Phineas and Ferb have the right idea. . .fill every day available of summer vacation with something fun and exciting. Of course, since that's a cartoon, and we live int he real-world. . .it's a little more difficult. But I do like to start off summer with a plan. . .
Last year, we made a summer manifesto of things we wanted to do throughout the summer. It worked out pretty well. This year, I changed it up and made a summer calendar.
I used some poster-sized paper and sharpies, sketched out the days from the Last Day of School to the First Day of School in the fall. I put Saturday and Sunday to the far right of my calendar, so any weekend trips could be marked together.
Both boys are heading to ESF Summer Camps for 7 weeks this summer, so I marked that on the calendar. Holidays and known events are marked as well.
Now the fun part. . .filling in the empty squares. I left space at the end for Summer Fun Ideas. I asked the boys what they wanted to do this summer. A few things came up quickly, "visit the Art Museum", "go tot he Aquarium". So I put them on our list and we are working to put them onto empty squares.
It's not all fun and games around here. . .there are rooms to clean, summer homework packets and reading assignments to complete, and book shelves and toys to sort through. . .but for now, I'm concentrating on the fun stuff.
Our Summer Fun Calendar hangs in our dining room, where everyone can see it, we can update it, and keep track of plans we're making. I'm almost as excited to see how this works, as I am for summer vacation to get started this year.
We still have lots of fun things to add to our calendar, what's on your plan for summer? If you post about your plans, let me know so I can Pin it up on my Summer Fun Pin Board!
catch you soon -
Awesome plan! We are starting the summer off this year with a bang... A trip to Colorado! After that, time to plan the rest of the summer:)
ReplyDeleteI haven't been to Colorado in YEARS an really want to go back - have fun!
DeleteHillary
We need to do this too. For the first time, my boys will not be in daycare/day programs for 2 months in the summer. They will be a once/week karate camp but aside from that, we have to come up with a plan. This is great!
ReplyDeleteThank you Linda. . .I must confess, as with many great ideas. . .it is currently working better in theory . . .but I have hope! =)
DeleteHillary
I made a daily schedule but I also like this idea. This would be a great visual for Ethan and let him know what is going on each day.
ReplyDeleteMy kids are visual - and as things pop up - I can throw them on there. I love your daily schedule btw - the days we are home are a little haphazzard.
DeleteHillary
I have so much on my calendar, I doubt I'll get to it, lol! We are asking for sent-home work, but one of my big goals is to start growing lettuce in water (hydroponics) and get the girls involved. It'd be a great summer activity, unlike planting which I am TERRIBLE at!
ReplyDeleteThat sounds TOTALLY cool and you will have to keep me posted! Here's what I'm learning. . .don't overthink - just do.
DeleteHillary
Wow, you are really organized. I tend to just wing it, but maybe as my daughter gets older we'll implement some of these ideas.
ReplyDeleteEstelle
I try to balance the OCD with winging it - but winging makes me nervous. . .LOL - but I totally admire it in other people.
DeleteHillary
great idea! Love the pinterest board too. It's a good idea to make a calendar otherwise I get stuck doing the same thing everyday.
ReplyDeleteMe too Alison - the visual helps make things happen. . .four blank days need something filled in.
DeleteI just made one of these too! Need to share... although yours is much prettier! :)
ReplyDeleteYeah Carrie!!!
DeleteHillary
If there is anyone who can make a plan, it is YOU!! We keep a two month wipeboard in our laundry room with all of the activities. It's not quiet as good as yours but it works!
ReplyDeleteWe are going camp-less this summer--which is a bit scary actually. Our plan is swim team each morning followed by three days of week of mother daughter writing workshop and two days of problem solving for 30 min each day....oh and then I am giving my daughter independent projects she needs to complete each week. I am such a fun mom :)
ReplyDeleteGreat idea! Plus, you can see what you should be looking forward to!
ReplyDeleteI love summer, we have so many fun things planned!
ReplyDeleteThat's really a fantastic idea. It's too easy to just sort of wile away the summer, and pretty soon it's fall and you have nothing fun to show for it!
ReplyDeleteOur summer will be over before we know it. Gabe just got out and first day of school this year is August 5. We have a few things planned but I need to make a calendar.
ReplyDelete