My husband rightfully accuses me of "running a tight ship"! So this summer we've set sail by trying to learn a few skills, read 20 minutes a day and practice the piano.
My summer reading program idea came from: Brown Paper Packages.
Lovin' these bookmarks.
We do pretty good at this anyway, I just didn't want our summer to fly by with baseball, swimming lessons and everything else and not read every single day.
Points for practicing the piano also came from Brown Paper Packages.
Dax thrives on points and rewards and isn't great at practicing the piano. At least now he practices most days instead of not at all.
And my summer skills merit badge idea came from The Crafting Chicks.
I printed out a picture for each skill small enough to fit on a 2 1/2 inch circle punch then had the boys color, cut and glue them together.
Our List Includes:
Ride bike without training wheels
My summer reading program idea came from: Brown Paper Packages.
Lovin' these bookmarks.
We do pretty good at this anyway, I just didn't want our summer to fly by with baseball, swimming lessons and everything else and not read every single day.
Points for practicing the piano also came from Brown Paper Packages.
Dax thrives on points and rewards and isn't great at practicing the piano. At least now he practices most days instead of not at all.
And my summer skills merit badge idea came from The Crafting Chicks.
I printed out a picture for each skill small enough to fit on a 2 1/2 inch circle punch then had the boys color, cut and glue them together.
Our List Includes:
Ride bike without training wheels
Memorize The Living Christ
Run ¼ mile
Tie own shoes
Weed the garden
Wash the car
Read 4 books to a younger brother
Wash dishes
Crack an egg
Write out full Name
Camp on the tramp
Identify 5 types of Birds
Make a bug collection
Skip Rocks
Roast the perfect marshmallow
Identify the North Star and Big Dipper
Pump on a swing
Jump Rope for 15 Seconds
Complete Swim Lessons
Learn how to cast a fishing pole
Learn how to tie on a hook
Learn to thread a worm
Learn how to sew on a button
Learn First Aid
They each have a chart where they just put a mark for that day/week and then at the end of the week if they've worked hard then they get a reward. Some rewards include: water balloon fight, staying up late coupon, ice cream cone, handful of nerds and bowling. Like I said, my kids thrive on rewards, so they do a lot of things without me even asking or reminding them. It's been fun to see them learn and do new things. Things that Greg and I would otherwise just do ourselves.
Run ¼ mile
Tie own shoes
Weed the garden
Wash the car
Read 4 books to a younger brother
Wash dishes
Crack an egg
Write out full Name
Camp on the tramp
Identify 5 types of Birds
Make a bug collection
Skip Rocks
Roast the perfect marshmallow
Identify the North Star and Big Dipper
Pump on a swing
Jump Rope for 15 Seconds
Complete Swim Lessons
Learn how to cast a fishing pole
Learn how to tie on a hook
Learn to thread a worm
Learn how to sew on a button
Learn First Aid
They each have a chart where they just put a mark for that day/week and then at the end of the week if they've worked hard then they get a reward. Some rewards include: water balloon fight, staying up late coupon, ice cream cone, handful of nerds and bowling. Like I said, my kids thrive on rewards, so they do a lot of things without me even asking or reminding them. It's been fun to see them learn and do new things. Things that Greg and I would otherwise just do ourselves.
3 comments:
Shalet, you are just like my mom! (That's a good thing!) Each summer, we had Camp Mom. My mom made a poster and hung it on the kitchen wall with all of our names down the left side, and all of the things she wanted us to do on along the top. (And then she made a grid with the rows and columns.) Whenever we finished one activity, we could write the date or put a sticker in that box or whatever. We did this until I graduated high school! The first child to finish everything would win $100, the second would get $50, the third $25, and the last $10. We were cut-throat about trying to win that $100!
My mom just hated the idea of us sleeping in every day and watching TV all summer long, so that's why she came up with these charts. I'm definitely going to do it with my boys when they're a little older.
These are some of the things we had to do:
-Read 1 Shakespeare play together as a family (we'd listen to actors perform it on CD)
-Memorize 1 poem,
-Memorize a scripture
-Run or bike 50 miles (not all at once-- about 3 miles at a time)
-Make one gourmet dinner
-Wash our bedroom windows inside and out
-Sew an article of clothing
-Learn a new song on the piano
-Teach one FHE lesson
-Sleep in a tent one night (we also did this as a family)
-Pull weeds 2 hours (not all at once-- we'd usually do about 20 minutes at a time)
-Bake cookies and deliver some to a friend
And that's all I can think of off the top of my head! But it was fun, and I'm glad I had a proactive mother! I can't wait to hear how yours turns out.
I find you amazing. Also I kind of think you should raise my kids. But you'll need to move here so I can see them too, ok?
Tim wants me to come live with you so I can learn how to run a tight ship. He still frequently reminds me of how good your kids were in church and how I should ask you for some tips...
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