No more classes, no more books ... school's out and kids face an entire summer of freedom. Of sun and fun and hanging out. It's awesome! For about a week. Then come two words parents dread: I'm bored.  These two words can be particularly troublesome for the parents of tweens - kids between the ages of nine and 12. They're too young to get summer jobs and just old enough to get into mischief if left alone too long. Left to their own devices, they just might try food experiments that leave your kitchen a wreck and your taste buds in knots. And there are hours and hours - and hours - of television to watch or video games to turn them into unblinking, thumb twitching couch potatoes.

Parents don't need to supervise every minute of summer vacation, but having some kind of survival plan will make the lazy days of summer not so lazy and a lot more fun. And for best results, take some time with your tween to brainstorm ideas together. The more they participate in planning, the less eye rolling they'll do.

Boredom Busters

• Day Trippin'. Local parks and recreation organizations, community centers and even museums offer day camps that cover everything from sports and science to arts and nature.
• Brain Builders. If there's a subject your tween needs brushing up on, or if there's a special interest they'd like to learn more about, check with tutoring centers and public schools about classes.
• Check It Out. Libraries usually have summer reading programs and even book clubs. After meeting a reading goal, they can win a prize.
• Get Wet. Have a weekly water day in your back yard. Super soaker battles, slip-n-slides and water balloon fights can keep a bunch of kids happy for hours.

• Go couch diving. Couch cushions are a magnet for loose change. This is one case where cleaning something literally pays off.
• Do odd jobs. Water flowers, fan your family, wash the car ... there are loads of ways to help out. Work out a pay rate before starting.
• Teach old folks how to use electronic equipment. Some parent or grandparent surely needs help mastering their laptop or cell phone.

Surviving summer with a tween really can be fun. Put your heads together and see how many great ways you can find to answer the question of "Now what?"

Summer Survival Tips
Summer means outdoor adventures. Here are some tips to surviving some common summer situations.

How to Deal With Poo on Your Shoe
You really stepped in it this time ... and boy does it stink! Here's what to do:

• Do the "scrape, scrape, twist." To get the top layer of poo off your shoe, find the nearest curb and scrape your shoe - from heel to toe - against it. Repeat. Step in a shallow puddle if you can find one. Locate a clean patch of sidewalk or grass and twist your foot around it to loosen the deeper levels of doo in your shoe.
• Use a shoe shovel. Take the sharp end of the stick or the blunt point of a pencil and dig it through the grooves in your sole. Wipe it on the ground or on a piece of paper that you'll throw out later.
• Check for skid marks. After giving your shoe a once-over with a damp paper towel, drag the shoe across a dry paper towel as a test. If it's skid-mark free, your work is done. If it leaves a trail, wipe it off and test again.

• Make bubbles. Put your soap in a large, clean plastic bucket, then fill it with cool or warm water. Hot water isn't good for the finish of the car.
• Hose her down. Remove excess dirt on the surface of the car before you start the real washing process. Spray the car with a hose, starting from the roof and working your way down, just enough to get it damp. Don't use high pressure because it can scratch the finish.
• Suds it up. Dunk your sponge or wash mitt into the soapy water, getting it good and sudsy. Start cleaning the car from top to bottom, roof to wheels. Hose it down again to remove any traces of soap.
• Pat that baby dry. Get a few old cotton towels and gently blot the car's surface. Start at the top, and be gentle. You don't want to risk hurting the finish of the car you worked so hard to get looking good.

How to Survive a Canine Encounter
They say dog is man's best friend. But even best friends get snappy sometimes. Here's how to handle a pooch like a pro.

• Ask the owner before petting a pup. Since all dogs have different personalities, it's important to ask the owner if the dog is friendly. You never know: that innocent looking pup could have a ferocious bite.
• Say yes to sniffing. One of the ways a dog gets to know people is by sniffing them. So if your new four-legged friend starts nosing up to you, don't be scared, just hold the back of your hand out to him so he can catch your scent.
• Pet under the chin or on the chest. Once you've gotten permission, you should first stroke the dog on her chin or chest so she can keep an eye on your hands. If you pat the top of her head, she might think you're about to hit her.
• Step away from the bone. Leave her alone when she's eating or chewing on a bone. She might think you're trying to take away her supper.

Tips courtesy of The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Junior Edition, from Chronicle Books.  Illustration:  Photo courtesy of Stockbyte/Getty Images