Here is an update of what we have been doing in our corner of the woods. Maybe there is something here you can use for your family this summer as well! Nothing takes much advance planning, most are inexpensive or free, and all are lots of fun for lots of different ages-in our family we range ages 5 months to 9 years and we usually have an extra cousin or friend or neighbor kid thrown in the mix as well. And they require minimal adult involvement, as it is usually just me wrangling the kids around while dad works during the day.
A bit on scheduling. Routines save my sanity and are good for kids, too. They like knowing what to expect and what to do next. Our daily routine: breakfast, dressed, and chores done by 9 or 10. This keeps things from falling completely apart and the kids know if they get their chores done now I won't bug them about them the rest of the day. Outings and fun until lunch before it gets too hot. Rest time with naps for the under 5 crowd and reading time for the older ones. After rest time we have indoor adventures, free play at home, swimming, or craft projects in the hot afternoon. Then dinner followed by chores and a slightly later bedtime routine. My kids are still the first ones to go to bed on our block, but I think they are the happiest! We limit after dark activities to once a week so they get to stay up for fireworks, lightening bugs, campfires, or sleepovers, but still get the rest they need to be up with the sun and running around all day!
Every week we hit the library for story time, summer reading check-in, and to get a new stash of books and movies. We are also exploring all the local parks by picnicking at a new one each week. We also do an extended family visit to a grandparent or aunt and uncle. Anyway, that's the basic schedule we work off.
Here is what we have done for the first weeks of our summer vacation at Camp Wannalaffalotta!
Week 1: Welcome summer vacation!
Go to the lake/beach/river anywhere to swim.
Have an end of year/graduation party
Visit a local landmark (LDS temple for us) and meet an old friend
Make a train out of the dining chairs
Plant some flowers
Climb a tree
Week 2: visiting friends, an away from home stay vacation
We met some friends at a relatives house for a week of simple stay at home fun, except neither of us stayed home, so it was more exciting for the kids. We stayed at "grandma's" house out in the country. It was much cooler there so the kids spent most of their time outside playing on the lawn doing nearly forgotten but important things such as chasing butterflies, catching lightening bugs, following frogs, playing tag, working in the garden, and eating outside.
A few other highlights:
Wild life in the sleeping quarters- boarding with a hunter is exciting!
A swimming pool. Kids don't need much water to be happy!
A fire pit for roasting marshmallows and hot dogs
Berry picking, whatever is in season!
Homemade lemonade
The local playgrounds
A nature scavenger hunt. I just made up the lists as we were heading out the door and handed out empty jars for collecting specimens. It doesn't have to be fancy, just something to direct their exploration after the novelty wears off, to avoid boredom or mischief making!
Some homemade fun, courtesy the Daring Book for Girls- kool-aid hair dye, cookies, friendship bracelets and more
Fireworks, for the night after it has rained all day to avoid fire danger
A week-long slumber party with friends and lots of pillows!
A cool bubble machine, so you don't hyperventilate trying to keep 7 kids happily popping!
Yummy home cooking from someone besides mom, they always eat so much better when someone else is in the kitchen!
Next weeks will include some summer reading tips and our at-home summer routine activities. Stay tuned!
1 comment:
I had to laugh because the picture near the top right corner had me confused...so when I enlarged it I realized it is a mowhawk with red paint. Cool!
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