What would music sound like if there were no rests? Rests provide a break, add dimension, and empower the actual notes, adding emphasis and meaning to the music. The same can be said of our own lives. If we continually go, go, go, the music of our lives becomes monotonous, robotic, and draining. Rests are essential for the beauty of the piece.

As parents, we often think that in order for our kids to have a good summer we need to pack it with activities, camps, and scheduled family vacations. What might be the most beneficial activity is a lack there-of. Creativity blossoms in down time. Energy is renewed. Clarity comes in the quiet moments, never in the noise. This is not to say that the entire summer should be spent lounging around doing nothing. A song made only of rests would be, well, non-existent. It is important to have good activities and engaging moments with our kids during the summer. However, the down time is just as important.

The following are a few suggestions of how to create down time that refuels instead of drains and fosters creativity instead of numbing the mind:

• Take a blanket out on the grass, and just lie down and look up at the clouds. See what shapes you can find. Make up a story about what the shapes/characters you see in the clouds are doing.
• Make mud pies with your kids. Remember how fun that was? I remember my mom would let me take of few of the spices she didn’t use very often and some flour outside with me to help create my masterpiece. I was careful to measure and mix thoroughly. I am sure this is where my excellent cooking skills got their start.
• Go to the library and spend a few hours just looking at books and reading on the soft bean bags in the corners. It is nice to just browse without having to find a book for research or a report. Pitcher and glass of Lemonade
• Use sidewalk chalk, and draw pictures or a hopscotch board. Jump rope. Use a hula-hoop. Bounce a ball.
• Run through the sprinklers.
• Make lemonade, sit on the porch, and just…relax.

Take a few moments to help your kids and yourself refuel this summer. Add dimension and beauty to your life’s music. Find the perfect places to add rests now and then. Be present in the moment. These will undoubtedly be the best moments of your summer.

Originally posted 2009-05-27 11:29:53.

I never set out to give my toddlers chores to do. You might be thinking, “That’s too young! Toddlers can’t do chores!” That’s what I thought too, that is until I was constantly tripping over my boys while trying to do my own household chores.

Let’s face it, toddlers want to help mom, even when mom doesn’t want or need help. But what better way to teach your toddlers to do chores than letting them help mom?

The number of chores you give your child to do will depend on your child. Some kids want to help more than others. At this age, the important thing is to teach them to clean up after themselves, not to try to get them to clean the entire house.

One of my sons is not interested in helping me pick up toys. He helps me for a minute then moves on to something else. However, he loves helping me with laundry and unloading the dishwasher.

My other son has to have everything around him arranged in a certain way. When we pick up his toys he makes sure everything is picked up and in its place. One day when we were picking up the family room he went into his bedroom and picked up the entire room. When we found him in there his room was spotless, and he’s not even 2 years old!

Besides picking up toys off the floor at the end of every day, I don’t require my boys to do certain chores, except as they want to help me. There are, however, a couple of chores they especially enjoy.

I realized my boys were old enough to help with the laundry when they started taking their clothes out of the dryer and running into their room to put them into their drawers! So now I let them put their own clothes away, and don’t worry about what drawers they put them in. The important thing is that they are helping and putting their own laundry away. They also enjoy putting their clothes into the washing machine. I take turns picking each child up so they can drop some clothing into the machine.

I had a terrible time trying to keep my toddlers out of my dishwasher until I realized they just wanted to help take dishes out of it. For awhile they handed me silverware to put away (I take all of the sharp knives out first), then they decided that they wanted to put the silverware into the drawer. They can’t even see into the drawer, but they drop it over the edge, into the drawer, then I put the silverware where it belongs.

I’ve had a lot of fun letting my toddler boys help with household chores. They don’t see chores as work, they think they are hanging out with and helping mom, which is what is important to them, and as they get older they will learn that household chores are a part of family life.

Rachel Paxton is a freelance writer and mom of five. For resources for the Christian family, including parenting, toddler and preschool activities, homeschooling, family traditions, and more, visit http://www.Christian-Parent.com

Originally posted 2009-02-26 13:58:32.

Although homeschooling allows families the freedom to teach and learn in a flexible environment, it is still beneficial to create a structured atmosphere for the more formal aspects of the learning experience.  Regardless of your style of homeschooling, for it to be most effective, there still needs to be an element of discipline.  Deciding where your homeschooling will take place, and how it is set up, will influence how effective your homeschooling experience will be.  If the homeschool ‘classroom’ is too casual and unstructured, it may be harder for your child to take the whole experience seriously.  Of course you also need to take the facilities you have available to you, as well as your child’s own personality, into account when you make these decisions.

Space, itself, is not a deal-maker or breaker.  Obviously, you want enough space to be able to work comfortably, however, not all households have a lot of room to spare.  Of course, with homeschooling, you are also not always restricted to remain in the same space, and some classes may be suitable for other spaces, or even outside.  It is preferable, however, to have a regular area for much of the written work, so the student can associate this space for thinking, reasoning and studying.  This association can assist with helping the student’s mind get into the ‘gear’ required for digesting and assimilating information.  For this reason, I find that the ideal situation is to have this space allocated for homeschooling, and nothing else.

If you homeschool your child in a family area, for instance, the room will be associated with a range of other activities and interactions, and it may make it difficult for the child to concentrate on the matter at hand.  Additionally, it does not establish boundaries for other family members, who also have use of this room.  It makes the process of homeschooling much simpler if everyone else in the family respects the homeschooling space too.

With this in mind, you may find that the dining room table is not the ideal location for the day’s studies.  Of course, many households have no choice due to space constraints of their living environment.  Never fear, with a bit of forethought and daily planning you can transform your dining table to an adequate learning environment.  With the removal of any dining apparatus, placemats, and a change of tablecloth, you can create a space that is significantly different to meal times, and quite adequate for studying.  If, however, you have an alternative space to use, it will be easier for you and less work.

Personally, I have found that the ideal space is one with a door that can be shut during lessons to establish that boundary from the rest of the house, and to put the student in ‘study mode.’  Other important features include lots of natural lighting and fresh air, which I find useful to reduce fatigue.  Having a dedicated space such as this also allows you to organise your homeschool resources so that they are readily accessible without much interruption to your student’s activities.

Another option that has recently become available in some furniture stores, and storage specialists, is a fold away study nook which opens to reveal several shelves and a desk on wheels.  This is a fabulous alternative for space-stretched families who strive for a dedicated study space.

Homeschooling is a wonderful alternative to public education which allows for more personalised attention, flexible timetables, and opportunities for less-structured learning experiences.  A little bit of structure and organisation in the study space, however, will benefit your child.  An uncluttered, organised, dedicated and positive environment can make the world of difference to your child’s concentration levels.   It is important that their study area is comfortable and functional, to assist them with performing their best.

Originally posted 2009-08-06 09:00:54.

Have you noticed how hard it is to get a child to really think?

Have you ever wondered about the effects of television, computers and video games on thinking?  Have you wondered if these things are beneficial or harmful to a child’s education?  Sadly, there have been almost zero scientific studies on the effects of television and computer and video games.  Businesses and families may not be  particularly interested in finding out the answers to such a study.  It would be very comforting to think that the effects of video games and television are not particularly harmful.

Although there are only a few real studies, there have been a few of very good quality. There is one particular study from Leiden University in the Netherlands that shows that television has negative effects on reading skills. Among the study’s other conclusions they stated that television:

• Displaces leisure reading and inhibits the growth of reading skills
• Requires less mental effort than reading
• May shorten the time children are willing to spend on finding an answer to intellectual problems they are set to solve

It is becoming easier and easier to study how people think.   We just paste non-invasive electrodes on a person’s head to study brain waves. The recent television and video game studies have been done this way.  Three effects on learning abilities have been suggested by these types of studies:

1. Some television and video programming artificially manipulate the brain into paying attention by violating certain of its natural defenses with frequent visual and auditory changes.
2. Television induces neural passivity and reduces “stick-to-it-iveness”.
3. Television may have a hypnotic and possibly neurologically addictive effect on the brain by changing the frequency of its electrical impulses in ways that block active mental processing.

Television advertisers know that the best way to get viewers to pay attention is to capitalize on the brain’s instinctive responses to danger.  Sudden close-ups and pans alert the brain because they violate the reflex needed to maintain a predictable personal space.  Bright colors, quick movements or sudden noises get attention because the brain is programmed to changes that might predict danger.

Carefully planned manipulations separate the natural responses of the brain and the body.  Although the brain is alerted there is no need to respond physically.  Children thus stimulated without an outlet for the normal physical response could develop frustrations, irritability and hyperactivity.  Also children become habituated to surprise and a circus like environment.

You may enjoy reading Endangered Minds by Jane Healy. She writes, “We care deeply about the ‘smartness’ of our children, but our culture lacks patience with the slow, time-consuming handwork by which intellects are woven.  The quiet spaces of childhood have been disrupted by media assault and instant sensory gratification.”

So what does all this mean for homeschool parents?  Well, consider the very subtle effects of how you are allowing your children to spend their time.  How they spend their time may be altering their ability to learn and to get along with others. Just think about it.

Randi St. Denis is an educator, popular homeschool speaker, and a seasoned homeschooling mom. Randi works as a consultant to public, private, and homeschool families; providing teaching expertise and assistance for all types of children. You can visit her website at ChicagoHomeschoolExpo.com.

Originally posted 2009-02-24 19:05:39.

Routines are very important for toddlers. Routines give structure to their day and help to reduce temper tantrums and crankiness that result from irregular sleeping and eating schedules.

Daily routines are great for moms too, whether you stay at home or you work outside of the home.

The effectiveness of a daily routine isn’t so much what time you do something, but that you do something at the same time every day. Setting a time that works for your family allows flexibility for individual family schedules and needs.

Getting enough sleep is very important for young children. Many toddlers need up to 12 hours of sleep at night and at least a 2 hour nap every afternoon. The times that your toddlers sleep will be partly dependent on your family’s schedule. Our boys are in bed by 7 p.m. every night, but that time wouldn’t work as well for parents who don’t get home until later in the evening. Just make sure your children have a regular bed time and a regular nap time. Their bodies adjust to these times and they anticipate those times to sleep every day, even if they don’t act like they want to go to sleep. Lack of sleep makes them very cranky and irritable.

A regular eating schedule is also very important for toddlers. You know what I mean if you’ve ever been away from home at lunch time! Children’s bodies also become accustomed to eating at certain times, even if we as parents don’t always have our own eating schedules. Your toddler’s mood will also improve if he or she eats at regular times. Don’t forget to schedule times for snacks also. If you let them snack too much during the day they won’t want to eat at meal time.

Whatever else you want to schedule into your toddler’s day is up to you. I take my boys for a walk every morning, and they really look forward to this time every day. It is good exercise for me and they enjoy the fresh air.

Nighttime routines are also important for children of any age. Toddlers transition to bedtime much more easily when they know what to expect every night. A common bedtime routine is a bath and reading a story before bed. It is also a good time to occasionally sit down and watch one of your toddler’s favorite videos with them.

I have found that having a basic schedule for the entire day makes my day go by more smoothly and I don’t have to think much about what I’m doing to do during the day. That’s really nice when you’re chasing more than one toddler around the house. Regardless of how much time you spend at home with your children during the day, anyone can benefit from scheduling family activities. It also helps you to not forget to get anything done!

Here is my toddlers’ daily schedule:

7:00 a.m. – wake up
7:30 a.m. – get up, get dressed, have breakfast
8:30 a.m. – go for a walk
9:00 a.m. – play
10:00 a.m. – morning snack
12:00 p.m. – lunch
1:00 p.m. – afternoon nap
3:30 p.m. – afternoon snack
5:00 p.m. – dinner
6:30 p.m. – bath, stories
7:00 p.m. – bed

I do most of my housework or grocery shopping in the evenings after the boys are in bed. During play times is when we occasionally go to the park or have grandma or grandpa come over to visit. There is just enough flexibility, while the boys also know what to expect every day.

If you don’t already have your toddlers into a daily routine, start slow. Regular eating times are the easiest for them to adjust to, new sleeping times may be harder. If you are changing your child’s sleeping schedule vary their sleeping time by 10 minutes a day until they are sleeping at the desired time. Make sure your child is getting up at the same time every morning. This will help them adjust to set nap and bed times.

Good luck! Setting a daily routine for you and your toddler just might save your sanity!

Rachel Paxton is a freelance writer and mom of five. For resources for the Christian family, including parenting, toddler and preschool activities, homeschooling, family traditions, and more, visit http://www.Christian-Parent.com

Originally posted 2009-02-25 13:29:47.

Oh, the terrible two’s. As a mom of twin toddlers, I wasn’t particularly looking forward to my boys turning two. As their third birthday approaches, I now realize that it wasn’t really as bad as I had been expecting. I don’t think temper tantrums can ever be eliminated completely, but there are some things you can do to minimize and sometimes even avoid them.

One of the best ways I have found to avoid a toddler tantrum is by giving my boys choices. When you give your toddler a choice, he feels like he has some control over the situation, and is much less likely to throw a fit to get his way. This solution does have a catch, however.

When you are giving your toddler a choice between two options, don’t offer him anything you don’t want to give him. At this young age, they don’t yet understand that you are in fact getting them to do what you wanted in the first place. Yet, they think it was their idea. (You have to be sneakier about it when they get older, but this also works on older kids!)

I have listed below a number of scenarios I often find myself in with my boys. They fall for it almost every time!

One of my boys is very clingy and wants me to hold him all of the time. When we are at the grocery store and he wants to get out of the grocery cart, he wants me to hold me. I tell him he can either sit in the cart or walk and hold my hand. This usually distracts him from wanting me to hold him.

Most kids hate wearing hats, and it is often hard to get them to wear them outside. If I want my boys to wear a hat, they each have several to choose from and I let them pick out which one they want to wear. Sometimes it may take 10 minutes for them to decide, but they are both happy in the end (and so am I).

Food and eating can be big issues when parenting toddlers. A toddler can drive you nuts trying to get him to eat what you want him to. I have found that giving them acceptable choices usually gets them to eat what I want them to eat. If I want them to eat a vegetable, I let them choose between two vegetables. Having clear expectations also helps. If you tell them to eat two more bites before they eat dessert, they will usually cooperate quite easily.

Getting a toddler into the bedroom at night can also be a challenge. If you entice them into their room by letting them choose a book for you to read to them, you will probably have few complaints. After a story or two they are usually ready to settle down for bed.

If your toddler is starting to have a tantrum, try to distract him as quickly as possible. Try to get him interested in an engaging activity. Make sure that he is not hungry or tired.

Toddlers thrive on routine. Try keep them on as regular as a daily schedule or routine as possible, with regular sleeping times, eating times, and play times.

Establishing a daily routine for your toddler, as well as giving him choices as much as possible, will result in a happier and much more well behaved toddler.

Originally posted 2010-03-18 13:07:14.

Summer is a great time to play lawn games outside with your family. There are many affordable games available to choose from, and most games are portable so you can take them camping or to the local park for large gatherings of family and friends. The last time I went to Walmart I found all of these lawn games for $20 or less.

Ladder Ball

Ladder Ball has been very popular for the past couple of years. The game comes with two “ladders” and balls that are attached together with short nylon ropes. Each rope has a ball on each end. Each player gets three of these ropes to throw at a ladder. Points are based on which rung of the ladder the rope wraps around. This game is fun for all ages. For young children you will have to let them stand really close to the ladder so they can hit it, but even adults have a great time playing this game.

Bean Bag Toss

I just picked this bean bag toss game up the other day. It was only $19 at Walmart. It is the classic bean bag toss game. It comes with two collapsable platforms that each have a hole in them to throw bean bags through. This game is also suitable for children of all ages. Even toddlers will love this game. Our 1 year old loves running up to the platform and dropping the bean bag through the hole. This game comes with a portable carrying case. The platforms have removable legs and everything folds up and fits in the bag so you can take it with you. This game can also be played in the house. It is great for rainy days!

Horse Shoes

This is the classic game of horse shoes, also $19 at Walmart. It comes in a portable carrying case so is easy to take along with you to wherever you want to play it.

Magic Mitts / Rally Ball

This game is a little different but fun. It is only $5 and is two games in one. It comes with two mitts that have velcro on one side of them. Each player wears a mitt and you throw a ball back and forth to each other, using the velcro to catch the ball. The game also comes with two flat paddles and a rally ball to hit back and forth to each other.

Croquet

When I was a child, croquet was one of my favorite lawn games. It was one of the only lawn games that my family played together, and I always looked forward to when my parents got it out for us to play. Walmart also has an inexpensive portable version of this favorite game. This game is great for children that are old enough to be able to use a mallet to hit a ball on the ground. The object of the game is to be the first to hit a ball through a series of wickets that are set into the ground.

Hopefully these lawn game ideas will inspire you to go out and do something fun with your family this summer. Kids love to spend time with their parents, and lawn games are a great way to spend time together and have some fun at the same time.

Like any activity that requires a certain level of commitment, homeschool students and teachers are not immune to “burnout.”

What is “burnout” or being “burned out”?

It is simply the stress response you experience with what you are committed to has been perceived as more hard work than fun for an extended period of time. If it is not corrected and/or reversed before it escalates, it can result in mood disturbances, ill health, and poor decision making. Burnout is common, and can happen to almost anyone, especially if you are not aware of what is happening to you.

Homeschooling involves spending a lot more time with your children than you would if they attended school externally. This can be both a blessing and a curse.

On the blessings side, you are developing a stronger family bond and taking an interest in your child’s welfare and future. The rewards for this are practically limitless.

On the curse side, although it need not be a curse, you are the party almost solely responsible for your child’s education and access to socialization. This responsibility puts you in the awesome position of providing your child with opportunities that would not be afforded them through a conventional schooling system. On the flip side, if you are unwell or stressed (and, lets face it, some of us may become stressed over the magnitude of that responsibility alone!), you are still the responsible party, and this may compound your stress.

And, although our children are much loved, they can also take it out of you. Their enthusiasm and energy can be difficult to keep up with and, maintaining a balance of allowing them to be kids, and ensuring that they are learning the things you deem necessary, can be a tiring juggling act. It is because we love our kids that we feel such a vested interest in their outcomes, and want to do the best for them possible. And this may encourage us to put undue pressure on them and ourselves to try to achieve the best ‘for them.’

How can you tell if you are getting burned out?

Unfortunately, I am often slow to pick up on my own signs and symptoms of being burned out. They can include such vague behaviors and emotions including loss of patience, crying more easily than normal for you, irrational decision-making, loss or increase in appetite, over-reacting to minor events, and a skewed sense of priorities.

What causes burnout?

Although it will invariably seem like outside factors, over which you feel a loss of control, ‘cause’ your burnout, it is, in fact, caused by your attitude to these factors. The only real way to avoid burnout is to look after yourself and be mindful of your attitudes to events as they occur. If things seem overwhelming, at times we need to take a step back from them to realize that problems are rarely as big as they seem.

While no one disputes that outside events can impact on the running of your family and home, your first responsibility is to yourself and your well-being. I am not suggesting that you neglect your family at all. I am suggesting that you need to look after yourself so that you can effectively look after and educate your family. They need you to be fit, well and rational.Like any activity that requires a certain level of commitment, homeschool students and teachers are not immune to “burnout.”

What is “burnout” or being “burned out”?

It is simply the stress response you experience with what you are committed to has been perceived as more hard work than fun for an extended period of time. If it is not corrected and/or reversed before it escalates, it can result in mood disturbances, ill health, and poor decision making. Burnout is common, and can happen to almost anyone, especially if you are not aware of what is happening to you.

Homeschooling involves spending a lot more time with your children than you would if they attended school externally. This can be both a blessing and a curse.

On the blessings side, you are developing a stronger family bond and taking an interest in your child’s welfare and future. The rewards for this are practically limitless.

On the curse side, although it need not be a curse, you are the party almost solely responsible for your child’s education and access to socialization. This responsibility puts you in the awesome position of providing your child with opportunities that would not be afforded them through a conventional schooling system. On the flip side, if you are unwell or stressed (and, lets face it, some of us may become stressed over the magnitude of that responsibility alone!), you are still the responsible party, and this may compound your stress.

And, although our children are much loved, they can also take it out of you. Their enthusiasm and energy can be difficult to keep up with and, maintaining a balance of allowing them to be kids, and ensuring that they are learning the things you deem necessary, can be a tiring juggling act. It is because we love our kids that we feel such a vested interest in their outcomes, and want to do the best for them possible. And this may encourage us to put undue pressure on them and ourselves to try to achieve the best ‘for them.’

How can you tell if you are getting burned out?

Unfortunately, I am often slow to pick up on my own signs and symptoms of being burned out. They can include such vague behaviors and emotions including loss of patience, crying more easily than normal for you, irrational decision-making, loss or increase in appetite, over-reacting to minor events, and a skewed sense of priorities.

What causes burnout?

Although it will invariably seem like outside factors, over which you feel a loss of control, ‘cause’ your burnout, it is, in fact, caused by your attitude to these factors. The only real way to avoid burnout is to look after yourself and be mindful of your attitudes to events as they occur. If things seem overwhelming, at times we need to take a step back from them to realize that problems are rarely as big as they seem.

While no one disputes that outside events can impact on the running of your family and home, your first responsibility is to yourself and your well-being. I am not suggesting that you neglect your family at all. I am suggesting that you need to look after yourself so that you can effectively look after and educate your family. They need you to be fit, well and rational.

Originally posted 2009-06-30 10:37:02.

Most of us have heard the phrase: “Aim at nothing and you’re sure to hit it.”  Many also know the scripture from Proverbs 29:18: “Where there is no vision, the people perish.”  But how do these ideas apply to families – your family?

Every important organization in the world has some sort of vision or purpose statement.  The family is the building block of all society.  Since the family is the most fundamental and important organization in the world, it too should have a vision statement.  Without a vision, families tend to drift and sometimes even disintegrate.

Stephen R. Covey, the author of the book 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families, describes a vision statement as “…beginning with the end in mind”.  Therefore, the opposite of a vision statement (or beginning with the end in mind) is to begin with no end in mind or to just kind of let life happen without sense of compass, map or purpose.  Doing this is not truly living. It’s allowing your family life to be ‘lived’ by circumstances, societies values and happenstance rather than by your choices to live a certain way.

A well written family vision statement will answer life’s great questions: Why am I here (purpose)? Where am I going (vision)? How will I get there (mission)? What’s important and right (values)? It is like a compass that guides your course. When referred to regularly, it helps to shape the goals you set and the decisions you make that will lead to your desired destination.

Some families have strong religious beliefs that take center stage in forming their family vision.  Others have a deep desire to touch their community or world and will craft their statement to reflect those values.  Some families find their focus in maintaining tightly knit and supportive bonds between the individual members of the family. Their statement will help them build a strong sense of love and commitment within their own home.

Whatever your family’s personal priorities, seeing them written down is an excellent way to gain focus and keep on track as a group. The actual process of coming up with an official family vision statement can sometimes be the most enlightening and beneficial aspect of this whole idea.

Will a family vision statement guarantee that there will be no troubles, detours or mishaps on the way to your desired destination?  No, there will be bumps in the road and many times you will even be off course. But if the desired destination remains clear you can always come back to it.  Without a clear destination the journey will be much more stressful and erratic.

Let me leave you with this wonderful story that Stephen R. Covey related on his audio tape series:

“Over 50 years ago, before this couple was even married, they would sit on the porch, look up at the stars and think about their future together.  They loved each other very much and would talk about all their dreams.  In their minds they could see their future children – they talked about the way they would raise them and what they wanted them to be like when they grew up.  They discussed what they wanted their home to be like when no one was there except their family.  They talked about how, as the years went by, they would fall more and more in love.  Then, when it got late, he would kiss her goodbye and go home.  She would then go in the house and write down all the dreams and ideas they had talked about.  50 years later, she still had what she wrote saved in her cedar chest. Their then adult children practically memorized these notes because each year on their anniversary, they would read them as a family. They would ask the children if they wanted to add anything or suggest something new and then she’d write their thoughts and ideas down.  The children took copies with them when they married. She said: “Everything we wrote has come true for ourselves and for our 3 children.”

I hope this article and story will inspire and encourage you to take the necessary steps to write your family vision statement.  Many families find it very helpful to hire a life coach to help them work through this process.  See information below for information on Victory Coaching.

Here are some resources that will help:

• The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Families : Building a Beautiful Family Culture in a Turbulent World by Stephen R. Covey (ISBN #0307440087)
• How to Develop a Family Mission Statement (Audio Cassette, 1996) by Stephen R. Covey (ISBN #1883219280)

Charmaine Wistad has successfully homeschooled her own two children from pre-school through high school.  Now she is turning her attention toward helping other homeschool moms. Through personal coaching, Charmaine helps homeschooling moms thrive… not just survive! Visit her website to try a complimentary no-obligation telephone coaching session.

Originally posted 2009-05-22 10:01:20.

What are your plans for summer? What do other homeschooling families do during the summer? Activities are as varied as the families themselves, so you have a lot of options.

Consider schooling year-round. This option accommodates long vacations throughout the year and four-day school weeks. As a result, some families start the new school year in the summer, although academics during the summer months are usually light to allow for additional summer activities. They may start one subject and add another subject every two weeks or so; by fall, they are doing a full course load. Other families may school only two or three days a week during the summer; then increase to four days a week in the fall.

Take a break from “book learning” completely. Use the summer months for fun yet educational activities that you may not have time for during the school year. Many families devote the summer to swimming lessons, music, art, math games, special projects, pleasure reading, educational movies, and fun outings to such places as the zoo and museums. Their children learn to fish, go camping, care for a garden, or go on long hiking trips. Teens may pursue special hobbies or take a summer job.

Go to camp! Summer camps for homeschoolers and their families are growing. A to Z Home’s Cool has a list of camps at http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/weblinks/supportCamps.htm. In addition, most colleges offer summer enrichment classes for children of all ages, and many churches organize Vacation Bible School programs. There are so many special day camp options for drama, horseback riding, and swimming that your children could participate in a different program each week of summer!

Travel during the summer. Some families take long vacations to visit family, extended relatives, or all the places they did not have a chance to see during the school year. Whether long excursions for the weekend or short day trips, children enjoy visiting new places.

“Catch up” during the summer. Some families may have a child who didn’t do too well in a certain subject this past year and they want to help them catch up. Summer is a good time for an independent study program, tutoring service or online distance learning program. High school teens may enroll in college classes through a community college dual enrollment program, where they can earn high school credit and college credit at the same time.

Try “unschooling.” Summer is a great time to see if you could enjoy the unschooling life style. Let your children lead the way. Whatever they are interested in, pursue that subject until they discover a new interest. Try journaling what your children learn each day. Improve their self-esteem by giving them new responsibilities over the summer.

Whatever you decide to do, enjoy your summer!

Originally posted 2009-07-08 08:00:18.