Since schools have shut down, kids have been forced to deal with a lot of changes. The school year ended so abruptly. No more socializing with friends. No more face to face learning from kind teachers. No sense of normalcy. No more routine. If there ever was a time to celebrate the end of the academic school year, this is it.

Enter the summer basket, a bucket or basket filled with goodies to mark the end school and kick off the summer months.

A sweet friend does this for her kids and I absolutely love the idea. Sometimes she assembles the basket around a theme, like the year they got a dog the basket was filled with all things puppy. Most of the time, it's an assortment of thoughtful summertime gifts and treats.

The thing that makes these baskets so special is all of the thought that goes into them. Think through things that are unique to each child, the things that make them who they are. Look for small gifts to reflect their personalities and interests.

If you don't have children of your own, consider making the day of a niece, nephew, neighbor or friend.

Here are some ideas to get you started:

The size and amount spent on your summer baskets can vary and it doesn't have to be big or expensive. What matters is acknowledging and applauding your child's resilience during an unusually challenging year.