100 Summer Ideas - Part Six: Do Unto Others

Last but not least, this final group of ideas is about reaching out and serving those around of us. We live in a world where it is easy and acceptable to feed our selfish desires and do what is "fun" and "relaxing" yet we serve a mighty God who gave everything for us. How can we do any less?
I challenge you to make a point this summer of reaching out to someone in need around you, either using one of these ideas or your own.
I guarantee the life you change most will be your own!

1. Give someone a bouquet of homegrown flowers.
2. Take someone vegetables from your garden.
3. Mow a neighbour’s lawn or weed their garden for free.
4. Watch someone’s little ones (at your house or theirs) so their mom can have some free time.
5. Pack a give-away bag to keep in your car to share with homeless people you pass (pack easy open food such as cheese and crackers, ravioli with pop-top lids, canned fruit, granola bars, juice boxes, etc. Be sure to include plastic utensils and a napkin. If you wish and can afford it you may throw in “extras” such as bus tickets, phone card, letter-writing kit (stamped envelope, paper and pen).
6. Make a card for someone.
7. Walk dogs at the local animal shelter.
8. Drop off dinner or muffins to someone who is ill/grieving/has a new baby.
9. Clean out your toys and games and drop them off at a charity.
10. Take your outgrown clothes to a thrift shop.
11. Volunteer with a community group.

Here is the birthday cake Tanner and Amanda made for a friend of ours who has no family:

100 Summer Ideas - Part Five: Create and Explore

The next group of ideas would be what I dub the "messy" section. These ideas are not good ones for days when you as a parent are feeling stretched and need a calm house. On the other hand they are great ones for getting your kids' imaginations flowing and for helping them forge and create new ideas.

1. Draw something.
2. Ask someone to teach you a craft they know.
3. Share a craft you know with someone else.
4. Build a birdhouse.
5. Build a structure out of cardboard boxes.
6. Start making Christmas cards.
7. Build your own catapult. Test it outside.
8. Build something with rolled up newspapers.
9. Make a rain gauge. (good one if the rain is spoiling the other ideas! LOL)
10. Float vs. Sink - fill a tub with water and check to see what various objects do
11. Build your own volcano, then explode it.
12. Make gloop. (mix equal parts cornstarch and water)
13. Use magnets to test objects around your home.
14. Paint a picture.
15. Try a new recipe.
16. Make bark rubbings.
17. Make a terrarium.
18. Paint rock people.

100 Summer Ideas - Part Four: On Your Own

This next group of activities is a list of things your kids can do on their own. These ideas are great for when you need some peace and quiet, or for times when they are overwhelmed by the busyness of having everyone home and just need some down time. These ideas are also great if you have one of those kids who think they need to be plugged in all day or they will be bored (not that I know any kids like that!) LOL

1. Birdwatch.
2. Write a letter.
3. Keep a journal.
4. Start a new hobby.
5. Memorize a Bible verse.
6. Memorize the books of the Bible (in order)!
7. Create a stop action movie.
8. Read a book.
9. Start a collection.
10. Fly a paper airplane.
11. Build a fort.
12. Write a poem.
13. Freeze a bunch of ice and play with it in the bath tub. Better yet, freeze small toys in it! (No, you don’t need to climb in with it!)
14. Write a story.
15. Sit in the back yard and do nothing.
16. Make a scrapbook.
17. Listen to music.
18. Build a Lego creation.

100 Summer Ideas - Part Three: Family Time

The next group of ideas includes good ones for your family to do together as a whole group.
Some of these ideas include so-called "work" but the achievement at the end of the day is well-worth the effort!

1. Play a board game.
2. Make dinner with a theme - use another country or period in history.
3. Make your own movie.
4. Put on your own play or puppet show.
5. Celebrate Christmas in July. Make simple decorations such as paper chains and snowflakes.
6. Can fruit.
7. Make jam.
8. Clean out the messiest room in the house. Better yet, do one a week and your house should sparkle by fall!
9. Create a rainy-day obstacle course.
10. Host a neighbourhood BBQ or block party.
11. Hold your own karaoke contest.
12. Play charades.

This spring Michael's mom came to visit and see our new place, and spent her time helping him unpack and organize the garage, which was definitely the messiest room. Thanks Mom!

100 Summer Ideas - Part Two: Fun in the Sun

The next group is outside ideas to try at home.
My kids were already testing the list out today. They held a lemonade stand and made $7. Not bad for a cul-de-sac!

1. Run through the sprinkler.
2. Play in a wading pool.
3. Have a water gun fight.
4. Have a sponge fight.
5. Paint the sidewalk with water.
6. Host a lemonade stand.
7. Have a water relay (using a sponge, a spoon or anything to move the water from one container to the next) - best with a group!
8. Make your own slip and slide.
9. Have a spray bottle fight.
10. Wash the car.
11. Play road hockey.
12. Play badminton.
13. Build your own miniature golf course.
14. Play basketball.
15. Play Frisbee golf.
16. Host your own mini-Olympics.
17. Have a scavenger hunt.
18. Paint rocks.
19. Create a masterpiece with sidewalk chalk.
20. Hold a backyard campout.
21. Plant your own garden.

Have fun enjoying the sunshine, and don't forget the sunscreen!

100 Summer Ideas To Do - Part One: Out and About

Summer is rapidly approaching, as I am sure everyone is aware!
I am notorious for having lots of ideas and never doing most of them so this year I am taking a different approach.

I am making lists on different themes and each family member will choose one idea from each list. That way we will have done a variety of activities and everyone will get a say in what we do. I have subdivided the lists into sections, that way it is easy to tell what are full day outings, and which ones the kids can do on their own when they are driving you batty!

Over the next week my plan is to share my ideas with you. Hopefully they will inspire you to try some yourself. I would also love to hear your plans and ideas for making summer memories.

Part One - Out and About
Quite simply, this section of the list is everything that requires us to leave home. Pretty broad definition, eh? LOL

1. Go to the beach.
2. Take swim lessons.
3. Hit the ocean at low tide and explore the intertidal zone.
4. Got wheels? Go for a bike, trike, or roller skate.
5. Rent or borrow a sailboat, canoe or paddleboat.
6. Go to the water slides.
7. Go to the spray park.
8. Swim in an outdoor pool.
9. Visit a new park.
10. Go for a hike.
11. Play tennis.
12. Play golf or hit balls at a driving range.
13. Go for a picnic.
14. Walk a dike.
15. Go fishing.
16. Play tourist in your hometown.
17. Go camping.
18. Pick your own berries.
19. Play a game of softball.
20. Check out a museum or art gallery.

Encouraging Right Behaviour

One of the ongoing challenges in our home and lives is how to encourage and reward right behaviour instead of just disciplining inappropriate behaviour. Ultimately we came up with a goal sheet as a way to refocus our home and help improve the general atmosphere.

We found the most important thing was to create a system that was easy to use and with a reward that the kids really wanted. For us that was computer time. Each day the kids have 6 checks they can earn, each worth 5 minutes of computer time. If they have a perfect day they earn a bonus checkmark. Also, bonus checkmarks can be earned sparingly for exceptional behaviour (and by sparingly I mean about 1 week). Any day a child earns less than 4 checkmarks they earn 0 minutes of computer time for the day as they have not met the minimal standard. The minutes earned one week become the free computer time (as opposed to computer time for school work) the next week. We have found it to be a simple and effective system that helps to encourage right living and reduces the begging for computer at the same time.

Over time the goals we use have changed, with a mixture of home and behaviour goals. The current chart represents our focus on attitude and respect, and that home and school completion are more expectations than goals.

A couple people have asked me for my chart lately so I thought I would share it with you here.

Having said that, I have found it has not been very helpful with my seven year old. It is too overwhelming for her, and she gets discouraged. Instead I have given her a blank chart and one goal - obedience the first time she is asked. When she obeys right away, including completing the task (she is highly distractible) she earns a checkmark or smiley face, depending what she feels like putting on. Once her chart is full, she will redeem it for a prize from my prize box... you know, the one I need to start by the time she finishes her chart! LOL