Kids overscheduled this summer? Go retro!
Categories: Kids 5-7, Kids 8-11, Fun & activities, Siblings
So far, this is turning out to be a retro summer! By foregoing the organized sport/activity route, my kids are busy making themselves busy.
Two weeks ago, my budding capitalists set up a lemonade stand in our driveway. They made signs, lemonade, and used their own piggy bank money to buy supplies. They were so excited to have "customers" and I found myself surprised by how seriously they took their job.
With all this free time, there's time for elaborate dress-up games. Most mornings they come down dressed as spies in black leggings, old trench coats and a back pack full of "spy things" which consist primarily of walkie-talkies and primitive telescopes. Today they divulged their secret hiding place in the ravine by the side of the house where they "spy on the cars" that drive by.
Rainy days are also cause for tea parties, afternoon movies with mom, or down time to simply lay around and read or journal.
Last summer we bought one of those big trampolines with a net. A few weeks ago, I freaked out when I saw my two-year-old laying on the trampoline while the older ones bounced around him. I immediately ran to the kitchen window prepared to yell, "STOP!" But when I opened the window, all I could hear was his uncontrollable laughter and squeals of joy every time his body lifted off the trampoline. I gave a half-hearted warning to be careful, closed the window, and let the kids be kids.
Presently they are drawing up plans to build a tree house with dad and I'm enjoying overhearing the countless conversations about location, flags, "do not enter" signs, and rules and regulations about whether grown-ups should or shouldn't be allowed in.
Our kids love to log roll (yes! log roll). Most summers, I drive them to my husband's hometown in Hayward, Wisconsin to train at the local log rolling school. The town, however, is an hour away and with gas prices so high, we knew we had to find another solution this year. So, my husband traded an old pontoon boat for a large wooden tank, purchased a tarp liner at Home Depot and filled it up. Since we own a log rolling log (who doesn't, right?), now the kids can log roll in their own back yard (with supervision!).
No guilt here for not signing them up for soccer, baseball, or tennis. As far as I'm concerned, they're getting plenty of fresh air and exercise; much needed sibling bonding; and opportunities to use their imagination and creativity.
The best part of our retro summer? Not spending time in the car driving kids around from one activity to the next. That's good for my pocketbook ... and my sanity!
For more information about Rachel visit her website at www.rachelcamposduffy.com.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Nicole 7-08-2008 @ 1:51PM
I think your "retro" summer sounds fabulous! We are sort of doing the same thing except my 5 year old is in a kindergarten readiness program from 9-10:30 am for July. Other than that we are taking it easy and letting them (my 3 kids) play and have fun and use their imaginations. There are so many kids in my town in the town camp. I think it's too much (for a 5 year old)-they don't get a brake and it's a long/hot day! I'm much happier hanging around the house and having fun and so are they! It's nice to hear from another Mom who feels the same way as me. I seem to be in the minority here...Most of the Mom's I talk to say "How can you put him in a program for only 1.5 hrs per day?" I think that's plenty!
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Chere 7-08-2008 @ 3:40PM
That sounds like a great summer to me. There is something to be said about plain old fashion summer fun. Rainy days are the best for really doing some quality bonding. Over the 4th of July it rained and my daughter (2 1/2 years old) and I had a great time doing crafts, having an indoor picnic in her princess castle, watching strawberry shortcake and baking cupcakes and making fresh lemonade.
Here is to a unscheduled summer of fun!
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Mary 7-08-2008 @ 5:07PM
As much as I love your articles, I think it would be refreshing once in a while to have you write about issues you are struggling with as a mother instead of how you are doing everything right and people should follow suit. Just a thought.
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Crystal 7-08-2008 @ 6:05PM
We have nothing scheduled for this summer, and its fantastic. When I was a kid, we never did anything scheduled, either. But, we came home every night for supper filthy dirty, and totally worn out.
I overheard a two moms talking at our play class in the spring about their summer activities. One was complaining to the other one about her husband giving her a hard time regarding how much the kids summer activities where going to cost. Her argument? "Don't you want our kids to have FUN, this summer?"
I shook my head and giggled to myself. Fun doesnt have to be scheduled, fun just happens.
Today? We spent the entire day out in our dinky little plastic pool. I put out Little Tikes slide in there, so the kids could slide into the pool. We threw water balloons at eachother, and played in the sandbox with the kids next door.
The kids are wiped, and I spend ZERO dollars and ZERO time in the car.
Perfect Summer Day.
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ninainindia 7-09-2008 @ 12:00AM
It sounds like how I spend summers when I was a child. All the neighbourhood children played together, we had so much fun and it didn't cost any money.
Children nowadays are far too over-schedules. Not just during the summer but the entire year. And for me it is not even so much about the money, I just don't think it's good for children to be always on the move to the next activity.
Like Crystal just said: fun happens, it doesn't need to be planned.
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Melanie 7-09-2008 @ 11:11AM
Rachel,
I agree with your idea for a great summer. I never schedule my kids in the summer. It's really a time for them to relax in the pool, play on the swings, and spend quality time together. They have so much during the school year it's good to just have FUN. The girls make up plays with their American Girls, they have fun and they're not pressured by peers to grow up too fast. My friends spend all their time running from activity to activity all summer long so their kids aren't bored and I just don't see how that can be good at all.
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hope 7-10-2008 @ 4:04AM
My 3 year old started preschool this spring, and I thought she'd be bored out of her mind when summer rolled around. Wrong! We're having a great summer so far, going to the splash pad, storytime, playing with friends, or just staying home and playing dress-up together when it's too hot to go outside. I have her scheduled for princess camp next week (only 1.5 hours per day), which I think she'll love. But I'm seriously thinking about cancelling the other two weeks of princess and art camp that we have scheduled, even if I have to lose the money. I think she's having a great time just being a little kid this summer, bare feet and all :)
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Elizabeth 7-10-2008 @ 3:06PM
Rachel, I love your blog, enjoy reading it. Could you do a whole post on meals your family enjoys. As a mom of two children under the age of 3, I am always searching for healthy kid friendly food. I've heard you talk before of making oatmeal with the fixings before, and would love some recipes and some ideas about what your family loves to eat! I couldn't agree more with having a relaxing summer, I refused to send my 3 year old to the summer camp program at his preschool-one whole month, 5 days a week for 3 hours a day, no thanks! All the other parents thought I was crazy for refusing it, like it was so odd to want him all to myself for summer fun! What a change from when I was a child!
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Paula 7-13-2008 @ 6:14PM
I really enjoy your articles. As a 36 yr. old mother of 7 (that was 7 NOT a typo) I relate to your day to day "ramblings".
The love you feel for your hubby and kids is laced thru all your words.
Please keep writing. I will keep reading!!!
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Denise 7-19-2008 @ 2:33AM
Retro summer is a wonderful idea; my daughter is a book worm. She loves to read, and I love the fact that she loves to read. I would like her to go outside and get some fresh air. So thank you once again for the fabulous advise! Keep up the good work!!!
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sandy 8-13-2008 @ 9:53AM
We are definitely going retro and doing things like exploring our own city - having a blast. The smallest things seem exciting to them, like taking the bus instead of driving or AMTRAK on a short trip. Found some good links to help with advice:
www.parentzing.net
www.travelwithyourkids.com
and of course tripadvisor - yes, even for our own city.
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