Tips & Scripts to help your kids actually remember their summer

Let’s be honest, most of us don’t remember every vacation we took as kids. What we remember are the feelings. The little rituals. The moments that made us laugh so hard our bellies hurt. And yet, as parents, we pour energy into making summer magical only to wonder later if it even stuck. Kids don’t remember perfect day, they remember how it felt. Memory is built on two things: emotion and repetition. Here are 8  strategies to make this summer stick: 

1. Pick One Tiny Ritual and Repeat It

Maybe it’s waffles every Sunday or Uno before bed. When kids can predict joy, they attach meaning to it.

2. Let Them Be the Photographer

Hand over your phone or a disposable camera. Let them capture what matters to them. You’ll be surprised at what they choose and they’ll remember it more deeply because they were in control.

3. Name the Feeling, Not Just the Event

Say: “You were so proud of that sandcastle.” or “You looked so peaceful in that pool.” Naming feelings builds emotional memory.

4. Play the Same Song in the Car

Music locks memory. Choose one “summer anthem” and play it on repeat. Ten years from now, that song will bring it all back.

5. Let Them Stay a Little Longer

It’s the extra 15 minutes in the pool that becomes the story they tell. Spontaneity and delight is memory gold.

6. Make It Sensory

Bubble baths that smell like coconut, sticky fingers from popsicles, jumping on soft hotel beds in superhero capes, engaging the senses anchors experiences.

7. Let Them Narrate the Day

At bedtime, ask: “What was your favorite part today?” or “If you could take a picture in your mind of one moment, what would it be?” This helps builds metacognition (thinking about thinking) and helps consolidate memories.

8. Create a ‘Lock It In’ Moment

Before leaving a place, say: “Let’s take a deep breath and lock this in. What do you see? What do you smell? What are you going to remember?” You’re teaching your child to imprint an emotional snapshot.

Your final takeaway: 

The best memories are the ones that made them feel the most. So instead of overplanning, slow down, repeat the joy, name the feeling, and lock it in.

Have a specific question? Head to the forum and ask away, I’ll reply with a tailored reply.

Xo,

Dr. C