This post is sponsored by Author T.A. Barron and the #sparkgoodness campaign

(Kaya getting ready to fight litterbugs and pick up trash during our nature walk)

This summer has been too short. Kai starts Pre-K in a few weeks. Rohan might actually be choosing a school over homeschooling with mama (we’ll see), and I have yet to take the kids on a summer trip!

We have been making excellent use of our summer days though. We have been doing a lot of fun activities and then found out about the #SparkGoodness campaign. It’s basically a set of “do good” ideas for you to complete with your kids (or if they’re older, they can complete with their friends) that help out a family member, friend, or the community at large. These random acts of kindness are an excellent cure for the “mom I’m booooooored” conversation, or to get kids from in front of their various screens!

A few sparks of goodness we created were:

• Helping Auntie plant in her garden
• Picking Gram’s tomatoes while she was on vacation
• Picking up Gram’s mail while she was away
• Picking up litter on our nature walks (Actually, they pointed it out…I had to do the picking up part. There wasn’t much, thankfully!)
• Donating clothes to charities and friends with younger kiddies
• Donating old blankets to the animal shelter

The kids were excited to cross items off of their lists.

Rohan, sweetest boy in the world, quickly drew me a picture so he could cross it off the page. I don’t care if he only made it for the list, I love this pic and I’m keeping it forever. Why did he make himself have an afro? I’m not sure but I love it anyway.

We have been teaching the kids to do good for others in general, but they have learned on their own how good it feels to spread good juju around. I do random acts of kindness for strangers just so they see it and can emulate as they grow up. They are really good about being kind to others…but if I could just teach them to be good to EACH OTHER all the time, my life would be so much more peaceful. #pleasestopbickeringchildren

Take the time to do good for a friend, family member, or your community over the summer. Using T. A. Barron’s Summer Sparks idea guide, try these 50 great ideas to help keep your kids active and engaged throughout their school break. Click HERE to get the idea list and more!

Once you’ve performed one or more acts of kindness, head over to SparkGoodness.com and let TA Barron know all the great things you’ve done — every entry makes you eligible for the month’s #SparkGoodness prize!

I’ll be entering and sharing a few pics there:

Ro eating the tomatoes he’s supposed to be collecting for his grandma:

And the huge bags of clothing, toys and household items we donated:

Good luck to you if you enter!!

What sparks of goodness will YOU create this summer? (and beyond)

Remember to CLICK HERE to visit the page and get your Activity Guide and so you can enter the contest!