In June we did 4 weeks of swim lessons everyday and a class at the community center twice a week among other things. Summer was fun. The kids aren't signed up for any of those this month because we were going to be traveling and it wouldn't be worth the money to sign them up for this stuff when we would miss so much of it.
I was wrong.
The kids are driving me nutso! They are bored and they are driving me crazy to entertain themselves. I am trying to figure out what to do tomorrow to keep them entertained. Unfortunately the kids have both lost their TV and computer privileges (due to Hyrum's new "haircut" and our new permanent decorations on our recently painted walls among other things).
If it wasn't so hot I would send them outside to clean up the back yard. I learned that if I send them out to play they are back inside in 5 minutes. If I tell them they can't come in until the yard is cleaned up (3 minutes worth of picking up their toys) they will spend hours playing outside just to avoid cleaning up. Unfortunately it's so hot out I think that would constitute as torture. I was considering taking them to a museum but Alan hurt his foot the other day (Jumping into the pool he decided to do a "trick" and slammed his foot on the side of the pool), it's not broken or anything but I think being on his feet for a while would make him start limping again. So I am begging for ideas. What am I going to do with my kids.
3 comments:
Not like you haven't thought of any of these, but... we have movie theatres doing free movies during the summer, library, crafts (I've been meaning to do a bubble one with my kids... add food coloring to bubbles and blow them onto a piece of paper and they make colored bubbles - okay sounds dumb, but it looked cool in the book), write letters/draw pictures to missionary friends or g'parents, make cookies for friends/shut ins, teach them magic tricks, play go fish, slap jack, pick-up sticks, make stilts using cans and rope, dominoes, jacks, marbles, juggling, of course there is always inviting friends over, doing service, painting something (fence, toybox, something...), make up a play for when daddy gets home. The problem with these, it all takes time and energy on your part too. Good luck. I understand the summertime "boredom". I have a little schedule like: Monday - park, Tuesday - library, Wed. - movie, Thursday - big activity (beach, zoo, museum, etc), Friday - Farmers market. We try to be out of the house by 10 and home by lunch. You're a great mom and sometimes despite all we do, kids will be kids.
At Chepperall park in scottsdale tomarrow is Mighty mudd mania I'm thinking about going myself.
I'm going nutso too!
One word... PLAYDATES.
I invite their friends over to play. I usually get into a routine with a few of my friends. I'll have Bryce's friend over and send Brian off to a friend's one day. The next day I'll have the friend of Brian's over that he played with and send Bryce to that friends house. Sometimes, if you can't find a playmate for both, one friend will entertain all three.
I also tell my kids I will plan 3 days during the week of things to entertain them but they have to think of things the other days.
IE; one day we'll go to the beach, one day to a museum, another day I plan a water day with water balloon fight(yes, I have become very adept at blowing up 50 balloons at a time), with water guns, slip & slide etc. with them or a few of their friends.
The big stuff, , nikel-nikel, movies, they have to earn and I throw in about 2 a month cuz that's all we can afford.
The summer reading program at the library is big on my list. I like to keep my kids reading all summer. Plus, I remember doing it as a kid. I give my kids extra incentives if they finish the program.
When they were little I would do crafts (I've kind of gotten out of that habit but they'd love it). You can find all kinds of ideas online. My friend just sent me a bunch, so I'll e-mail it to you if I kept it. I would do that just one day a week.
But the key, for me, is consistancy. Have something they can count on like at school time. we do our chores and have game/t.v. time until about lunch and then we gear up for our activities in the afternoon. They can count on the library on Mondays, the beach on Wednesday, and a mystery day on Thursday (where it's something different).
But I always try to get together with friends. It makes it more bearable for them and me.
Hope that's helpful. I know you don't have the beach but you can find other things around you to substitute.
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