Recent Topics Personal Notes Forum Preferences Terms of Use New Features

Author

Message

forman

Posts: 13022

Posted: 8 Jun 2009 11:06 AM
Subject: Summer Family/Kids activities

Ok it is going to be a long summer...

So I thought maybe some of you might like to share some ideas..(one sister already shared she will be teaching cooking)

So share an idea, take an idea, let us know what you are doing, the big and the small it may trigger something.

jkp

Posts: 142

Posted: 8 Jun 2009 11:20 AM
Subject: Summer Family/Kids activities

I always made sure I had a read aloud chapter book going. We selected a summer's worth of books as a family, so had a new one to move on to, as soon as we finished one. (Trelease's Read Aloud Handbook was very helpful in getting ideas.)

We read at least a chapter a day (often times 2 or 3 once the kids got into the story).

It was a nice peaceful respite everyday, besides the benefits of helping with their summer reading, honing listening skills, etc.

I also had a friend who assigned her kids a topic of their personal interest each week, to research at the library or on the web and do a short report on at FHE. Worked great for them.

forman

Posts: 13022

Posted: 8 Jun 2009 04:30 PM
Subject: Summer Family/Kids activities

Great REMINDER!!!

I few weeks ago, I had an idea to teach my kids a hymn. One that they could apply to life...So I picked, Have I done any good?

It is perfect. It reminds them that they should be kind, for them to look for people who may need help and also to show love.

They don't have the second vs. but they have the 1st...so I can say, Have U done any good? Sometimes they will tell me something and sometimes run and do something to help.

So maybe that is something U do or can do...remember The church has the interactive player with songs, words, music...incase u don't have them or can't carry a tune.

huri

Posts: 4048

Posted: 8 Jun 2009 04:47 PM
Subject: Summer Family/Kids activities

My 8 yo and I are in the musical Oklahoma.

I wanted to make this a sumer of fun. Just play a lot and eat lots of cold things and play in the water (if it ever gets warm enough). Work on my dd's reading. Sleep outside.

This is a great thread. I an excited to see what everyone is doing.

We might go to the Zoo this summer. My 2 yo has been asking.

forman

Posts: 13022

Posted: 8 Jun 2009 06:02 PM
Subject: Summer Family/Kids activities

Wow in a play...Cool....(okeyherbtoestinghead)

(people could always do their own plays with a bunch from the neighborhood)

Ok and thinking about Jennifers post about cooking the kids and I made mini pizza's for lunch...

I cheated and used frozen bread dough (wheat even) defrosted it in the micro and then we shaped it and topped them....U can always let your kids make a basic dough recipe and then have them see what all they could make from it...Rolls, pizza cinnamon rolls, flat bread, scones...etc

jsenecker

Posts: 773

Posted: 8 Jun 2009 08:48 PM
Subject: Summer Family/Kids activities

At the beginning of the summer we sit down and make a list of all the things we want to do this summer. Small things too like a lemonade stand, garage sale, make cookies and take them to someone. Big things too like go to the beach, go camping, go swimming, visit with grandparents. Then we try to pare it down to a realistic list and do them.
We are planning on eating lunch at teh park many times, roasting marshmallows, camping, Learning how to cook, going to the county fairs( we have two for the county), watching the fireworks and parades and visiting with both sets of grandparents.

jsenecker

Posts: 773

Posted: 8 Jun 2009 08:50 PM
Subject: Summer Family/Kids activities

My sister's ward started a park lunch group. They made a list of all the parks in the area and gave each one a date. The moms who wanted to met at the designated park and brought lunch and let the kids play for a few hours.Our area has a lot of little hidden parks and so it was a lot of fun.

robin_bo_bobbin

Posts: 299

Posted: 8 Jun 2009 09:20 PM
Subject: Summer Family/Kids activities

We're having a baby. I'm hoping that will keep us occupied for a while. ;-)

We signed DS up for swim lessons and signed him and little sis up for the summer reading program at the library. DS is also doing story time at the library during the summer.

jsenecker

Posts: 773

Posted: 9 Jun 2009 07:52 AM
Subject: Summer Family/Kids activities

Check out the family fun website for great activities. They have TONS of them. I love thier magazine and love thier web site even more.

mominzion

Posts: 837

Posted: 9 Jun 2009 08:41 AM
Subject: Summer Family/Kids activities

Most towns movie theaters have summer programs for kids. Way cheap!

We go to the library every Tuesday. Movie on Wednesday. And the park another day of the week.

This gives us 3 days a week they get out of the house for a bit. The park can just be an hour, the library a half hour, the movie a couple of hours. So you are not gone ALL Day. Plus, they have to have their chores done for the day and their practice time (musical instruments) done before we go. The other days is just free time with friends, playing outside, some computer or video game time.

Then once a month we have planned a day trip somewhere. Not too far - could be the zoo or something. I also went to the craft store and bought some $1 crafts for them to do once in awhile.

marneep

Posts: 6589

Posted: 9 Jun 2009 09:43 AM
Subject: Summer Family/Kids activities

This is going to be the summer of cheap and free and no daddy. He decieded to go to school spring/summer.

knowing that we bought season passes to a few places that I can take the kids to.

We plan on lots and lots of swimming and games. The theater has the movie programs that are like a dollar. Library, BBq's of course my kids are still in karate so that takes up a couple nights a week.

mominzion, you reminded me... check your local craft store, ours here has a kids program that runs a couple days a week. You can take them in and they will do crafts with the kids. Ours is $5 a craft, but mine are old enough that I can leave them there :)

forman

Posts: 13022

Posted: 9 Jun 2009 12:40 PM
Subject: Summer Family/Kids activities

I hear ya Marnee...Cheap free....What a combo!

That is why I thought we could just write things we are doing...

Our Library actually has crafts that they do 2x's a week for free. (check your library they have movies, music and many summer programs)

Today was a day of Beautification

If U guessed mowing the lawn and weeding U win a prize.

We are going for a bike ride later after the VT's come.

We also have dinner all ready (now for those dishes)

ogr

Posts: 76

Posted: 10 Jun 2009 12:49 PM
Subject: Summer Family/Kids activities

our teenagers keep pretty busy but our grandaughter who is 4 and there are no other 4 year olds in our branch dont know how to keep her busy.
we play volley ball every day
we have reader rabbit on the computer but i like that more for the winter
noggin has some craft stuff
i do like the idea of the parks thank you

forman

Posts: 13022

Posted: 10 Jun 2009 06:58 PM
Subject: Summer Family/Kids activities

Woe is Wednesday...Dad is off and the schedule is a bit harder to follow...

We got reading and math done...(my kids need extra help so I do make them continue learning)

We roasted over an open fire (hamburgers and hot dogs.

Cleaned the car out...(ok mostly)

prepared for garbage day (tomorrow)

Kids went with dad to the beach...

forman

Posts: 13022

Posted: 11 Jun 2009 07:15 AM
Subject: Summer Family/Kids activities

Today is Keep Connected Day

So Call Someone...Write Letters...Send Thank You Cards..Draw Pictures send to someone as a suprise...

Also if you are interested get a pen pal...Maybe u have a friend across the country that has a child similar age...or

here are a few groups

American Kids Pen Pal Club
P.O. Box 2
Elizabeth AR 72531

(Write about yourself and if you want a boy or a girl and from what country. Cost 2.00)

Friends around the World P.O. Box 10211 Merrillville IN 46411-0266
Cost 3.50

Peace Links Pen Pals for Peace 747 Eighth St SE
Washington DC 20003

(for Russian Pen Pals only Cost is Free)

mom2kandl

Posts: 814

Posted: 12 Jun 2009 08:35 AM
Subject: Summer Family/Kids activities

I'm loving all these ideas.

Here we'll have different swim lesson sessions and maybe another community center class or two.

We have a nature center nearby.

I plan on taking my 7 yr old to the paint your own ceramics place a couple of times this summer.

It's a little costly but we do have an aquarium not far from our home that I'd like to take the girls to this summer.

And I know a local movie theatre does free movies during the summer. I couldn't remember the chain of theatres. But my sis-in-law sent me an e-mail someone in her ward sent out and I was able to look it up. Check the Regal theatre website if you have younger kids. It will give you a link for the family fun or something like that festival where every Tues and Wed they show free family friendly movies....2 choices each week. Might be ones you've already seen but it's all kids in the theatre pretty much so nobody cares if your kid get a little loud.

forman

Posts: 13022

Posted: 12 Jun 2009 09:31 AM
Subject: Summer Family/Kids activities

Today we are heading to the walking trails...Either we will take mini tablets to write down things we see or maybe the camera or both...

Wonder what we will find??

jsenecker

Posts: 773

Posted: 12 Jun 2009 11:33 AM
Subject: Summer Family/Kids activities

so far summer for us is just dodging the raindrops! As soon as it stops raining we will officially start summer!

forman

Posts: 13022

Posted: 12 Jun 2009 12:21 PM
Subject: Summer Family/Kids activities

ok Jen how about a rain experiement...Science

ctr2002

Posts: 14241

Posted: 12 Jun 2009 01:47 PM
Subject: Summer Family/Kids activities

mini olympics
walking club
basketball
swimming

and umm... going to play at E's house. ;)

egillespie

Posts: 3340

Posted: 12 Jun 2009 03:05 PM
Subject: Summer Family/Kids activities

bring your two wonderchildren over here and play in our fort.

forman

Posts: 13022

Posted: 12 Jun 2009 04:47 PM
Subject: Summer Family/Kids activities

does it have a door we can LOCK? I was thinking NO

forman

Posts: 13022

Posted: 16 Jun 2009 03:32 PM
Subject: Summer Family/Kids activities

doing some "kids" exercise video's...if u don't have any check at the library...

itsjustme

Posts: 301

Posted: 16 Jun 2009 05:41 PM
Subject: Summer Family/Kids activities

I am just hoping to survive the summer with my sanity still somewhat intact. Things are not looking good, so far lol.

Here are some fun ideas I found:

http://tinyurl.com/ltrjoz

(The post is on June 1st, 2009 if the link just goes to the current page).
There is also a fun post just before this one with date night ideas that could be adapted for a summer fun kind of thing with kids.

I also think "Letterboxing" sounds fun, and want to try it with my kids sometime. You can read about it here:

http://tinyurl.com/m958ty

And here is a link for finding Letterboxing Clues in your area. (North America map)

http://tinyurl.com/nugqte

forman

Posts: 13022

Posted: 18 Jun 2009 09:12 AM
Subject: Summer Family/Kids activities

It is make some cookies day...

Wonder who we will suprise with some???

Here is our recipe :

1 c shortening
1 c sugar
1 c b sugar

cream together and
ADD:

2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla

Mix together

2 c flour
2 tsp b powder
2 tsp b soda
1 tsp salt

Mix together Well

then ADD:

2 cups Oatmeal
2 cups Coconut (I don't usually put 2)

Mix together and spoon onto a cookie sheet.
Cook @ 350 8-10 min

VARIARTION:

3/4 c-1 cup choco chips

or

3/4 -1 cup raisons

Makes about 3 dozen. Double to make a big tupperware full.