’s Play Area for Summer Fun.

Two Dozen Ideas for Frugal Family Summer Fun offers tips on how to have a fabulous summer on the cheap.