https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 17 May 2026 11:13:40 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/schools-out-activities#post-2744243 Tue, 06 Jun 2017 09:50:29 +0000 irene 2744243@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winter_wonder: Yes, our librarian gave us a sticker chart, and he has been reading to earn his stickers! When he got all the stickers we can take the chart back and get a pencil or something hahaha. I :heart: our library. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/schools-out-activities#post-2744240 Tue, 06 Jun 2017 09:48:29 +0000 winter_wonder 2744240@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@irene: Check to see if your library has a summer reading program! Ours has a packed schedule full of activities during the day. Depending on how your library is arranged, maybe you could also bring some work along to get done? Just a thought. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/schools-out-activities#post-2744235 Tue, 06 Jun 2017 09:44:05 +0000 irene 2744235@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: @erinbaderin: @gingerbebe: @tinyperson: @youboots: @looch: @lady baltimore: @yoursilverlining: @Kemma: @hellobeeboston: @DesertDreams88: </p> <p>Hey guys, I am so sorry for the delayed response -- the 1.5 weeks of no school / no camp is over, summer camp just started yesterday and I am just sitting down to catch my breath. </p> <p>Thank you so much for all your reply, I really appreciate it. You guys confirm that I am not the failing mom and that my belief was right, that kids need to play and thus there is such a thing called summer vacation. </p> <p>As for DH, I think he couldn't quite grasp the concept that it was only a week here and there that there is no camp, and he is now off my case (well I hope). We talked about it a bit more and no, I don't think he is looking for a rigid "time table" of what to do at a specific time, he wanted to make sure DS knows what to expect when there is no school every day. He doesn't want it to be completely unstructured so he goes to bed 11pm at night and wake up at noon. I think he was more fearful of us going that route, and we are not. I explained it to him that while we can not have a rigid "schedule" because life is fluid (eg. when it rains in the morning, we can't go to the park!). There are "modules" of what we do everyday (eg. drawing for 1-3 hours, playground for 1-3 hours, lunch for an hour...etc.), and those modules fit into the day depending on the situation. I did sit down with DS, drew a big chart of the day, block out when we go to sleep, and we cut out paper of these "modules" of activities and briefly explained to him what to expect when we are hanging out at home. He liked it. DH saw us doing it and he has been off my case since.</p> <p>I have to say though, DH is really unhappy about his childhood and how he was raised, and I guess in a way he is trying to overcompensate what he felt he missed when he was a child. He was very casual when we were younger, and after DS was born and oh boy, everything has to be perfect. But that's another story for another time (or not). Please be gentle :-)</p> <p>Thank you so much again and geesh, I am so glad I can finally sit down at my desk to do some work. phew! :heart: :heart: :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/schools-out-activities#post-2741120 Sat, 27 May 2017 23:45:33 +0000 DesertDreams88 2741120@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Agree with @hellobeeboston: @yoursilverlining: . </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/schools-out-activities#post-2741094 Sat, 27 May 2017 20:22:25 +0000 hellobeeboston 2741094@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For just three weeks he wants this? That's ridiculous. And you're working full time. Tell him to do it if that's what he wants. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/schools-out-activities#post-2741088 Sat, 27 May 2017 19:03:44 +0000 Kemma 2741088@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just be, survive and enjoy the lack of structure! Maybe set a goal of exploring some new places (playgrounds / museums / outdoor spaces)? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/schools-out-activities#post-2741082 Sat, 27 May 2017 18:05:56 +0000 yoursilverlining 2741082@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>And your husband plans on taking off the summer to facilitate all this; right? Or is his work more important than yours because he works at an office vs. from home? </p> <p>I get your venting - I would be venting too if my husband assumed I should become a full time teacher, nanny and tutor over the summer while still simultaneously also working full time at my normal career. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/schools-out-activities#post-2741080 Sat, 27 May 2017 15:49:49 +0000 lady baltimore 2741080@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@irene: I'd get DS a few new puzzles/art supplies/whatever he's into, and show DH a few articles about the developmental importance of free, unstructured play. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/schools-out-activities#post-2741078 Sat, 27 May 2017 15:20:42 +0000 looch 2741078@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If it were me, and i had to work and my son were home, it would be a disaster, lol. I would have to find him additional activities. I know you said his camp starts in a few weeks, but what if you did some other things, like art lessons or look into a tumbling club? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/schools-out-activities#post-2741060 Sat, 27 May 2017 12:43:35 +0000 youboots 2741060@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Kids are kids for such a short time. More than one tangible goal with weekly check ins sounds like a job- I know we need to prepare kids for life but I think it's beyond what a 5 year old can really understand. Maybe mastering a new skill or learning something new would be fun- like the recorder or starting a new medium of art like watercolor or a mixed media collage. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/schools-out-activities#post-2741049 Sat, 27 May 2017 11:23:40 +0000 tinyperson 2741049@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree with above that kids need to time to play, be bored, and just relax. His summer camps will be structure enough for the rest of the summer. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/schools-out-activities#post-2741034 Sat, 27 May 2017 09:46:43 +0000 gingerbebe 2741034@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would maybe set goals in the unschooling way - as in talk to your son about what he really loves or is interested in and let that lead the way. Ask him to pick one thing he might want to really get into for one week and then structure all your normal stuff around that. If he wants to learn about ladybugs, for example, find books and videos about them, challenge him to find 3 that week on your walks or at the park, have him draw ladybugs, and maybe buy some at the hardware store to release in your yard. So you would be doing the same things you always do, but it would be purpose driven by your son's interests. And if your husband asks what you did all week, you can say LADYBUGS! Heck, have your son give a little talk to your husband about ladybugs! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/schools-out-activities#post-2741021 Sat, 27 May 2017 08:48:31 +0000 erinbaderin 2741021@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Your husband does not seem to get the idea of summer vacation. Kids need unstructured independent play time! He'll have camps to give him goals and structured activities. Maybe you could compromise - pick one bigger "activity" per week that you're going to do (a zoo, a splash pad, a museum?). Your goal for him is to teach him to come up with fun things to do without having to be directed.</p> <p>I just saw this on Facebook and it seems relevant - your husband is trying to rush his childhood. He'll have lots of time for goals and structure and weekly reviews of progress. </p> <p>[attach=6329/17/oqm6lr.600x596.IMG_4469.JPG] </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/schools-out-activities#post-2741008 Sat, 27 May 2017 08:05:27 +0000 Anagram 2741008@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@irene: Sigh....your husband seems....like he wants to control something that is happening while he's not even there, and while he's not the one having to do it. You aren't just home full time, you are working from home, right?</p> <p>And it's only 3 weeks. I wouldn't worry about doing the goals and scheduling every minute of his/your time. It's really GOOD for kids (most experts say BETTER for kids) to give them plenty of free time where they have to entertain themselves, engage in fantasy play, be bored for a bit, problem solve on their own.</p> <p>If you have to manage your husband, You can tell him your goals for your son are: Be bored and problem solve, be independently creative, get outdoor time. And he can do 1 and 2 alone and 3 with you when you are taking breaks from work.</p> <p>My mother was a teacher (and I've been a teacher/school librarian for 14 years) and in the summer, we just ran wild outside and in our house. Even at age 5. If we ever complained we had "nothing to do" we had to do chores or my mom would go into her craft closet and get out random things--like a box of popsicle sticks, glue, and cotton balls and tell us not to bother her until we had finished building a 3 ft tower that could stand under it's own weight. And she would come and measure the height of the tower when we were done too! And then we'd stack objects on top of it and see whose held the most weight until they collapsed in a giant mess of broken popsicle sticks. Fun, right? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/schools-out-activities#post-2740976 Fri, 26 May 2017 22:59:06 +0000 irene 2740976@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS is 5 and it is our first official summer vacation. DS's school is out since Thursday, and his summer camp activities doesn't start until 2nd week of June, and he would mostly be in camp. So he would pretty much stay home with me for 3 weeks total from now until August. I work from home so I was just going to wing it. It is not easy when I have a bunch of deadlines for work and juggling with DS.</p> <p>DH was wondering why I am not more engaging for DS since summer starts. For a typical day, DS would just draw next to me as I work, or read a book on the ipad, or watch short educational videos I found if I am completely out of ideas. We hit the park when he gets bored, and I'll take my work with me to the park and we can be there for hours. That was what we did over spring break and we really enjoyed it.</p> <p>For DH, he thought we should set goals for him (eg. 3 things that DS want to achieve in the summer, and we work together for that goal, and review weekly and at the end...eeek). He also wants to make sure I provide routine, structure and challenge for DS so he doesn't just play aimlessly for 3 months. It sounds so lovely but I'd have to quit working in order to do all that fanciness. Then of course, it makes me feel like a bad mother.</p> <p>Sorry for a bit of a vent, but just want to hear if you have brilliant plans in store for your DS so I can follow as well :wink: </p>