;)
;)
;)
;)
And so it begins
AND THEY WON'T GET OUT!
And open the door + honk really loudly
Since this is the first day of summer, it is also the first day of the Good Intentions Summer Program, version 9.0. {That's me, paving the road to hell with them, one year at a time.} But a couple of friends have asked what we do in the summer to stay occupied and out of the summer blahs. (And I have to admit, I'm very susceptible to the summer blahs so I need to have some sort of structure, too.) For those who are interested, here are the bare bones of our daily summer structure. It is oriented to the middle childhood/teen years:
Afternoon + evening: Having Adventures, Having Fun, and/or Lounging Around time.
Do dailies before other things (room, practice, and weed your assigned plot).
Extra jobs can be done for $ after the dailies
Practice time earns computer time (i.e., 30 minutes practicing=30 minutes computer)
Fun will be had. I promise. No complaining.
Afternoons:sometimes organized adventures, sometimes on-your-own fun
Library. Bookstore.
Bike ride.
Trip to the pond. Or one of our favorite beaches.
Logic puzzles (my kids love trying the kids' section of these)
Movie (oh, yeah...I'm always up for a good summer matinee)
Take Louie on a long walk (please!)
Six Flags (in a fit of I-don't-know-what we got season passes this year)
Make a treasure hunt. Or a map. Or an obstacle course and record everyone's times
Have a friend over
Do an art project (Maddy received* the Guerilla Art Kit by the lovely Keri Smith. We'll be using this for fun ideas throughout the summer, I hope. It's really fantastic.)
Read, read, read.(Sam wanted to start a blog about books for boys so he'll be adding to that throughout the summer. I think. Remember what I said about good intentions...and we're still putting it together. But here's the link: Kids Bookshelf).
Please, please, please. What are you doing this summer? Or in your growing up summers? Do you/did you have Good Intentions Summer Programs? How long did they last? I'd love to hear your ideas in a comment or e-mail or link to your blog. The summer blahs are riding on this.
*This is kind of a backdoor brag. Maddy received this award at school, one where the teachers choose a 6th grader who embodies the school values of kindness and friendliness and excellence. I'm sort of against awards until one of my kids gets one and then I'm all "well, she did kind of deserve that one." Go ahead and roll your eyes, I won't look.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Reader Comments (9)
Hi,
I grew up as a reluctant reader. Now I write action-adventures & mysteries, especially for boys 8 and up, that kids hate to put down. My web site is at http://www.maxbooks.9k.com and my Books for Boys blog is at http://booksandboys.blogspot.com
Ranked by Accelerated Reader
Max Elliot Anderson
Read about my message to kids in a bottle: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2008/5/prweb983364.htm
I am also susceptible to the summer blahs....days of heat stretching before me. But in my childhood, of course you know, Annie, we moved up to the cabin, where there awaited all sorts of cousins to play with, hike with, go to the frog pond with, tube down the Provo river with (always with an adult, mind you), go to the swinging bridge with, go buy a popsicle at the little Wildwood store (no longer existing). I did love to play the piano at the brown cabin, but I wouldn't call it practicing, since lessons were suspended for the summer. No telephone, no TV - it was bliss, except for the occasional compulsory afternoon nap. That was mostly for the benefit of my mother and the aunts, I think. CPB
first congrats to maddy! that's great (be a proud mom, it's okay:) ) as for summer adventures--i never remember being scheduled OR bored as a child. my mom said that her mom would make a list of things whether it was work, service, or fun and then cut it up and put them in a fish bowl. everyday they would draw one and that's what they would do. somedays it was the waterpark, other days it was cleaning out the garage...she remembers her mom was up for anything. i love your "good intentions" plan--i think it sounds solid!
What a cute photo!
Don't tell my kids about the Six Flags pass...they would be at your house in two seconds flat!
(Yay, Brown cabin! We'll be there in 3 days! I loved reading just about everything with words on it at the cabin--quite an eclectic mix. I also loved playing {definitely not considered practicing} the piano at the cabin. It's so much more enjoyable when you think of it as playing for fun...)
[unfortunately, we'll miss eachother in UT. We'll only be there June 27-July 2. The rest of the time we'll be in Ventura, CA and then Arizona. :( bummer. Not about CA and AZ, just about missing each other. It would be fun to see you.]
I think your "good intentions" plan is great. Here's to a great summer.
I LOVE the kids' bookshelf! (Love the pic of the old books, too.)
{Sneaky little "summer bridge activity" of writing synopses!}
I'll have to show it to my avid readers and get them to make some comments. :)
i love that you tried to drop them off at school anyway.
it was great to meet you! you know i'm dying over here to get the post done on it... we'll see if i can squeeze it in.
anyway. looking forward to reading you more. (i have to, now that i know you, right?)
don't forget to just send the kids outside to play. tell them they can come in when lunch is ready. there's much to be said for imagination and exploration... sans mama.
Summer blahs must run in the family!! I always approach the summer with a mixture of relief and apprehension. And I take your approach, Annie - I have to write out a little schedule every day, careful not to take it too seriously. But I've been good this year at not feeling bad about lounging, reading, and just plain old having a summer to enjoy.
We have had such a crazy start to summer we don't have much of a routine yet. We need one. We do go to the library once a week, that's a given. That picture of them in your rear view mirror is so cute.
By the way, I still can't figure out why I can't subscribe to your blog. It never updates for me anymore. :( Then I have to back read all your wonderful posts.
I am so jealous you got a little blogging night with Liz and Andrea. I didn't know the other blogger. Looks like a fabulous time was had.