Looking to create some family adventures at home on a budget? Look no further than your own backyard for a little summer camping.

What you’ll need:

• a tent (makeshift blankets draped over chairs can do in a pinch!)
• a firepit (or a candle stuck into a circle of grassless dirt)
• marshmallows and roasting sticks
• a picnic blanket
• camping food (granola bars, sandwiches, soup in a thermos)
• a little imagination

Plan to head outside for the sunset and go “pretend camping” together as a family. After a picnic dinner, roast some marshmallows as soon as the sun goes down. Take turns telling funny stories, and give out points for creativity! Remember to stow away your phones and tablets to simulate a real unplugged camping experience.

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Sarah Forrest is a Reading Specialist for the Easyread System, an innovative visual phonics program that uses Guided Phonetic Reading technique to help children with dyslexia, auditory processing disorder, and more. www.easyreadsystem.com