Summer Learning ~ Let them make messes

At the beginning of the summer, I had made plans for us to do some school work throughout the month of June.  However, we have not followed that plan at all!  I have kept it no secret that I have been burned out over this past school year and when summer rolled around, I just felt it best to put the schoolbooks away for a while and let my kids be kids.  And I’m quite enjoying this little break from the schedule and routine…and I’ve even been thanked by a child who I believe was feeling some of my burn out too.

It is still my desire that my children have things to do this summer besides sit in front of the TV or play video games all day long.  So I have tried to be prepared with fun activities and to be open to messes. 

That’s right…I said messes.  I do not particularly care for messes but kids make them.  They are unavoidable with the younger crowd.  I’ve found that most messes are easily cleaned except those concerning permanent markers and that’s why markers are kept on the highest shelf in the house! 

Since those messes are so easily cleaned especially if done outside, we just head out with the paint where there are water hoses and a pool to clean the messes off of little hands and feet.  And since grass is easily cleaned too ;), well, the messes aren’t so intimidating for the main person in charge of clean up!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sometimes our creative messes activities just involve paint and paper.  However, at the beginning of the summer, I went to Michael’s craft store and bought many craft projects from the dollar section.  I keep them in a box on the school shelves and the kids have had a lot of fun with them.

 The Michael’s craft store in our city (and I’m assuming in most other cities too) has a large area of children’s activities that are usually just a few dollars each.  In addition, most of the time that I am at Michael’s I find that they have discounted many other things too.  It is a great place to go to find fun activities that are affordable.

 My kids especially love the little wood kits where you have to construct the model and paint it.  I think they have quite possibly made everyone of the kits available and they ask for more.

Even though this may not look much like “learning”, it has been fun and kept them from being glued to a TV all summer.   I have not heard the words, “I’m bored” even once this summer.  Of course, I do need more shelves now to display all of the new creations because everyone wants to display their finished projects.  :)

 

~PS~ I’ve been thinking for a few weeks now about making some blog changes. 

One change is that my boys have asked for a blog.  I see that as a good learning opportunity so they will be starting that blog soon.  I am unsure as to whether the blog will be private or public.  Their safety is my priority and we may decide to keep it private.  Only those with access will be able to read it.  The only problem with that is I’m not sure if those without a blogger account will be able to read it and that would exclude the boys’ grandparents.  All of that to say, if it possible, I will keep it private so please let me know if you’d like to read it and I’ll give you access if I am familiar with you in real life or via your blog.  BUT if we have to, it will be public and this paragraph will have been pointless!  ;)

The second change besides the decluttering that I want to do around here, will seem like such a contradiction to things I have previously said.  That is because it is. :)   I am thinking about starting a homeschool blog for my homeschool posts.  Now, I realize that I said that I wouldn’t do that AND I just closed my weight loss blog due to inability to maintain two blogs.  But I really feel the need to start a homeschool blog.  There are reasons why and if I completely make up my mind on that one, I will address that then.  Right now, it is just a thought in my mind! 

I think that I might possibly be all caught up on that now!  :)   Have a fun summer day!