With all the buzz about "back to school" happening now, my state of being is kind of hovering between excitement and panic.

Excitement because, sure, we absolutely love our school and the kids are so looking forward to getting back in the classroom with their friends and teachers. Panic because, well, summer is awesome. And so is sleeping in. And carefree days poolside. And ample family time. And just...summer.

Oh yeah, and there's that nagging question of whether we've done enough to keep their learning sharp and retain all that valuable knowledge they worked so hard to acquire last school year. Sure, we've been doing ample reading (thanks in part to the library system's summer reading program), but when I casually tried to quiz my kiddo on some of his math facts the other week, there was a gaping silence before his answers where he once piped up right away. Oops.

So, if you're like me and scrambling to play catch up in these waning days before the school bells ring, or if you just want some ideas to catalog for next year, here are some easy and fun ways you can plug up the summer brain drain and keep your kiddos sharp for the school year:

Read outdoors

Take the reading party outside! On these beautiful days, it's hard to just stay inside curled up with a book. Create a fort or nook under a tree, even with just a blanket and some snacks, to enjoy the outdoors and unleash your little bookworm.

Travel Time Games

Taking a road trip, or just driving across town? Play the “I'm Going on a Trip” game or "I spy," encouraging the kids to think of words that start with a certain letter or rhyme, and exercise their descriptive abilities. Another fun game: "Stop Think Street."  When you’re driving or walking down a street, every time you come to a stop at a red light, come up with as many words as you can to rhyme with the name of the street. Or, if the streets are numbered you can add, multiply, or subtract the digits.

Journaling

Have your kids write in a journal – daily or weekly – to talk about their favorite things they did over the summer. Another great time to employ journal writing is on your family vacation!

VBS

Speaking of vacation, sign up those kids for area churches' Vacation Bible Schools! VBS programs offer a rich time of music, bible lessons, games, crafts, and so much more, and they're usually free (bonus for the parents)! It seems that at least one church in Lancaster County is offering a VBS every week throughout the summer, so there are plenty of options.

Nature scavenger hunt

Check out a library book about local plants, animals, insects, and/or geology and walk around local parks and nature preserves to see what you can find and learn. You can even incorporate this. Incorporate that into your regular playground and park visits to enrich your playtime with some fascinating science as well.

Attend library programs

Our public library system offers so many incredible, fun learning and play opportunities that focus on a myriad of subjects, like science, crafts, cooking, building, film, sports, and more!

Let them help cook

If you have more than one child, consider just letting one at a time help in the kitchen (you know, to avoid crowding and the inevitable squabble over who gets to crack the eggs). You have to make the meals anyway, so why not pull double duty and get some learning in, too (when you have the time and it doesn't matter how the recipe turns out)! Helping in the kitchen teaches kids measurements, fractions, reading skills, and more.

Educational, social tech games

Got kids who love screen time? Let your techies play Numbers With Friends or Words with Friends to make the computer game time both fun and educational.

Play board games

Of course, your tech devices aren't the only place for gaming fun. Pull out some board games for an old-fashioned family game night. Trivial Pursuit, Yahtzee, Scattergories, Boggle, Monopoly, and so many other new and classic games can build math and vocab skills.

Review movies

If you have a cinephile in the family, encourage them to post reviews of the movies they've watched this summer. Have them look up other reviews online to learn how. This can develop critical thinking and writing skills.

Museums & factory tours

Rainy day? Take an indoor tour. Go to a local museum. You'll get to see, touch, and experience all new things. Or, find out how your favorite things are made by taking a tour at nearby snack, candy, or other factories (plus, you'll usually get a free sample at the end, so there's that benefit!).

Learn an instrument

Summer can be a great time to learn how to play an instrument, when the pressures of homework are relieved and schedules are more open. Learning an instrument has been provento hone academic, physical, and social skills, so the benefits go far beyond the lifetime enjoyment of playing.

Book discussions with friends

Kids can make reading more social by encouraging their friends to read the same books and talk about them together afterward.

Earn some cash

The lemonade stand might be a classic summer pastime, but it's not just for Norman Rockwell paintings. Empower your kids to earn a little money - for themselves or for a charity - by setting up lemonade or snack stand, having a yard sale, helping with neighbor's child care needs, etc. Give them the freedom to come up with their own business plan ideas, while supporting them where needed, and watch your little entrepreneur flourish!

Gardening

Give your kids a spot in your yard or garden to plant some flowers, vegetables, or herbs of their choice, and let them get dirty and tend to it as they watch their seeds grow and enjoy the fruits of their labor. Read up on the science of seed germination or the benefits of each particular plant to make it an even greater learning opportunity.

Activity books

Most days call for a little quiet down time. Use that time to the fullest with academic activity books. The Dollar Tree has some fantastic ones for just $1, and they are perfect for rest time at home, long car rides, or rainy days.

So, there you have it: a litany of ideas to keep your kiddos' brains in gear for the upcoming school year. Enjoy the last of these lazy days of summer, but don't let classroom catch you by suprise.