Lucy Riles: Give your children some fun in the sun before school's back in session. Here are some ways to make their final days of freedom fun for all:

Waterworks: Encourage the kids to use your pool, a slip and slide, baby pools, the sprinkler and/or squirt guns -- this will keep them entertained and cooled off in the summer heat. Decorate the yard with beach balls, bubbles and tubs of water balloons for the kids to enjoy.

The Goods: Serve up kids' favorite finger foods: pigs in a blanket, mini burgers, tater tots, grilled cheese sandwiches, fruit kabobs and corn on the cob. Lemonade of all flavors (and colors) works as a great drink for this kind of event. For dessert, nothing says "summer" like Freeze Pops and ice cream. The kids will be running around and will need a quick and easy pick-me-up between squirt-gun fights and slip-and-slide races.

Drying Off: After the kids have had their share of waterworks and it's time to dry off, set up an area where the kids can have snacks and soak up some sun -- and don't forget the sunscreen. Lay out some towels and hula hoops: Active "hooping" will definitely dry them off before mom comes to pick them up!