OK, it's not as bad as you think.
I let my girls watch a movie.
We were at a friend's house yesterday for Father's Day. Most of the day was spent with family: church, hanging out at the pool, and a very casual, kid-friendly dinner at my friend's house. The kids were worn out from hours of playing, but the grown-ups weren't quite ready to call it a night.
So we turned on a movie. And I don't feel guilty at all.
It's been close to a month since the TV has taken center stage in our home (and our life in some ways). Like many things, moderation is the key, right? The movie was entertaining for the kids and the grown-ups (I confess, we watched a good part of it with the kids). The funny thing was, my 3-year-old had little interest in the movie and instead chose to keep playing with toys in another part of the room for quite a bit of it (when she wasn't curled up in my lap).
Am I planning to relax my rules about the TV at home? Not likely. The atmosphere in our home is different, and I like it that way. Will we watch an occasional show or movie as a family? Yes, at some point. I hesitate to plan on anything too "regular" at this point. I don't want my family to start structuring plans around whether or not it's "movie night" or something like that. I'm enjoying investing my time into people - real people with real stories and real friendship to offer. Both kids are old enough that we can go to the pool as a family. And we will probably hit the theater some time in the next couple of weeks to see our first movie as a whole family. That's what I want my kids to remember. Time as a family.
I wanted to create some memories for my children this summer. And I think my husband and I are well on our way to doing that.
Showing posts with label summer activities. Show all posts
Showing posts with label summer activities. Show all posts
Monday, June 20, 2011
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Our Summer is Getting Busy!
I don't even know how we have time for TV right now. Vacation Bible school, day camps, trips with friends to the zoo and local kid-friendly attractions, and a couple of weekends out of town -- and our schedule is filling quickly! Add to that stacks of books from the library (and discount table at the bookstore), and boredom isn't something I hear about over here.
I really didn't think it would be this easy to keep the kids busy without television. Shame on me.
In fact, the kids seldom even ask to turn the TV on anymore. They are finding amusement in books, playing with toys, finding craft items that I stored away for rainy days (or excessively hot days like we've been experiencing), and finding new uses for old toys. I should have taken a picture the other day when they were making some of those shrinking things that you color and bake. Their little noses were all but pressed against the window of the oven, watching their artistic creations warm up, curl, then flatten out to something about 1/4 its original size. Yesterday they asked to play under the sprinkler in the back yard. I had to be at a meeting and told the sitter it would be fine if they did that. I'm not sure how long they were out there, but there was still mud and standing water in a couple of places in my back yard this morning when I went outside to water the garden. They obviously had fun.
For the first summer I can remember, I'm not worried about my daughter retaining what she learned during the school year. She is reading (avidly!), and we enrolled her in a summer math program. In the past, I would print off some math worksheets that I found on the internet with the expectation that she would have to complete "X" worksheets each day, along with reading for a specific period of time. It was little more than a constant struggle, leaving us both frustrated. Now, she loves her math program. Because she isn't reading just so that she can catch the next TV show, her retention of what she's just read has improved significantly.
Needless to say, the TV may play a much less significant role in our family well beyond the summer months. Do I miss some of my favorite shows? Yes, I do. I also feel a little guilty when I think about the emotional energy I invested in fictional characters. It's my personal feeling that maybe I should be investing that time in my family and the *real* people in my life.
I really didn't think it would be this easy to keep the kids busy without television. Shame on me.
In fact, the kids seldom even ask to turn the TV on anymore. They are finding amusement in books, playing with toys, finding craft items that I stored away for rainy days (or excessively hot days like we've been experiencing), and finding new uses for old toys. I should have taken a picture the other day when they were making some of those shrinking things that you color and bake. Their little noses were all but pressed against the window of the oven, watching their artistic creations warm up, curl, then flatten out to something about 1/4 its original size. Yesterday they asked to play under the sprinkler in the back yard. I had to be at a meeting and told the sitter it would be fine if they did that. I'm not sure how long they were out there, but there was still mud and standing water in a couple of places in my back yard this morning when I went outside to water the garden. They obviously had fun.
For the first summer I can remember, I'm not worried about my daughter retaining what she learned during the school year. She is reading (avidly!), and we enrolled her in a summer math program. In the past, I would print off some math worksheets that I found on the internet with the expectation that she would have to complete "X" worksheets each day, along with reading for a specific period of time. It was little more than a constant struggle, leaving us both frustrated. Now, she loves her math program. Because she isn't reading just so that she can catch the next TV show, her retention of what she's just read has improved significantly.
Needless to say, the TV may play a much less significant role in our family well beyond the summer months. Do I miss some of my favorite shows? Yes, I do. I also feel a little guilty when I think about the emotional energy I invested in fictional characters. It's my personal feeling that maybe I should be investing that time in my family and the *real* people in my life.
Friday, June 3, 2011
Coming to the End of an Unscheduled Week...
And I'm realizing that "unscheduled" isn't in the best interests of my sanity.
Our "unplugged" summer is a mini social experiment, and there were bound to be discoveries along the way. I deliberately didn't plan anything this week and didn't schedule a sitter. Not one of my brighter decisions, but the week got to me faster than I realized. Consequently, I have two (very) bored kids who are taking it out on each other (a little) and engaging in selective hearing with me. Somehow, they can plainly hear the word "cookies," but "please clean your room" seems to be translated into an unknown tongue.
At my 9-year-old's suggestion, Fridays will probably be designated as "Pizza Fridays." I like it because it gives me a little break. In future weeks, I'll probably use this as a reward, but this week I'm too spent with trying to keep my kids amused to even think about anything remotely healthy for dinner. I, for one, would easily settle for a chocolate sundae, and probably some other foods that would put me into a coma in about 20 minutes. Not in anyone's best interests, I assure you. So today it will be carry-out pizza from the health food store (they have a $5 discount on Friday evenings, so I'm happy about that, too). I'll add a tossed salad and may sneak in some chocolate after they go to bed.
Next week we have 1/2 day camp every day. I think that will help everyone tremendously. After that is another "unscheduled" week -- so far. I think I'll call a couple of other mommies and schedule a trip to the zoo or another local kid-friendly attraction on a couple of days. It will break up the monotony of the days and give us a chance to create summer memories. We will sprinkle in a couple of trips to the library, add in some regular pool time, and everyone should be on a more even keel.
Now, it's time for our walk and a trip to the park. After that, we will probably plant the impatiens that we bought the other day. That should give us enough time for a short rest before we get our pizza.
Have a fantastic (and unplugged!) weekend!
Barb
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Our "unplugged" summer is a mini social experiment, and there were bound to be discoveries along the way. I deliberately didn't plan anything this week and didn't schedule a sitter. Not one of my brighter decisions, but the week got to me faster than I realized. Consequently, I have two (very) bored kids who are taking it out on each other (a little) and engaging in selective hearing with me. Somehow, they can plainly hear the word "cookies," but "please clean your room" seems to be translated into an unknown tongue.
At my 9-year-old's suggestion, Fridays will probably be designated as "Pizza Fridays." I like it because it gives me a little break. In future weeks, I'll probably use this as a reward, but this week I'm too spent with trying to keep my kids amused to even think about anything remotely healthy for dinner. I, for one, would easily settle for a chocolate sundae, and probably some other foods that would put me into a coma in about 20 minutes. Not in anyone's best interests, I assure you. So today it will be carry-out pizza from the health food store (they have a $5 discount on Friday evenings, so I'm happy about that, too). I'll add a tossed salad and may sneak in some chocolate after they go to bed.
Next week we have 1/2 day camp every day. I think that will help everyone tremendously. After that is another "unscheduled" week -- so far. I think I'll call a couple of other mommies and schedule a trip to the zoo or another local kid-friendly attraction on a couple of days. It will break up the monotony of the days and give us a chance to create summer memories. We will sprinkle in a couple of trips to the library, add in some regular pool time, and everyone should be on a more even keel.
Now, it's time for our walk and a trip to the park. After that, we will probably plant the impatiens that we bought the other day. That should give us enough time for a short rest before we get our pizza.
Have a fantastic (and unplugged!) weekend!
Barb
Back to TheMomsResource
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Who's Getting the Consequences?
It's nice to know that life is a roller coaster ride at times, right? Well, at least that's how I'm looking at it. Yesterday was peaceful and had a great rhythm to it. Today - a few "off" notes. God makes His mercies new every morning, and I'm looking forward to a new morning.
I was counting it a victory in my mind that the kids didn't ask to turn the TV on when it was raining. Score one point for consistency. I woke up kind of grumpy and told my toddler that we needed to pray for mommy to be less grumpy. She obliged in the sweetest of voices with an innocent little prayer that can only come from a child who hasn't been tarnished by the world's woes yet. Made me feel better to hear her little voice asking "Jesus to bless my mommy." Ahhhh, such a sweet little child.
Until she sneaks away to the bathroom armed with a purple marker.
The toilet seat has a very creative scribble on it now. Or at least it did. Most of it is gone, but I'm thinking that my magic eraser might not have enough tricks in its hat to finish the job. I'll try again when the feeling comes back to my arm. Yep. Lots of scrubbing. It would take less time to go to the store, buy and install a new seat. But I'm fairly frugal and amazingly stubborn.
After a trip to time out (she did tell me that markers were for paper only, and that the potty wasn't paper), she looked up at me with her huge brown eyes and asked to go to the park. I told her we couldn't go because she made a sad choice with the marker. But that means that instead of fresh air and sunshine for my daily walk, I'll settle for half an hour on the exercise bike in the basement. Not quite the same. Maybe I'll make it up to myself with a little more time in the garden over the next couple of days.
The end result was that my toddler who is trying to outgrow her nap thought that a little snooze might be a good idea today. I agreed. At least I have some time to write while she sleeps (and my older daughter cleans her room - still!).
I'd rather be on the swings, listening to innocent laughter and the inevitable "Catch me, Mommy!" that initiates a game of Tag.
Maybe tomorrow we can try again.
Return to TheMomsResource
I was counting it a victory in my mind that the kids didn't ask to turn the TV on when it was raining. Score one point for consistency. I woke up kind of grumpy and told my toddler that we needed to pray for mommy to be less grumpy. She obliged in the sweetest of voices with an innocent little prayer that can only come from a child who hasn't been tarnished by the world's woes yet. Made me feel better to hear her little voice asking "Jesus to bless my mommy." Ahhhh, such a sweet little child.
Until she sneaks away to the bathroom armed with a purple marker.
The toilet seat has a very creative scribble on it now. Or at least it did. Most of it is gone, but I'm thinking that my magic eraser might not have enough tricks in its hat to finish the job. I'll try again when the feeling comes back to my arm. Yep. Lots of scrubbing. It would take less time to go to the store, buy and install a new seat. But I'm fairly frugal and amazingly stubborn.
After a trip to time out (she did tell me that markers were for paper only, and that the potty wasn't paper), she looked up at me with her huge brown eyes and asked to go to the park. I told her we couldn't go because she made a sad choice with the marker. But that means that instead of fresh air and sunshine for my daily walk, I'll settle for half an hour on the exercise bike in the basement. Not quite the same. Maybe I'll make it up to myself with a little more time in the garden over the next couple of days.
The end result was that my toddler who is trying to outgrow her nap thought that a little snooze might be a good idea today. I agreed. At least I have some time to write while she sleeps (and my older daughter cleans her room - still!).
I'd rather be on the swings, listening to innocent laughter and the inevitable "Catch me, Mommy!" that initiates a game of Tag.
Maybe tomorrow we can try again.
Return to TheMomsResource
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Keeping School Skills Through the Summer
I had an interesting conversation with a dear friend the other day. She has been a teacher for many years. While we were talking, she mentioned that the first couple of months of the school year are spent reviewing curriculum from the prior year because kids "lose it" over the summer. Wow. That fact really stuck with me. I have an elementary aged child, so I asked her what I could do to keep my child's skills up during the summer. This is some of what she told me:
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- Plan to read out loud for 30 minutes a day (I blogged about this tip from another teacher a couple of months ago). Either listen to your child read, or take turns reading. Either way, it will benefit them.
- Plan to review the math skills they acquired during the school year. This is also a good time to play "catch up" if your child is a little behind. If you aren't sure how to keep your child's math skills fresh, there are several online sites that provide printable worksheets. There are also workbooks that help your child prepare for the next grade. Check out books like this Summer Skills Daily Activity Workbook: Grade 2 (Flash Kids Summer Skills)
to give your work time some structure.
- Elementary kids can keep up their language and handwriting skills by keeping a journal or scrapbook. Have them spend a few minutes each day writing about their favorite activity. Aside from helping them maintain writing skills, it will be a wonderful memory when they are older!
- Establish a consistent time for activities. Read when younger kids are napping. Workbook or journal time are a great way to make sure that kids have some quiet time during the day. Scrapbooking is a handy activity for rainy days... just remember to stock up on some supplies ahead of time.
- Remember to make it FUN! Contact your local library branch about story times. Younger kids can enjoy the story while older kids look for a new book to bring home. Practice math skills by baking a batch of cookies from scratch.
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