What I don't always love is the task of keeping two boys occupied for two months.
And since we spent their summer camp money (for the next, oh, 10 summers) on a new patio, I need to be extra creative this year.
So.
Last week I unrolled a big piece of art paper on the kitchen table, armed them with markers, and told them to write down anything and everything they want to do or try or accomplish this summer.
The only 'rule' was that once something gets written down on the Great Summer List of '10, then it must be done.
A lesson in brainstorming, goal setting and list making all in one.
You know what? They accepted the challenge with enthusiasm. Even The Second Grader, who apparently wants to try archery.
I'm not sure he would have mentioned it had it not been for this list, either.
The Five Year Old?
He has decided that this is the summer he will be brave enough to put his head under water (and maybe learn to swim).
He also wants me to make him homemade whipped cream.
REAL whipped cream and not whipped cream from a CAN, he has told me.
Looks like we will also be sleeping in a tent and going on a big ship...
(I'm glad they chose 'ship' to fill in the blank. That one could have gone in any number of directions.)
It's shaping up to be an adventurous summer full of sweet dairy products and sharp flying arrows. I might even be looking forward to keeping two boys occupied for two months this year.
Try your own Great Summer List of '10. Your kids might surprise you, too.
16 comments:
What a fun idea! I have a little one in summer school right now, but keeping her busy on days off is a challenge. Thanks for the post!
-Ashley
YES! Trying to boot up my old (broken) laptop to find last year's list. T-minus 5.5 school days and counting...
I so love your observation that you wouldn't even have known he wanted to try archery if it weren't for the list. . . we hardly ever know what questions we need to ask to learn what we need to know (and not just with our kids.) Well done!
You're the bestest mommy.
I love the idea. I'm afraid my 3-y-o's list would only involve things about trains and penguins, though.
What a great idea.
One of our biggest summer hits was "cooking school." A few moms and I took turns taking the "big kids" (they were the 6-year olds) and teaching them how to cook or bake something. They loved it and so did we.
Good list! I love 'Whipped Cream' being a thing to do. We still have six weeks of school to go!
Great fun list. We made our list too.
Here's our link:
http://secretmomthoughts.blogspot.com/2010/06/summer-fun-list.html
I'm chicken. We brain storm verbally. I'm afraid I don't want evidence. Eek.
I could feel you there all bare armed and marker smelling on the kitchen floor. It'll be a good one and gone before you know it.
xo
erin
That's a great idea. I wish I were the stay-at-home parent...
Sounds like you will have a great summer!
I'm too afraid that it would say "go to the toy store and buy everything in it".
She's in a real gimmee stage of life.
Your summer looks like it will be pretty good - big ships are awesome!
We're working on our list too! But I'm having a terrible time finding someone to teach magic lessons to my 7-year-old.
That list is fabulous! What creative, fun, smart kids you have, me dear.
xoxo
Our vacation started 11 days ago - we started our list 166 days ago and it still just has ONE thing on it - apparently ALL they want to do is swim at grandma's house. Oh and the Husband has HIKE written about 10 times on his list.
So I guess on the agenda today is PUT TOGETHER A LIST :D
We did that too. We will be sleeping on a beach and a mountain. I think I should have used bigger paper though. We might have ended up with archery (anarchy?) too.
Well, we hardly ever know what questions we need to ask to learn what we need to know (and not just with our kids.) Well done! thanx for posting.
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