Three Free Ways To Have Fun With Your Kids This Summer
Summer use to be a time of anticipation, relaxation and utter joy.
My biggest concern was how much sunscreen to apply, and which beach would be the hottest.
Now that I'm a mother of three, summer is met with dread, anxiety, and yes, sometimes even pain.
I have endured almost two full weeks of bickering, whining, and complaining.
With eight weeks to go I decided, enough was enough! If I'm going to survive summer it's only with the help of my creative side.
So to all you Mom's out there, here are a few ideas to help you enjoy a summer your children will never forget.
Tip 1) Create a point system I just recently stumbled upon this idea and it has transformed my life; I almost feel like I'm cheating.
Money does work wonders with my children but when you have three, it get's expensive.
Half the time they would loose their money or I wouldn't have it to give (which only taught them how easily their mother goes into debt).
The point system works this way: decide on mandatory chores (my children's were things like cleaning their bedrooms and the kitchen after dinner).
These are expected, and worth zero points.
Then I add things that are extra, and give each item a point amount: folding clothes (three points), emptying trashes (two points), picking up the yard (four points).
Decide on the extras based on your child's age and abilities.
Then their are the rewards, these are items they love, that they are willing to trade in their points for: playing on the computer (half an hour equals three points), video games (one hour equals four points), getting an ice cream (ten points).
The key is, they are motivated and take the initiative because they are rewarded with things they love, and no money is involved.
With this system we all win.
I have less housework, less nagging and less complaining.
That is truly summer FUN! Tip 2) Start a Blog This is prefect for all ages.
I recently started a blog with my ten year old.
It involves interviewing elderly ones and sharing their wisdom.
She helps me interview them, design the blog (which most kid are excellent at), and then writes what she's learned.
These are all skills that I hope will benefit her in the future.
But the main goal is to have FUN!.
Google offers a great, easy to use blogging forum (Blogger.
com).
A slightly harder blogging site is WordPress.
com.
Your blog could include all your summer activities, photos, art work, trips and projects.
This can be shared with your friends and family.
If you are worried about privacy, Blogger.
com allows you to control who can view your blog.
This is a great way to connect with your children, and have a lasting online journal of your summer adventures.
Tip 3) Write Letters Even though most of my mail contains bills, on a special day I will get a card or letter from a cherished friend or family member.
No matter how bad my day is, this always makes it brighter.
So with that in mind I decided to write letters with my children.
You start by picking a time period: a week, a month, or all summer.
Use your imagination and pretend you are separated.
What would you want to tell your children? What special events would you want them to remember? What is something you have never told them before? These can be brief or lengthy depending on your children's age and interest.
If you hate writing you can even draw them pictures.
The point is to use your imagination and have FUN! My four year old does not write so instead she tells me a story with drawings.
She is amazingly talented at it, and gets quite creative.
You can then exchange them or if you want to spend a little money you can send them in the mail.
Your children will look forward to their special letter each day.
These keepsake letters are a perfect way to remember your summer, and along with photos can be preserved in a scrapbook for years to come.
My biggest concern was how much sunscreen to apply, and which beach would be the hottest.
Now that I'm a mother of three, summer is met with dread, anxiety, and yes, sometimes even pain.
I have endured almost two full weeks of bickering, whining, and complaining.
With eight weeks to go I decided, enough was enough! If I'm going to survive summer it's only with the help of my creative side.
So to all you Mom's out there, here are a few ideas to help you enjoy a summer your children will never forget.
Tip 1) Create a point system I just recently stumbled upon this idea and it has transformed my life; I almost feel like I'm cheating.
Money does work wonders with my children but when you have three, it get's expensive.
Half the time they would loose their money or I wouldn't have it to give (which only taught them how easily their mother goes into debt).
The point system works this way: decide on mandatory chores (my children's were things like cleaning their bedrooms and the kitchen after dinner).
These are expected, and worth zero points.
Then I add things that are extra, and give each item a point amount: folding clothes (three points), emptying trashes (two points), picking up the yard (four points).
Decide on the extras based on your child's age and abilities.
Then their are the rewards, these are items they love, that they are willing to trade in their points for: playing on the computer (half an hour equals three points), video games (one hour equals four points), getting an ice cream (ten points).
The key is, they are motivated and take the initiative because they are rewarded with things they love, and no money is involved.
With this system we all win.
I have less housework, less nagging and less complaining.
That is truly summer FUN! Tip 2) Start a Blog This is prefect for all ages.
I recently started a blog with my ten year old.
It involves interviewing elderly ones and sharing their wisdom.
She helps me interview them, design the blog (which most kid are excellent at), and then writes what she's learned.
These are all skills that I hope will benefit her in the future.
But the main goal is to have FUN!.
Google offers a great, easy to use blogging forum (Blogger.
com).
A slightly harder blogging site is WordPress.
com.
Your blog could include all your summer activities, photos, art work, trips and projects.
This can be shared with your friends and family.
If you are worried about privacy, Blogger.
com allows you to control who can view your blog.
This is a great way to connect with your children, and have a lasting online journal of your summer adventures.
Tip 3) Write Letters Even though most of my mail contains bills, on a special day I will get a card or letter from a cherished friend or family member.
No matter how bad my day is, this always makes it brighter.
So with that in mind I decided to write letters with my children.
You start by picking a time period: a week, a month, or all summer.
Use your imagination and pretend you are separated.
What would you want to tell your children? What special events would you want them to remember? What is something you have never told them before? These can be brief or lengthy depending on your children's age and interest.
If you hate writing you can even draw them pictures.
The point is to use your imagination and have FUN! My four year old does not write so instead she tells me a story with drawings.
She is amazingly talented at it, and gets quite creative.
You can then exchange them or if you want to spend a little money you can send them in the mail.
Your children will look forward to their special letter each day.
These keepsake letters are a perfect way to remember your summer, and along with photos can be preserved in a scrapbook for years to come.