I have been around my kids almost 24 hours a day, seven days a week for a solid year now. Homeschool. It can drive you bonkers.
We now have the summer ahead of us, and I don't want to hear "I'm bored" on the first day. So here's my plan of attack:
1. Chore chart. Each kid has a list of chores that must be completed in the A.M., prior to any outings, dvds, computer games or friend encounters. The list also includes a 30 minute reading assignment every day as well as a simple math worksheet to keep their brains on "go" for the summer.
2. Outings. I've researched library shows with magicians, jugglers, and cowboys. I've found a local Community Rec Mobile that does a three hour activity once a week with any kids who show up. I have a zoo membership. I know where a lot of good parks are. We find new library books once a week. We have a camping trip scheduled. We'll find things to do a lot of days.
Which brings me to #3...
There will be a lot of days when we have nothing going on. And gone is the era when you could send your kids out to play and remind them to be home in time for dinner. So. I've decided that each of my kids needs to choose at least 2 goals to work towards this summer as well as a minimum of 2 projects. This will give them something to do to fill their time. And these goals and projects are things that are meant to take several weeks to complete. For example:
Cameron has finally decided that he likes reading. Can I get a HALLELUJAH???!!! So I suggested that perhaps a good goal for him would be to read a Harry Potter book by the end of the summer. He's thinking about it.
Cameron has decided to plant a garden. He's out there beating submission into our backyard with a rake right now. Power to him.
Cameron also wants to build a birdhouse. Great! He'll have to research what kind of birds live in our area, what kind of house would suit them, then design one, and finally build and paint it. I can get two weeks out of that, right?
Ethan is a little more difficult. So far the only thing that has really gotten him excited is the thought of inventing his own cookie recipe. I have no idea how that will turn out. Could be fun, though.
And now I come to you good people - if there are any of you still here.
Got any good project/goal ideas for a ten and eight year old? I could use some creative juices if you've got any to spare.
you are such a good mom!! yeah, I would try to establish some sort of exciting play thing that you can continually get a lot of hours out of for all of them through the summer. Like buying a slip in slide or a second hand trampoline. Craft stuff! Kids get so excited to realize they can sew with a needle and thread two pieces of fabric together, turn it inside out, and they have a pouch! If they don't love reading but you don't want too much tv, an old boom box or cassette player and books on tape/ CD from the library. Try to foster play dates. Play dates are good in someone else's house, a new environment, fun, and independence. Can you foster Independence play in some small way, they are young but if they could ride their bikes w a cell phone to one of the parks? Exciting stuff. Look for books at the library on a specific subjects and let teach themselves a skill, like karate. Give Ethan his own baking drawer and let him write down his recipes in a book, like a journal, and pick out ingredients at the store. Take them to the pet store and let them play w the puppies.
ReplyDeleteWhen I home-schooled I was always interested in something crazy. For a long time it was the Titanic, I read books about it, watched an old black and white movie, and built small model of the ship. Themes always seemed to work to help get me interested in things. Like a space week where everything is about space, or a african mammals week, stuff like that. Of course it's tough because everyone learns differently.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you are ready to take on the summer! Do you have a video camera? Maybe one of them could make a movie?!
ReplyDeleteYou could have them each design and create their own new arsenal of foam weapons, including a main weapon, off-hand(smaller) weapon weapon and throwing knife/ninja star. In fact, it could be fun for them to study different weapons of warriors/soldiers in history from different parts of the world. Western European knights, Samurai warriors, Viking raiders, etc. Then they could pick one that they liked and make their arsenal a theme to that kind of warrior. You could even take it further and have them design foam armor to match their chosen warriors. Some more violent influence from Uncle Joel, hehe:)
ReplyDeleteMan, you are an amazing mom. I always started out with big plans -- job charts, reading programs, projects. It all went to hell in a hand cart within the first week. I'm such a flake.
ReplyDeleteCheck out Home Depo's monthly kid workshop on Saturdays. They always have a birdhouse project in their line up of building projects, and it's free!
Then buy some bird see and you are good to go.
The other fun project is building a humming bird feeder. You can probably find one on the net. So much fun to hang it near a window and watch the hummingbirds. I can guarantee that you will be refilling the nectar 3 or 4 times a week. If you build it, they will come. :)