today is the first day of summer vacation!
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| idea that I got from pintest...kids came home to this yesterday. |
Can't believe it's here already!
AND I have a plan...
my goal is to not have a mind-numbing summer...
that's 2-fold...
1. I don't want it to be mind-numbingly boring!
2. I don't want the kids to have their brains be numb by the end of the summer and then school hurts their brain come August!
I also want it to feel like summer for the kids...
a little carefree
a little laid back
screen time (in moderation)
a little spontaneity here and there
so this is the sum, sum, summa time plan
a minor, not too rigid agenda
*swim team
this is a great low commitment scheduled 'event' for the kids. It's 3 days a week; MWF, for an hour. It's early, but not too early, starting at 8:30. The early factor is do-able because the prep is zilch...the have to have their swim suits on their bodies and all their swim stuff will just live in the car (goggles, sunscreen, etc) and their towels will hang in the garage right next to the van to be grabbed on the way......then they can eat breakfast on the go in the car, a breakfast burrito or peanut butter sandwich, etc. Also it's WAY cheaper than actual swim lessons $1.51 per hour compared to $8.75 an hour...AND swim team lasts all summer and lessons are only for 2 weeks.
*reading
we will take part in the Barnes and Noble summer reading program for kids (download the pdf form here) and we're going to do a family reading program that will be geared for the reading level and age of our own kids (boy child needs to read 7 chapter books to earn a free book, girl child needs to read 5 chapter books...her chapter books are WAY longer than his and takes her longer).
we're also going to do reading bingo....our own version...for every bingo they earn a coupon and then when then get a blackout they will get a golden ticket.
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| idea from how does she |
*theme days
Movie Monday's = our local dollar theater (that's actually like $1.50 but we still call it the dollar theater) has family days on Monday's and a group of 3 or more (aka a family) pay only $0.75 per person. If there isn't a move we want to see we will do the red box and watch a movie that we haven't seen yet. We haven't 'rented' a movie all year long and rarely go to the theater so there are a ton of movies for us to catch up on.
Errand Day Tuesday &/or Garden Tuesday = kids are not in love with errands...or actually the boy child is not, the girl child is on the fence about errands if there is a store involved she's all over that. Then the garden day will happen early and will be weeding and harvesting our garden. This is also a day that Redding has a local Farmers Market so errands and gardening go hand-in-hand and we will probably visit that a few times a month.
Music Wednesday = their piano lessons are scheduled for Wed afternoon...so really not too
musically...but I might make this a day that we also crank up the tunes and rock out while we do our chores.
Library Thursdays = this doesn't need an explanation...we will go to the library on Thursdays...
Field-trip Friday = Beau's day off so this is a great day to go on family hikes, visit waterfalls, drive to the coast, etc....
AND/Or Friend Friday = we will probably let them invite friends along on our field-trips and if we have nothing planned they can just have a friend over anyways.
* responsibilities before screen time
the kids both have a responsibility chart that hangs in the hallways and they will need to complete all their responsibilities before they are allowed to turn on the tv or play their DS's. And their screen time will be limited to 1 show per child and then a 30 minute time frame on the DS games....
*various other ideas
I have pinned a ton of ideas on pintrest to keep the summer fun...visit my School Vacation Idea board to see what we might be doing....
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also I will have to be working from home most mornings and will have to make trips to the office a few days a week....
so here's hoping our summer is smooth and not-too-mind-numbing....
what's your summer look like...
are you planning it out or letting it just happen?
4 comments:
That sounds awesome! These are ideas I want to keep in mind for 5 years from now when Aviya is older.
So terribly organized, Kiera! Way to go. I love reading your blog to sort of flash forward and have an idea of what it will be like when my kids are in school. Sounds like a great summer plan to me!
That is a great deal for swim team. through the college?
Swim team is through the Y....
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