Spelling

So are we getting tired already of doing spelling every night with our kids? Change it up and go to this website and let them do a word search. Totally easy and very fun.

www.puzzlemaker.com

ksl.com - Read with kids during summer break, expert advises

I read this article on KSL.com and was very impressed. As I talk to Moms this Summer, I am so surprised that some just don't care about Summer Learning for their kids. I really liked this article and the fun ideas they put in.

ksl.com - Read with kids during summer break, expert advises

To take it one step further: They mentioned Utah history, why not go to some of the great Utah history sites. In fifth grade they do US history. Why not go to another state and save pamphlets and info from your state. Such a great idea. I have always loved the cooking and reading with kids. Anyway I hope you like it as well.

Swimming Lessons

Private vs. Public

So every Summer we do Swimming Lessons and I have to decide where I should go. And after years of Swimming Lessons this is what I have come up with.

Private

Pro Private: Better Lessons, Longer swimming, More relaxed environment, Kids seem to get really one on one care.

Con Private: More expensive, You have to wait for each age group to have their lessons-which can be hours if you have lots of kids, Pool cleaning may or may not be up to code.

PUBLIC

Pro Public: Every age group goes at the same time, Trained teachers, lifeguards, pool cleaned and up to code, Cheaper

Con Public: Bigger groups, hectic, smaller area to swim, no individual time,

So I have learned that they are both good, and it really just depends on your schedule, and what you think you can and can't do. This year the thought of just hanging out at a pool for hours, just doesn't sound fun, so we went with public, but overall I think I like Private the best.

Hopefully this helps you decide what to do. And remember Swimming lessons are worth the time and money. Right now as I am writing this and watching the news, they have reported two almost drownings. Swimming Lessons are a must.

UGH!

I woke up this morning in a panic. School is ending in 1 day and 2 hours. I have done nothing to prepare myself for my kids to be home. Well I have bought their Summer school stuff, but that is it. So now I am motivating myself to get on the ball. Past Summer posts have showed lots of ideas of how I am going to organize the troops. Every year I try and change it up, to make it fun for the kids. So check out some of those ideas.

So this year we are doing the chore chart on the computer http://www.myjobchart.com/about_my_job_chart , I did not like this idea the first time I found this, but now that I moved my computer into a central location I really like this idea and my kids love it. It is easy to add rewards and add new jobs and teach the kids how to use a computer. We are also going to start a Summer Reading Chart. I got a poster board at a school supply store, it is pre-laminated with 300 squares on it. I also bought wet erase markers and wrote our Summer reading chart on the top. I also bought re-usuable stickers for it. Every book (or bigger kids so many pages, equals one square). When we get the poster board all filled up, we are going to go see the new movie, Cars 2.

Someone gave me an idea of putting treats, money, dollar toys, etc. in a jar and each day they get all their jobs done, they get to pick something out of the jar.

Anyway those are my new ideas for this Summer.

Art Corner Idea #1:

I have saved most of the creative art that I have done as a preschool teacher, or that my kids have done. I usually throw away anything that looks like a teacher instructed or that it is something that all the kids have exactly the same way. I think it is so important to train their little brains that their art is from their brain and it doesn't have to all be the same. So from an earlier post I talked about how I am scanning all my scrapbooks so that if there was a fire or flood, I would still have them. So I got to the first year I started teaching preschool, and I decided to start sharing the ideas I have used. I hope you enjoy them. I have enjoyed looking at all my projects I did with my kids. I am sure glad I kept them.

Today's idea is to let your children paint with Washable Paint and Feathers! It looks like this when done.

LeapFrog!

I love the LeapFrog learning dvd's and I also have people always recommending them to me. I went to their website today to buy one and saw a section for parents that are helps in teaching, divided up by ages. One activity was getting a U.S. Map and teaching states by collecting quarters. How fun is that? It also has lots of printables to go with the activities. Anyway that was an older activity, but there was lots of other activites for different ages.

www.leapfrog.com/en/leapfrog_parents/preschool.html

Science Fair Projects

So I figured out that all my kids will do a science fair project in elementary, and two in jr. high, and one in High school. So that means by the time I am done with raising my kids I will have helped with 20 science fair projects. CRAZY! Now the naughty person in me, wants to recycle the older kids projects to the younger ones. But I know that is wrong. So far we have done two. Weather Prediction, and What happens to fresh water plants when oil gets in the water. But sometimes I look to the future and think, what will we come up with next? So if you are in the same boat, here are a couple of websites I have found about science fair projects. I will put them on the right side under science, because I think all of us Mothers are going to need them eventually.

http://www.sciencebuddies.org/

http://www.all-science-fair-projects.com/

http://www.super-science-fair-projects.com/

www.terimore.com

www.sciencefairadventure.com

Shooting Stars!

Every year on the 12th it is shooting star night. We went out last night about 11 and saw lots. They go on the day before and the day after, so tonight you can still see them. Its best if you find a really dark spot to view them. Make sure you print off some star constellations, to look at while you wait.

Some of my views on Summer!

Schedules:

Studies have been made that show that schedules for ALL ages of children and teenagers are needed and benefit the child. Now I am not talking a rigid schedule that makes them crazy and you. But more a general schedule, or routine rather that gives them the security they naturally seek. now that I am a grown up, I have learned that you ALWAYS have to have a schedule. I personally get more depressed in the day, when I have no direction in my life..... and that is how children are as well. If you have a teenager and they sleep until noon, they will probably be more moody and feel unsuccessful in life. A general plan that they know is going to happen, will help them: have the proper amount of sleep, feel accomplished everyday when they complete what they need to do, It will help them when they are returning back to school-they will adjust faster, it will give them enough structure, that they feel happy and secure, and hopefully you won't hear so much, I Am Bored! It has been proven that children with behavior problems do better with a schedule.

Homework:

Talk to any teacher and they will tell you how much a child loses, educational wise, through the Summer. I can't tell you even this year, how many people are shocked that I make my kids do homework through the Summer. In the fall your child plays catch up for at lease two months. Last year EVEN WITH DOING SUMMER READING, my daughter went down two levels in her reading. I was so discouraged, until I thought about where she would have been if I hadn't done what I did.

Bored:

If you don't want to hear I am bored all Summer, take some time and plan things to do. Do something as a family daily. Go to the park, have a picnic by dads work, go on a family bike ride. Yesterday I spent the evening jumping on the tramp with my kids. It was great and they loved it. Also have activities, projects, etc. of things to do everyday that will make them happy and feel special. Sidewalk chalk, watercolors, a special movie, bubbles, jump ropes, play dough.

Work:

Make them do work. It is not going to hurt your child to learn to work. It will help them. In my doctors office it says that if you want a child that is successful, goes to college, has a good job, is married with a family, and overall is happy........ teach them to work. Does that mean they get to be your slave? No! But they can be expected to do jobs and learn from them. Just remember the jobs will not be done perfect. That is o.k., as they get older they will improve.

Family:

I have worked very hard to get the family that I have. And so my next thought is, spend time with your child. If all Summer long you are trying to be somewhere else, instead of at home with your kids, you are showing them that they are not important. Always eat dinner together (unless on a date of course), do activities together, take time to talk to them, vacation together, and always let them know that your priority is them. Likewise do not let your child be away from the home everyday, all day. They also need to learn to be a family and learn that you can work together and play together. Your child's best friends in life will not be a friend, but family. Take opportunities to grow closer as a family. In my family we are NOT perfect. We have lots of times when life seems to be falling apart. But I think one thing my husband and I have always done, is put the children first and our family first. Friends, cars, sports, running, shopping, etc. always are second to our children. If you show them, they will know by example what is important.

Well that is some thoughts I have been having today. I might add more later, but just remember that Summer is a great happy time. Enjoy it! A song by Trace Atkins is called You're going to miss this, really touches me. I know no matter how stressful life with little kids can be, I know I am going to miss it. Take sometime to google that song. For me it always makes me remember to be patient and loving.

Learning to count Money!!!

I have been such a big slacker! So sorry! Anyway I was thinking about what idea I wanted to share and I decided to share this.

I decided last week, that I wanted to teach my three little ones more about Money. I have a nine year old, seven year old, and a four year old. The nine year old is delayed and so she is just starting learning about money. So I came up with this idea.

I got jars and filled them with different candies. I then put prices on each of the jars. I have been using real money to encourage my kids to do things that they need to be doing. My nine year old has a real problem bringing her homework to and from school. My seven year old has a real problem with anger, and my four year old doesn't want to color or do any kind of preschool. So now they get money for this. They also get money for doing extra jobs, being kind to others, etc. Mondays and Fridays I open the store. They have to figure out the money (right now they require a lot of help with that) and then they get the candy, that they had enough money to buy.

Already I am finding that people are happier, my house is cleaner, we are being more responsible, and we are learning about money. And since they are really little candies, I don't feel bad about the amount of sugar they are getting.

This is how I set it up:

.10 two jelly bellies

.30 one gummy worm

.75 two gummy rings

1.00 Dum Dum

2.00 Mini Candy bar

3.00 Other little candies

Yes these are really high prices for things. I am very generous with the money as well, so it equals out. My goal is for them to be counting money, so by having it high, it makes them need to count more. Also my 12 year old does this also. You would think she would be mad, at how high the prices are. I have told her she can just put her money in savings if she doesn't like it. She does about 1/2 and 1/2.

Science Fun!

For all of you who love to do little science experiments with your kids, this is the website for you:

http://www.easy-kids-science-experiments.com/

It's for preschool ages all the way to high school! They are really good about giving good instructions on how to do each experiment. A lot of these experiments are perfect for outside fun!

Geocaching For Kids!

One Summer activity that has gotten really popular with families is Geo Caching. I found this website that answers questions about geocaching. It is pretty interesting. I think it would make a really fun birthday party. Anyway if you are interested in trying this, go to: http://www.geocachingkids.com/ and learn more about it.

Sun Painting!

Your child can do some art without using any dyes or paints. Early in the morning on a sunny day, have her arrange opaque objects, on a sheet of colored construction paper. Late in the afternoon, remove the objects to reveal a print.

The sun will have faded the exposed construction paper, but the paper that was beneath the objects will still be its original color – showing the shapes of the objects that were used for the artwork.

I thought this sounded really fun for kids, we are going to try it............Today!

Make Some Messy Fun!

Goo- Blek
1 cup of corn starch
1/4 to 1/3 cup of water bowl

Pour the corn starch into the bowl. Add the water on top. Mix well until a thin mixture occurs. Let it sit until it gets solid. Even though it appears to be solid, when you pick it up turns it to liquid!Very easy clean - up. Simply wipe with a damp cloth.

Kool Aid Finger Paint
2 cups flour
2 packs unsweetened Kool-aid
1/2 cup salt
3 cups boiling water
3T. oil

Mix the dry ingredients in a bowl. Add the wet ingredients and stir. You are ready to paint!The kids love the color change. Use Glossy finger paint paper and spray a bit of water on the paper first, to make spreading easier.TIP: Using primary colors will teach your little one color mixing science!

Goop
1 cup of liquid starch
1 cup of Elmer's glue
A few drops of food coloring

Mix together until it forms a ball. If it is sticky add a few drops of liquid starch. It will first become very stringy until you have mixed it well.

Chores!

I never make my kids do house chores during the school year. But in the Summer, all bets are off.

So I came up with this idea. I made lists of jobs that need to be done. So below you see Racing Red Jobs. It basically is a list of how to straighten each bathroom, and then gives them one kitchen job.

I have four kids so I have Red, Green, Blue, and Yellow, each with a catchy title to help them remember. When each of these jobs are done, it will basically take care of the general picking up of things. Then I can focus on deep cleaning. My Husband has a list and I also have a list. We also have a Pain in the Neck Purple list and that takes care of monthly jobs. Anyway I bordered each of these lists with the color that they are, so they look really fun and bright (for some reason it wouldn't do it for you). Every Monday we rotate jobs. This makes it so they get the repetition of doing something multiple times, but they also get to learn to do other tasks. For my three year old, I help him (Ex. When he is wiping a counter off, I am also wiping it off. We do it together).

I keep these sheets with their goals for the week, their homework charts, their jobs charts that help them (brush teeth, comb hair, get dressed), and all the rules that we have, in a great binder. The kids take turns looking at it, and it really seems to work well. Last year I put a ring around every one's so they each had their own little stack. It didn't work as well. This way is a lot better. Anyway if any of you are like me and just needed a little more organization, you might want to try this.

This Week of June!

5- First Hot Air Balloon Flight 1783
5- National Gingerbread Day
5- World Environment
5- National Attitude Day
6- Be-Bop-a-Lula Day
6- D-Day Anniversary
6- Drive-In Movie Theater Birthday
6- National Yo-Yo Day
6- Couple Appreciation Day
6- First Drive in Movie 1933
6- National Applesauce Cake Day
6- National Family Day
7- June Bug Day
7- Kim Possible Birthday
7- National Family Recreation Day
7- Native American Appreciation Day
7- VCR Birthday
7- National Chocolate Ice Cream Day
7- Richard Scarry DayDay
7- Freedom of the Press day
7- The Amazing Mumford's Birthday (Sesame Street)
8- Abused Women and Children Awareness Day
8- Ghostbusters Birthday (1983)
8- Gremlins Birthday (1983)
8- Ice Cream USA Birthday (first sold commercially in 1786 in New York City.)
8- Oceans Day
8- Stolen Car Day (The first stolen car was reported in 1896.)
8- Vacuum Cleaner Birthday 1869
8- Washing Machine Patent Day 1824
8- Shoo Fly Day
8- Lassie's Birthday
9- Donald Duck's Birthday 1934
9- Best Friends Day
9- National Strawberry Rhubarb Pie Day
9- Alcoholics Anonymous Birthday (1935)
10- Ballpoint Pen's Birthday
10- American Log Cabin Day
10- Public Zoo Birthday (First in the world opened in Paris, France in 1793.)
10- Tornado Birthday (First tornado ever recorded occurred near New Haven, Connecticut in 1682)
10- Where the Wild Things Are Day, Author Maurice Sendak birthday
10- Judy Garland's Birth Anniversary
11- National Hug Holiday

Intervention Time!

So I decided that my home is falling apart around me. I hear yelling, slamming doors, do I have to?, Crying, Why do I have to work?, Shut up, and I hate you, more than I care to.

I also see things being thrown through the air, things being spilled on purpose, the house being treated disrespectfully, hitting, slapping, and in general people being disrespectful to other people in the house, and even people being disrespectful to themselves. And let me say, we are normal. I believe I am not the only one dealing with these issues.

So I decided to have a Behavior Intervention! When is the best time for this? I am starting the day we are out of school. Which is...... tomorrow. And you know what? I am NOT going to fail! I am determined to teach my children manners and how to be respectful. (Not that I haven't been trying the whole time they have been alive, but this is different. We got a little lazy and I think it showing. Also we have been stressed out with my mom being sick, my husband losing his job, then he got a new job, and in general life. I think when you are stressed out you slack off on certain things).No More!

Where to start?

I started my journey with of course the Super Nanny. Well not her, but ideas on her website http://www.supernanny.com I guess I am too prideful, because I probably should be on the show but........... No Way! That website had some interesting things. I did really like the reward chart for age 3 to 5 year olds.

I really liked this article. It was stuff I already knew, or common stuff, but it is always nice to have a refresher!

http://lib.cpums.edu.cn/jiepou/tupu/atlas/www.vh.org/pediatric/patient/pediatrics/cqqa/behavior-discipline.html

I also found an interesting article called Taking Back Control of Your Family. My husband and I have a strong marriage, so I just quickly read through that part and then focused on the second part. I loved the second part. I think what she says makes sense. I liked her so much, I even went to her home page.

http://www.three-peaks.net/annette/Control.htm

I really suggest this lady. I really liked her. On her main page it address any topic you would need. I found even more information for my little intervention. I loved A Parent's Guide for Raising Children. As you can tell it has a little religion in it. I was so happy to find that she belongs to the same church I do. That makes it even easier.

http://www.annettenay.com

So I have decided to start with this plan:

1. I will have a fun activity planned for my children in the afternoon. They will get to participate only if their work was finished, homework was done, and if our rules have not been broken.

2. At the start I will give them so many mess ups of the rules. Ex. throwing things, I will start with 10 warnings. The next day 9 and so on. If the child does lower than I expected he will get something special in addition to the fun activity.

3. I will put my children on a schedule. I was told by my child's therapist, that any more than a week not on a schedule can mess kids up that have bad behaviors. It makes them feel out of control.

4. I already post our family rules on the wall in our kitchen, but I am not happy with them, so I will change them to fit our needs at this time.

5. I will focus on her stuff on a "Happy Family"

6. I will make sure that they are learning and are happy and loved!

7. I will do my best to not react to their bad behavior. I will make sure I don't get upset, I will just give out the consequence.

8. My husband and I will follow through and enforce the things we decide to do.

9. I will try to stay home while we are having this intervention. When results come about we will try to go fun places.

10. and as always we will pray for our family and try to be good examples.

Anyway this is what I am trying. If you have any ideas, feel free to put them in the comment section. I think as parents, every idea is a help to us. At the end of this Summer I hope I will not be pushing my kids out the door, but feeling sad that they are going back to school. That is the goal!

Summer Fun!

I found a new website that I really like. It is called Mrs. Bee's busy classroom. I found it accidentally, but I really liked what I saw. What I was looking at was the Camping Out Section. It was really a cool section. It has tons of camp crafts, outside crafts, recipes for camping, Camp Ice breakers, 5 minute filler games, Camping indoors, songs, safety, Mini survival kits, and book recommendations. Anyway you can go to her main site:

http://www.dcrafts.com/contents.htm

or if you want to see the specific Camping Out Section just click here.

http://www.dcrafts.com/camping.htm

I think I am going to make a things to do in Summer, and copy her crafts in the camping out section and put them in the jar. It seemed like so many fun ideas! Alot of it can also be used for Any age!

Website I like!

I use this website all the time, and thought you might also. I like the tracing feature it has. It allows you to type in whatever you want and have them trace it. Today my kids needed a refresher of their address and phone number. That phone number change of adding three more digits have really messed my kids up. Anyway it was easy and I know that this will help them with writing skills and with memorizing their personal info.

http://www.kidzone.ws/tracers/index.htm

This website at the bottom and the left side also has tons of fun school learning for all ages.

Fun! Fun! Fun! For Little Ones!

I went to this website listed below. It is also in my link section. I have been there before, but today I looked at two things I haven't before and thought I would share them. The first is listed right on top on the front page of the website below. It is activities to do with your little ones in May. They are pretty simple and it comes in calendar form, which makes it really easy to do.

http://www.preschoolexpress.com/

The second thing you have to click into. On that front page click on Learning Station on the left side. Then click on Learning with Nursery Rhymes. I thought it was really good information for all parents and teachers.

Have a Great Day!!!!