8 Ways to Channel Your Inner Child This Summer

1. Play catch with your sweetheart. Invoke your inner 11-year-old — borrow the kids’ baseball gloves and throw the ball around. For an extra challenge, refuse to talk about any logistics or responsibilities (groceries, bills, house repair, you name it) while you play; instead, pretend it’s a first date and talk about only those things you spent hours talking about when you first met.
2. Hit the nearest water park. Go down the biggest slide at least once.
3. Get creative with lawn mowing. Next time it’s your turn to handle the yard work, mow your name into the lawn or mow in a maze for your kids — and then chase them through it.
4. Rediscover ball games.If it’s not your turn to tend the lawn, grab a ball and your neighbor and play a pick-up basketball game at the park, or invite your cousins over to play a game of bocce ball.
5. Spend the day with your dog. Hit the nearest thrift store and buy a stash of cheap, worn-out soccer balls to play soccer with your dog. If one ball gets destroyed in a tooth-puncture incident, just pull out another ball and keep going. Your dog will think you’re a wizard. (Or, try one of these five adventures with your four-legged friend.)
6. Take the morning off. Use a few PTO hours to engage in the youthful art of “ditching.” Treat your significant other to a leisurely breakfast at home or your favorite eatery.
7. Play board games. In the evening, invite friends over to play Apples to Apples, Monopoly, or any of the board games you loved as a kid.
8. Re-create summer camp. If you have a whole day at your disposal, gather a small group of adult friends and organize a day of crafting and outdoor activities. Build a fire in the evening and roast marshmallows.

This originally appeared in “50 Ways to Make the Most of Summer” in the June 2012 issue of Experience Life.