MAKING THE MOST OF SUMMER

Magical mornings spent in search of ladybugs and clover bouquets, and evening romps among fireflies -- such are the misty memories of an adult.

Time softens the edges of those lazy days. Grown-ups seldom recollect long afternoons dotted with bouts of boredom. Yet, parents recognize the symptoms that lead to their child's declaration that there is nothing to do.

It doesn't have to be that way.

With a few precious weeks left of summer, there is still time to make sun-drenched days memorable.

"You can just do simple little things with your kids that don't cost a lot of money," said Teri Burke of Jackson, a teacher and the mother of three boys, Travis, 19, Brian, 6, and Jared, 4.

Instead of an extensive vacation, the Burkes, Teri and Jim and the boys, this summer have enjoyed several short trips.

"We went to Sam A. Baker, and went fishing and swimming at Lake Wappapello," Teri Burke said. On one of their mini-trips, the younger Burkes "caught a turtle and a fish, they just had the best time," their mother chuckled.

Plus, a landmark event happened in the life of the Burkes' youngest son, Jared. "For the first time, he could bait his own hook," she said, remembering her son's proud moment.

Hiking at Cape County Park's Maple Hollow Trail has been another of the Burke family's favorite summertime jaunts.

"We've been up there about four times," she said. Their outings have included a visit to the conservation department and a sack lunch almost always highlights the adventure.

Other days, Burke said, may include a trip to the library, the swimming pool, or an afternoon at home reading or writing or playing educational computer games. Even simple card games like Old Maid or Go Fish reinforce mathematical strengths, but most importantly, Burke said, they are fun.

Fun is the key to a summertime chock full of great learning experiences, said Brenda Pfefferkorn, owner of Tender Care Playhouse in Jackson. One of the best ways to make a learning experience fun is to get the children involved.

"It's totally in how you present the information," Pfefferkorn said, adding that parents often shy away from potentially educational situations because they feel unqualified. "Parents are the best teachers, and they don't even know they're doing it."

At Tender Care, Pfefferkorn said, "We come up with different themes for each week that we think will be fun and educational." Many of her ideas would easily adapt to the home front.

This week is water week, Pfefferkorn said, and activities abound. One of the classes is making an ocean mural. Every day this week, they're adding things to the ocean, such as fish, sailboats, octopi.

"The nice thing is, when they look on their wall, they can see what they've done and remember what they've talked about." The artwork is displayed on butcher paper.

Out-of-doors activities will include a carwash, which Pfefferkorn said the kids love, and sprinkler day.

Just a simple idea or project that calls for participation can put the smile back on any child's face, the preschool owner believes. "If they can make it, it doesn't matter what it looks like, to them `I did that,' and that's what they love," she said.

Parents looking for ideas shouldn't overlook their local library. At the Cape Girardeau Public Library, entire sections are devoted to recreational activities, crafts and games. There are even books devoted to party planning, noted Tasha Saecker, coordinator of youth services.

An Ellison Machine offers another unexpected opportunity for fun at the library. The machine, which cuts out shapes and can be used for such projects as making bookmarks or flannel board stories, can be used free of charge, Saeker said. "Just bring your own paper," she added.

The machine also cuts felt and cardboard. With parental supervision, "children can do it themselves, it's very easy," she said.

A computer equipped with software especially geared toward the younger set is also available.

Cape Girardeau Public Library hours extend until 9 p.m. four days a week, making it a useful source for most any household.

When planning an activity, Pfefferkorn offers this tip: "Try to get a theme that's going to fit with something else that's going on that week."

She offered some tried-and-true ideas: Plan a family week, help children assemble pictures of family members and construct a family tree; plan a family or neighborhood carnival that could include cereal-strung necklaces, a fishpond and a knock-down-the-can game for starters.

"A box of cereal will make a hundred necklaces," she said.

Regardless of the activity, Pfefferkorn and Burke agree, the parents' full attention, for at least some period of the day, is the greatest gift.