Summer is upon us, well, maybe not quiiiiiiiiite yet. But it will be here in a blink. Maybe that’s a positive thing. I think back to summers as a kid and remember playing down by the creek near our house. Or, maybe it’s … well … let’s be honest here, friends. Summer days are long, and there are expectations of fun activities and vacations. Before we get too far down the road into summer it feels like we’re digging ourselves out of a pit of doldrums, let’s band together to share the best of the best ideas for making the most of the warm, sunny months.


  • How to throw a staycation
  • 5 Ways to make backyard camping special
  • Top family vacation travel hacks
  • Your best summer memory from when you were a kid
  • 4 Must-do’s for hosting sleepovers
  • Setting expectations for your kids on vacation
  • 5 Best mobile apps for keeping kids entertained while in the car (or when you need 7.3 minutes of quiet)
  • Favorite outdoor summer games
  • How to host a block party, kid’s Olympic style
  • Connecting with neighbors – recipes, conversation starters, block party ideas
  • Bucket lists
  • 4 Ways to help kids learn to play alone
  • Safety when playing outside alone
  • 5 Really messy craft/game ideas that can only be done outside (and it’s summer, so they should be done!)

Submission deadline – April 5, 2015

How to Submit

To add your voice to the conversation, send your submission tocontent@MOPS.org

Submission Information

For more information about the tone of our materials and our submission process go towww.mops.org/writers-guidelines(Insider hint: We take these very seriously, so it’s important you take a peek before submitting.)

Submission Process

Just so you know, all articles are received on speculation. We will respond to all submissions when they are received to confirm submission with the submission agreement. If your article is selected for publishing, we will email you in advance with the date we will be publishing and the permalink for your records.

And Since You Always Ask

Yes, you may send material that has been previously posted. Just make sure it meets our editorial needs first. Because, again, we take those pretty seriously.

What about General Content?

Yes, we certainly accept general articles about parenting, mothering and woman-related issues. In fact, we’re always up for a good tear-jerker or one of those stories that gets us laughing. We welcome those submissions through the same submissions process, but we should tell you up front that since we’re a theme-based magazine, we only publish a few.

As you prepare for some fun summer activities, you will probably need some supplies. We are here to help you out, and two lucky winners will win a $10 Target giftcard.

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What is your favorite summer memory?