Kids are about to get out of school and I’m trying to furiously create games and a schedule for them this summer while they are home. Not everyone can afford or even want to spend that amount on child care for the summer. So I’m attempting to create a schedule they can adhere to daily that won’t involve me hovering over them all day.
I have a creative activity, like drawing with acrylic paint pens. Just the medium is open to them, the choice they can make and feel their creative freedom isn’t being limited. I provide the tools and general location (back yard, kitchen floor) and let them loose. A favorite of ours, if you don’t have one already is the Crayola spray airbrush. Any additional ideas they come up with they need me for or more supplies they will come find me.
Reading or picture books, puzzles for free time. I will read to them usually and point out words so that the kids can learn by sight. My daughter learned this way and picked up reading before 3. My son’s absolute favorite is Circle Rolls, its simple and short so it shouldn’t put you to sleep.
Then we do worksheets, there are a ton of free resources for all kinds of subjects. I like Mandarin and English worksheets for practicing writing. This can sometimes be like pulling teeth but after they do a sheet, I’ll have them go circle their best one in their opinion and they themselves choose to copy that character again.
Math and problem solving to prepare them for the next year. We use khan academy for my son (4) but are moving onto Beast Academy by Aops because my daughter(7) loves comics and manga. Pictures basically, who doesn’t? Aops has schools around and at some tutoring centers, also online courses if nothing in your area.
Musical instruments for them to fiddle with. Nothing too expensive, kids can and will break anything. But if you want to invest in quality I recommend Loog for guitar/ukulele, its very cute. A keyboard with some music or beats pre-programed or steel drum. Borrow if you can, I borrowed an electric piano. Some local libraries have instruments to borrow!
Have them help plan meals for the week, ask what they like from a curated list that you know you can make or are willing to feed them. We also watch The Tiny Chef to get ideas and in the mood. To keep things simple I always have things I know they like. Personal pizzas, hamburgers, steak, spaghetti. Then I tell them the ingredients and we go look for the ingredients and if we don’t have it, we write it down on our list. If your kids like grocery shopping with you then let them help you shop. If they don’t then just order ahead if that’s available. Then of course we prep our meals together and they learn how to cook too.
When I get a schedule worked out, Ill share here.
~L