summer adventures. here's how it works.

Here's the thing.  I really don't like to be overscheduled.  The feeling of waking up in the morning and not having one thing on the calendar is pure bliss to me.

However, if I don't put a few things on the calendar, it seems like the days and weeks pass by, and at the end of the season (whichever it may be), I suddenly think, "wait!  we didn't ever ______ (fill in the blank with whichever activity you wish you had done before the snow started and never stopped.)

And I do like lists.  And making up little themes and activities.  So put all that together, and just for kicks I decided this summer we would do something called Summer Adventures.  So far the kids are totally loving it, and have yet to utter the words, "I'm bored."  I think we're on to something.   

It takes a little work initially to plan these kinds of things (and workshop too), but in the long run, I feel like it gives their creativity and imaginations just the spark they need, to totally take off and entertain themselves for large chunks of time.

So just in case you're curious, I will tell you how our "summer adventures" work:

1.  Every week has a "theme."

2.  Every week we do a few activities that coordinate with the theme:
-go on a FIELDTRIP
-a MOVIE MATINEE
-KIDS CLUB class by ashlyn OR teach me mommy class by me
-an IDEA JAR that's full of slips of paper with ideas of things to do

So for example, this week's theme is "Farm Animals."  For our FIELDTRIP, we headed over to Wheeler Farm with our good friends, saw and smelled the animals (I think I really could like living on a farm, if only the animals didn't poop.. they're just so stinky), played in the stream and had a picnic lunch.

Thursday our MOVIE MATINEE will be Babe (i have yet to see this movie all the way through, but i know it's about a pig.  that saves the sheep?)  Another idea would be Charlotte's Web.  Popcorn, treats, pillows and blankets will all be present.

Friday, Ashlyn will do a little KIDS CLUB on farm animals.  She loves planning out little classes and activities, treats, etc.  Strange, how she totally reminds me of someone.

In the IDEA JAR (the kids come up with most of the ideas and stick them in the jar at the beginning of the week), there are things like make animal puppets, pretend our bikes are tractors, etc.  Sometimes "idea jar" is one of the activities in our daily workshop.  Or sometimes they just go choose a paper.  I'm actually surprised by how much they like this little jar of ideas. 

All in all, I think it's a keeper.  They are really liking it.  Even more than I thought they would.  I'll share our weekly themes tomorrow since this is getting a little long..

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