From the article: Everyday Summer Activities
When school lets out, kids sometimes think summer should be non-stop fun, but the reality is that most of us adults don't get the summer off. So we can't take them to museums, water parks or carnivals every day as a kid's summer fantasy might dictate.
Kids of work-at-home moms, in particular, must find fun summer activities to do at home. But that doesn't mean they can't have fun! What kind of summer activities do your kids do at home while you work? Share Your Ideas
Kids of work-at-home moms, in particular, must find fun summer activities to do at home. But that doesn't mean they can't have fun! What kind of summer activities do your kids do at home while you work? Share Your Ideas
For youngsters
- I'd suggest a coloring book (from the net maybe www.the-coloring-book.com or any other site) or buying an activity set like pottery, beads etc. This way they will develop their faculties and enjoy too.. just make sure they keep the house clean :).
- —Guest Oly
Weekly Themes
- Since my kids are little, I like to try and do a weekly theme. I find them coloring sheets, work sheets, craft projects, games, books, or whatever else that go along with the theme. Some of the activities keep them busy while I work, others we do together.
- —Guest Carey
Old Fashioned Fun
- We live in a suburban area, and my kids really enjoy getting out on their bikes or just running around in the sprinkler. The regular suburban neighborhood stuff. I love sitting under the carport on my porch swing with the laptop while I work. I can keep an eye on the kids while they tool around in the yard. It's these simple activities that they seem to enjoy the most, and even forget about the XBox for a while.
- —DiyRain
structured and unstructured time
- We try to create a balance of structured and unstructured activities. So we have a basic weekly schedule that the kids can hang their individual preferences on. Early morning they hang out at the local rec center so they have time with other kids. Then each day has a theme, and over the summer the kids build on the theme. Monday is art day and we do activities around that, and have "shows" in the "gallery" from time to time. The kids create movies on Thursdays that build over the summer. One day is devoted to creating a play, etc. Friday is field trip day. And in the afternoons we have several hours of open play with a setup pool which the kids adore. We have a trampoline and lots of natural area in which to play. We are also close to a river so the woods around it are great for exploring, as is wading along its safer edges. But I have to send them off for a few hours in the morning so I have time to bang out some work, uninterrupted.
- —peraltagal
Play outside!
- I shoo the kids outside as much as I can. In our backyard we have a playset with swings and climbers, plus all kinds of ride-on toys and a driveway area. Then there's sidewalk chalk, bubbles, etc. We picked up a used, kid-sized picnic table and the kids love to eat out there too. (I have a hard time working outside due to laptop glare though--anyone know how to remedy that?)
- —FamilyFitness
Summer activities at home
- Thank heavens for H2O! When mine were little, filling the wading pool in the backyard was good for hours of entertainment. Now that they're older, they head for the neighborhood pool.
- —parentingyoungadults
Variety
- I think variety is key. We usually do like a field trip Friday. If your chores are done and you follow the rules during the week, we all go out on Friday for those fun things. Some days I get centers set up for fun stations. It might be something lame like a Wii fit station, reading station (BYOB), make your own snack station, bubble machines at one, bikes, etc.
- —Guest MomofMany
finding a balance
- We're trying to find a balance between day-camps, overnight camps, and playing around the house. We have a creek near us, and the kids would live down there if we let them, we've also put up a couple of hammocks in the yard, and the whole neighborhood hangs out in those! We'll be making picnic lunches, snowcones & relaxing in the shade. I'm also looking for volunteer opportunities for my 11 & 13 year old, so that they're out doing activities that they can enjoy, but that don't cost money.
- —Guest Suzi
What we do...
- Let's see. We are lucky to have a ton of outside area to play (25 acres) so lots of time is spent building forts and lean-tos, foraging in the woods for flowers etc., and just tromping around. We got one of those Easy-Set pools a couple of years ago and that occupies a lot of time. I have to watch them, but I have a laptop and can watch them from my deck while I work. Ideal! I admit that I recruit help (my husband, who's a teacher) to watch the kids in the summer, though. It would be tough not to have another adult helping with that.
- —laurenware
