cmp3400 Posted May 20, 2013 Share Posted May 20, 2013 I am trying to create index cards with ideas of things my boys can do during the summer instead of watching TV/playing Video games. We live in Florida and it really is too hot to do much outside during the day. They will need to pick 5 different cards per day. What do you do during the day to keep your kids busy?? We are already doing a little math and reading each day. I am also planning on adding some inside "exercise" cards they can do. Attached is our list (the yellow TV cards are limited to one per day). We are doing a Night at the Museum "study" for the summer, so a lot of the things are related to that. Thanks for any ideas! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommy22alyns Posted May 20, 2013 Share Posted May 20, 2013 Oh wow, what a great idea! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alice Posted May 20, 2013 Share Posted May 20, 2013 build a fort of blankets and have a picnic read a book make a baking soda/vinegar volcano wash the car cook/bake something sculpt something out of clay paint something learn a new skill: to whittle, to knit, to play the harmonica build something with Legos play a board game or card game learn how to make hexaflexagons (Google it, it’s very cool) make slime from Borax and glue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lilaclady Posted May 20, 2013 Share Posted May 20, 2013 I think Alice has a lot of great suggestions. I will add Learn to cook Plant a garden Learn a skill Learn to program using scratch or Alice Learn to type Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmp3400 Posted May 20, 2013 Author Share Posted May 20, 2013 Thank you! I LOVE the wash the car idea! Great for a hot, sunny day! Making more cards now!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmilyGF Posted May 20, 2013 Share Posted May 20, 2013 If it is so hot, why not school through the summer and take more time off in fall and spring? Emily Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theYoungerMrsWarde Posted May 20, 2013 Share Posted May 20, 2013 Your card idea made me think of these that I've read about: http://morninghugsandgoodnightkisses.blogspot.com/2012/05/summer-bucket-list.html http://teachingmybabytoread.blog.com/2012/06/26/staying-sane-over-summer-break/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swellmomma Posted May 20, 2013 Share Posted May 20, 2013 Well our summer temps are about the same as your winter ones so we will mostly be outside. But inside activities will be focused on using all those cool art and science kits we bought over the years and never got to, plus the kits for homemade lip balm, bath bombs, and soap. Also going to try and learn some new water colour techniques, but I am leaving it up to them. I bought a book on it, water colour paper, some paint boards and an easel to let them explore it on their own. We are doing some konos units. One on frontiersmen and one on indians, finishing up with a camping trip to put some of the things we learned to the test. Swimming We will be spending lots of time at our provincial park, fishing in the trout pond, hiking in the woods etc but if it is too hot for you there that won't work. We have several sand stone kits to work through so that will take some time. The olders are too old for the library reading club so I am creating our own Play lots of board games raise butterflies, or frogs, or hatch chicks or pretty much any other life science type project that will require daily observations etc. Focus on life skills type things, how to plan, prepare and serve a particular meal, how to bake cinnamon rolls, or sew a button, or do household repairs etc My youngest 3 are also using the summer to continue their conditioning for dance in the fall and have asked me to develop an alternating stretch and strength routines to do all summer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruby Rose Posted May 20, 2013 Share Posted May 20, 2013 We are doing several arts and crafts projects. *Use washable blue glue to draw a design on shirt/fabric. Paint with watered down acrylic paints. Wash and you have Batik. *Walmart sells iron on line drawings $0.99 per pack that you can put on shirts and then paint or sew or whatever. * Soap making *drawing lessons on DVD *making cement pavers with a kit *Sewing pillows with fabric they design *Tie Dye *Legos *Stop Motion Animation. If you have an iPad there is a wonderful app called OSnap that makes it so easy and fun to do. Swimming, swimming, and more swimming! We are also "playing" Miquon, finishing SOTW 1, summer reading, and trips to various museums. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Momof3littles Posted May 20, 2013 Share Posted May 20, 2013 soap carving Liberty's Kids, Carmen Sandiego, The Happy Scientist videos when they do want to watch TV duolingo we do a lighter version of school in the summer and we'll be doing the following: work on improving typing skills studying various Native American tribes (geography, spiritual beliefs, myths/legends, making models of the various types of dwellings) make a diorama (will be doing as part of the above) my 9 yo likes Mini Weapons of Mass Destruction and the followup book; he also likes Backyard Ballistics (supervise and set expectations and limits first as there are some dangerous projects in there, so you may or may not want to go that route) nature study possibly with The Private Eye added in write letters or postcards to family If they would find it fun you could have them research and plan a theoretical or real vacation (set a budget and then have them work through how they would spend it, where they would go, where they would stay, food and entertainment costs, etc.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MinivanMom Posted May 20, 2013 Share Posted May 20, 2013 Have a water balloon fight Have a water gun fight Wash the car Play on a slip & slide Play in the sprinklers Go to the pool Design your own backyard waterpark with sprinklers, hose, & outdoor toys Go to a waterpark Go to the beach Go to an air-conditioned museum Go to the movie theater Go to the mall (or anywhere else air conditioned) Make homemade ice cream Make homemade popsicles Make ice cream in a plastic bag Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Cook Posted May 20, 2013 Share Posted May 20, 2013 This is our list for the summer so far. I am sure we won't do everything on it, but I think we will do alot of it! I made a list because I really don't want this summer to pass by in a blur like some of the previous summers. I want to savor it and I want the kids to as well! So here is our list: Out and About go skating go bowling go to the zoo go paint pottery hike at nature center visit a lake and bring a picnic go to a drive-in movie go to the park visit the farmer's market pick blueberries go camping the kid's baseball and t-ball games 2 nights a week At Home plant a container garden all 3 kids learn to tie their shoes!! picnics in the yard make popsicles make ice cream bike riding learn to ride a bike without training wheels catch fireflies bonfire to roast hot dogs and marshmallows sponge bombs for water play water + the play kitchen/dishes=hours of fun blow bubbles have sleepovers at cousins/aunts and uncles/grandparents have cousins sleep over at our house play Red Light, Green Light play Freeze Tag or Flashlight Tag discover a couple new outdoor group games fly kites tie dye t shirts make mosaic stepping stones board games make flubber make playdough build forts help dad wash the car stargazing any cool art projects I find build a low balance beam add to our nature shelves play catch water fight with water guns At Grandma and Grandpa's sandbox swimming help in the garden fireworks 3R's Laid Back math 3x per week handwriting 3x per week reading - daily read alouds - daily and outside if possible Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MamaChicken Posted May 20, 2013 Share Posted May 20, 2013 Great idea! Watch out for those hexaflexagons. I suggested to DS9 one day when I had some unexpected work come in and wanted him to be occupied. He was OBSESSED for months. There were hexaflexagons everywhere! I'm still finding them. :) Good video . build a fort of blankets and have a picnic read a book make a baking soda/vinegar volcano wash the car cook/bake something sculpt something out of clay paint something learn a new skill: to whittle, to knit, to play the harmonica build something with Legos play a board game or card game learn how to make hexaflexagons (Google it, it’s very cool) make slime from Borax and glue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 21, 2013 Share Posted May 21, 2013 Wow, you guys have some fun summers! We've kind of always been "enjoy your free time and if you whine I'll give you something to do"! Busy is not in my summer vocabulary. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommy22alyns Posted May 21, 2013 Share Posted May 21, 2013 OP, I totally stole your awesome idea, and even realized that Electric Company and Reading Rainbow were free with Amazon Prime! I made up a good selection of cards with some fun activities and educational things. Thanks so much for posting! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mhorai Posted May 21, 2013 Share Posted May 21, 2013 Wow, what a helpful thread. Thanks everyone! I can't wait to try some of these ideas! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmp3400 Posted May 21, 2013 Author Share Posted May 21, 2013 Thank you for all the great ideas! Our summer should go much smoother than last summer!! We will be doing lots of out and about activities as well (we will be a the beach once a week for sure!). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cschnee Posted May 22, 2013 Share Posted May 22, 2013 diy.org has lots of great ideas for projects. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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