The dog days of summer are here. On the one hand, you're looking forward to a more relaxed schedule. On the other hand, too few activities can make long, hot days unbearable. You dread hearing "I'm bored" from your kids three days into the break. That's why your family needs a pool this summer. Here are five ways a family pool will make this the best summer ever.

1. Beat the Heat

There's no better way to beat the heat than having a pool to cool off in. It might feel nice to lounge poolside on regular summer days or dip your toes in for a few minutes in the evening. But the best place to be during a heatwave is in the water. Yet, one main reason many families hesitate to put in a pool is the cost. The upfront expenses of putting in a pool can seem daunting, but you might not know that you can qualify for pool loans. Like with a mortgage or a car loan, you can apply for a pool loan and finance it over time. That way, you can put the pool in before school gets out and enjoy it all summer long.

2. Prevent Boredom

You get sick of hearing your kids say, "I'm bored," eight times an hour. A pool is a great boredom buster. Your kids can play pool games like Marco Polo or Sharks and Minnows in any size pool. If you have a diving board, they can have diving competitions or cannonball competitions. They can play volleyball or pick up sticks, or have races with pool floats. Meanwhile, you can read poolside or relax in the shallow end because they'll be too busy entertaining themselves to complain about boredom.

3. Teach Responsibility

Having a pool does require some upkeep. Depending on the ages of your kids, you can assign them various tasks to help keep the pool in great shape for everyday use. Kids that are big enough to handle the skimmer (with supervision) can help clean debris from the pool. Work with your teens to learn the proper balance of pool chemicals, a chemistry lesson, and how to check and adjust water levels. Teach little kids vital safety skills around pools, including always waiting for an adult before entering the pool area, how to latch the gate, and how to walk carefully around the wet edge of the pool.

4. Grow Swimming Skills

Toddlers aren't the only ones who can learn essential safety skills when your family gets a pool. Children of all ages benefit from a refresher swimming course from time to time. If it's been a while, recruit a strong swimmer friend or hire a student from the local high school or college swim team to teach your kids some strokes that they can practice. Some kids may feel more at ease learning and practicing their skills in the privacy of their own backyard instead of in a class full of their peers. Plus, they'll be able to practice a bit each day, and you as the parent will enjoy the pool even more as you see your kids' swimming skills developing.

5. Save Money

While the upfront cost of installing a pool may be high, you'll ultimately save money on your summer entertainment. Instead of buying expensive community pool passes for each child, spending money at the snack shop, and paying for gas and parking, you and the kids can enjoy swimming at home. The kids can take turns inviting friends over, or you can host a cookout. That money you saved can also be redirected to other activities such as visits to your local aquarium or the zoo that might have been pushed to the side as you tried to get your money's worth out of your pool pass.

A backyard pool is a worthwhile investment for your family. Not only can you beat the heat and boredom of long, hot days, but you can also teach responsibility and save money while spending time with the kids during their summer vacation.