Summer Break is coming! Looking at my calendar we are 5 weeks away from school being out and the adventures of summer break upon us. I have never planned out my kids' days for summer break other than an occasional camp, VBS or family vacation. I typically let the winds of summer blow us from one activity to another. It seems like at the end of every summer, I look back and realize there were things we wanted to do but never got around to doing. As my children get older, I am more aware that my time with them here in my home is dwindling and I need to be a bit more intentional about things we choose to do as a family. So I think this is the summer to make a little bit of a change.
I have seen on Pinterest (yes, if you follow me you know I've seen a lot of Pinterest lately) several different sites with ideas for summer activities to do with your children, many of them are free. I also have somewhat of a list in my head of things I want to do with my children or teach my children at some point. AND I have heard "There's nothing to do..." a few times too many lately. So this summer I am planning ahead and creating lists of activities and schedules to see those activities come to life. Don't worry, there will be plenty of "free time". I won't be scheduling every part of their day or even every day. But I want to have a plan of things to do so we don't get into the routine of laying around watching Netflix or playing iPod games. My goal is to have a designated morning deadline to have all chores complete (including mine) so that we can play a good part of the day. Like all kids, each of mine have days they complete chores well with lightening speed and days that they can drag out a couple of chores like a turtle playing chess. And if I'm honest, I have days like those too. Hopefully we can stay on top of things so that our chores are never overwhelming and can easily be completed at the beginning of the day and then PLAY, PLAY PLAY!
I am discovering during my last 12 parenting years that I have a hard time letting my kids do activities that cause big messes because I REALLY dislike cleaning. It's often easier for me (and I'm way more pleasant) if I re-direct to another less-messy activity. And yet, so much of the fun is making a mess, right? So I pledge here for the world to see that I will include a few messy activities for all of us! (But you can bet they will be well thought out and the clean up will be as efficient as I can possibly make it.)
As I begin creating our summer plans, I would love your input on ideas. What are some things you would love to do with your children or remember doing as a kid that you loved? What are some things/life skills you want to teach your children? Here's a list of a few items off the top of my head that will definitely be in our summer plans:
1. Build a tent from sheets and blankets
2. Spend some time at the library (we do this often but have not since we moved to TX)
3. Family bike ride and picnic
4. Bouncing bubbles
5. Paint walking sticks then find somewhere neat to go on a hike around here
6. Write letters
7. Canvas art
8. Make a marble maze
9. Geocashing
10. teach Andrew & Hannah to do laundry
11. teach Andrew & Hannah to cook some different recipes
12. Create a favorite reading spot for the summer
13. microwave ivory soap bar
14. scavenger hunt
15. teach Eden to sweep
16. lots of random acts of kindness
This will be our first summer with a pool and as excited as the kids are to jump in, I'm guessing by the end of the summer it won't be the thrill it starts out to be. I anticipate spending many hours outside in the pool with them but I hope to have some fun things spread throughout the summer to keep their minds active and imaginations creating. I want to have several ideas for crafts for my girls to do and several scientific/engineering activities for Andrew to do. It is also important to me to work with them to come up with ideas for random acts of kindness around town. We've done this before and they love it so it will be fun to be a little more creative with that this summer.
I know in reality there will be days we get nothing done, and that's ok. But I want to take advantage of each day I have with them and be able to look back in August and say "Wow, we did some really neat things this summer!"
If you live in the DFW area and have places you recommend we go this summer, please comment. If you have favorite activities that you enjoy doing with your kids or you've always wanted to try, please comment. If you have random acts of kindness you've done, please comment. The kids and I will be brainstorming over the next few days and creating a master list of things we might like to do and we would love your input! As our plan evolves, I'll keep you posted here. I will try to post links to sites with ideas as I gather my information too. Maybe you'll find some great ideas for your family too!
