As you all know, I changed up the themes for the rest of the year ( until May 17th being the last school day of our year) and then have a break in between (summer vacation) and then Start Summer Camp at HOME the following week on the 31st.
Most of the kids who are attending public school right now, are about to return to IN PERSON learning after Spring Break. Then they will continue school until JUNE 6th. Normally the last day of school is at the end of May for us in ARIZONA, and for places like CALIFORNIA they end at the end of June. We start school at the end of JULY and they start at the end of AUGUST or beginning of SEPTEMBER.
So what does one do during the summer months to help their kids be successful and not forget what they have learned.
THIS CAN BE FOR ALL AGES.
When I worked for the local school district for 8 years, and worked for a Charter school 5 years before that. I have 16 years of work experience working with Children. So I have lots and lots of Summer Camp experience also.
Summer Camps in comparison, were always so different from each other.
Not just the themes, but how they created them, and how they evolved over time. How they were better or worse, based on the person who planned them. Trust me, some were just down right boring.
Some summers were the most amazing of my life. Middle Schoolers have more fun than preschoolers. lol.
So how can I make this Summer At Home the best they will have until school starts, and maybe next summer they can join the local school camps.
Usually during the summer months since my babies were born, we have had a lot of Water Days at my parents house. Reminder: I live in apt, so no back yard.
It wasn’t until two summers ago that my kids went through Swimming Boot Camp through a private residence. My daughter loves swimming, my son, knows how to save his life, but refuses to get into any pool at this point unless he can stand and he has his floaty on still. So with this summer. I am going to plan a little bit of the same itinerary, but with more advanced swimming activities for my kiddos. We only have access to two pools, my apt complex pool and the local pool that we use with their Grandparents community center permission.
As far as Themes go for this summer. I am going to be using the following!!!!!
May 31sts: FUN IN THE SUN
June 7th: Lets Go to the Movies
June 14th: Father Day Super Hero Theme
June 21st: Under the Sea
June 28th:America’s Birthday
July 5th: Star Wars and Space: My reason for this theme this week, is cuz my little baby Nephew will be born this week sometime and his nursery theme is Star Wars. Cannot wait. I thought it would be fun to include the kids in on the star wars fun.
July 12: Mythical Creatures
July 19th: Rock and Roll ( with Diner pretend play)
JULY 26th: FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL- LAST DAY OF SUMMER PARTY
As far as our weekly schedule is concerned. It might change up a bit depending on everyone’s schedules. Before Covid we had water days with our family and friends. Last summer we tried our best to do the same. I had themes for my kiddos to have fun with and water days at my parents. They missed our family and friends coming to play. This summer should be different. With everyone more knowledgeable about what this all means and more of our older family and friends getting the vaccine.
Mondays: Will be Summer Camp Lesson and Play Day: We will learn our lessons and keep up with our summer learning and play.
Tuesdays: Out and About Day: Most likely Hiking, Walking, Parks, etc. If it is cool enough. If it is too hot, well do something else.
Wednesdays: Field Trip Day: If we can, and are able, do something for the day that has to do with the theme. Or maybe just going on adventures to other places within a 30min to 2 hour drive to go see. I am still thinking of where. Cuz I dont always dont want to spend money on these.
Thursdays: An open days. I have been wanting to find something else to do other than just go over to my parents house or my in laws to find water days or have fun. So this day I am not sure yet.
Fridays: Always Water Days at my Parents. We blow up the water slide, put out the slip n slide, do water balloons ( this might change cuz we have a puppy now) and we just play in the water most of the day.
So lets see what the summer brings.
The TAWL Mom 