We're a week into our summer break. I've been working at the computer almost 24/7, and my children have been entertaining themselves…well, almost.
I personally have more time on my hands now that I don't teach piano any longer (which is why I've been working so much), but I really, really don't like so much unstructured time. Call me crazy, but having so much 'free time' is just completely unsettling to me.
To be honest, I'm fairly adept at planning things out during the school year, but I'm a total failure when it comes to extended breaks.
I'm in desperate need of a schedule!
At least next week we have activities at church each morning, so that will give us some structure, but I really need to plan out things to do with the kids each day. Unfortunately, I'm extremely uncreative right now.
One thing I have had the kids do in previous breaks is to read daily, usually something for pleasure. But I've been extremely lax in this lately, and so far the kids haven't read much of anything this summer. #homeschoolingmomfail
That's not to say they haven't been productive at all. Both Jaden and Jerah have been writing more of their stories on their netbooks; we've been doing P90X each night and reading through Proverbs as a family; and Joely has been making make-believe hand grenades. Yes, hand grenades.
So it's not like we're doing nothing. I just feel like our time during the day is so haphazard. I'm desperate to plan something. Not necessarily something to do outside the house, but just something to do with the kids.
Suggestions?
I suggest you start your children on a summer reading program. Virtually every library and book store offers them. Some probably have twaddle-filled book lists, but others (like Half Price Books) allows kids to read whatever they want.
Since your kids are writers, why not work with them to write and produce a play that they could put on for the neighborhood? With costumes and sets, that would keep them busy for most of the summer!
Um, maybe don't have clients who are asking you to help them at all hours of the day and night and needing you to spend hours trouble-shooting their host issues??
Ahem. 🙂
In seriousness, my oldest is only 5 and we have quite a bit of structure lest our house fall down. But if my children were older and more self-sufficient, I'd likely ask them for input of what they'd like to accomplish over the summer, come up with some goals of my own and then create a loose schedule — with both free and structured time.
And having set computer hours and not staying up past 11 p.m. is good, too. But I'm still working on that last one myself. 🙂
@Crystal, Yeah, I'm thinking I need set computer hours. When I don't have something I 'need' to do away from the computer, I generally take that as an opportunity to get more work done. Hence, my spending so much time at the computer. Can I blame that on Dave Ramsey??? 🙂
But this week my busyness has been related more to finishing up my design site, not to having 'clients who are asking you to help them at all hours of the day and night and needing you to spend hours trouble-shooting their host issues'. [hee hee]
Me too! That's why we school year round and have short breaks here and there. I can't stand to not have structure to our day.
I will say that we have a schedule of free time activities so that the kids aren't forever watching sitting in front of a screen. Monday is movie day, Tuesday is game day, Wednesday- computer or video games, Thursday- another game day, Friday- wild card day. These things happen when all the necessities are out of the way (school, chores, errands). It has really helped w/ not having to say: No, you can't watch another movie, or Haven't you played on the computer every day this week?
I know. Take a jar and fill it with slips of paper with all kinds of "to do"things on it that (at least at my house) go undone for lengths of time like wash down the walls, cupboard doors, door handles, grout (sp?) baseboards, etc.. The kids pick one and have to do it!
{hey, its just a suggestion 😉 hee hee }
I dunno, I'm kind-of a fan of unstructured time to give kids the opportunity to develop the skill of entertaining themselves. I think boredom is good to a point. I tend to be in the middle, as in, have some scheduled time but then have a good chunk of time where when they come to me and say "I'm bored. What do I do?" I look at them with a loving but blank expression and reply: "Gee, I don't know!"
But then I also understand that too much idle time can be downright disastrous. Last summer I found a fantastic list of about 100 things to do. I think there is an idea similar to this in one of your comments above. The rule of the Boredom Busters jar is simple: If you resort to that, you MUST, absolutely MUST complete the task before going on to another task. There were some crazy ideas, some creative, some fun, some chores…etc. but for some reason it was more fun when the boredom busters jar told them to go straighten their shoes than to be given a job because they knew the next task could be: go have a bubble blowing contest or make chocolate chip cookies….
Good luck! 🙂
Have you read Managers of Their Homes by the Maxwells? It's filled with lots of practical ideas on how to develop, implement, and stick with a schedule. The authors are homeschooling parents to eight children and the mom finds time to sew and read thanks to intentionally planning what needs to get done each day. Her children also follow a schedule (although the summer schedule has more unstructure time). Very inspirational and encouraging! Here's the link:
http://www.titus2.com/ecommerce/products/prod_listing.php/1100
@Jody, I've heard a ton about MoTH, but I've never actually looked at the book. 🙁
Maybe that's one I should add to my wish list?
Sound like you have been making big changes this summer. Remember it is okay to relax and have some fun with your children. Make some memories. If you still need to plan, write down your goals for the summer. Then add activities that would benefit your goals.
Did I write this post? LOL, I've also been on the computer editing pictures for a couple of customers and preparing a DVD too, and my girls have watched more Scooby Doohs these past two weeks than in my childhood. The've also been doing lots of other things, and productive, but I feel a bit lost without a schedule too.
I guess Karen is right, I need to relax, and writing the goals sounds good. I also hope to refocus a bit an cut their scooby dooh time for sure!
Best luck in getting back in a routine, I'll be reading and trying to fix my case of another desperate need for schedule.
I've given each of my children (ages 12 yrs – 6 yrs) nature journals to work on this summer. This is great for us especially since art is usually one of the things we don't get to focus on very much during the school year. The idea is to draw something each day in nature — anything you want. The only "rule" is that you have to spend at least 30 minutes studying and drawing your subject. I supplied them with paper, colored pencils, and a binder to store their artwork in (and lots of praise at thier attempts) and sent them outside. To my surprise they have been drawing non-stop for days!! I am going to try to work in some structured lessons to help them improve their drawings, and give them specific subjects to look for, themes to focus on etc, but for now, they are very busy!
In our school district the children are required to perform community service hours before graduating. Is there a community service aspect to your home schooling, or is this something that might add nicely to your unscheduled summer time? there are many populations, young and old, Christian and non-Christian, neighbors and strangers, etc. that would love to hear from you and your children. Helping box food at the food bank, visiting seniors in adult day centers or at nursing homes would love a pianist accompanied by young enthusiastic voices, a neighbor with physical limitations might thorougly appreciate an hour of help in the yard weeding, or planting flowers, making pictures and cards for shut ins… The possibilities are endless in this day and age and teaching our children the joy of help our fellow human beings is a lesson that should not be missed.