Any parent who has spent three stifling months with two bored children knows that summer is the longest season. The school year is over and children are moving from a highly regimented routine with scheduled studies and activities to almost unlimited freedom. Lazy, unstructured summers can lead to kids spending too much time watching TV or playing video games. Research shows that children can lose up to 60 percent of what they most recently learned over the summer. Freeing themselves from school obligations means children also have more time to engage in unstructured, imaginative play or create long-term projects that can keep them busy for days. It's important for parents to have a plan that incorporates exercise and imagination to keep children's minds and spirits up. active bodies during the summer months, but it doesn't have to break your budget. Here are ten tips for a fun, active and mentally stimulating summer:1. Family suggestion box. A week or two before school ends, sit down as a family. Decorate an old shoebox with stickers or pictures from magazines. Cut a slit in the top and tie a pencil with a piece of string. Now sit back and think about some fun summer activities. Write the ideas on colored slips of paper and put them in the box. Whenever boredom threatens, take a “suggestion” from the box. Leave the box on the kitchen counter or dining room table with a few extra slips of paper so children can add ideas whenever they think of them.2. Let's pretend. Reading should be a part of every family's life, and summer is no exception. Set aside an hour each day for “story time.” Reading can be a great way to jump-start imaginative play. Instead of just reading the middle of a sheet of paper, spread out a blanket and enjoy an outdoor meal. When night falls, roll out a sleeping bag and tell stories with a flashlight until you fall asleep.10. Treasure hunt in the neighborhood. Make a list of things your neighbors are likely to have on hand and are unlikely to miss. Some suggestions: paper clips, clothespins, pencils or rubber bands. Or grab a clipboard and check off larger items without asking for them. Go on a door-to-door excursion. Hang out with old friends and meet new ones while taking a walk outside. While it is important to keep mentally and physically disabled children safe during the summer months, keep in mind that your children will only be young once. In other words, never forget the fun factor. Make sure all activities are age-appropriate and properly supervised, then let your and their imaginations run wild to beat summer boredom..