We have done a couple of really fun activities together as a family, though, and I thought I would share a few–just in case you’re looking for creative ways to fill your summer days.
- A “Scripture Scavenger Hunt”…I’ll leave you guessing about the details of this one, since it’s an exclusive freebie just for our newsletter list. 🙂
- Chalk-making–We found a neat recipe for sidewalk chalk, which was interesting to make and fun to use. (You can view instructions here.)
- Read-alouds–The children read independently, and we read aloud A LOT. The tail-end of our school year got really busy and I realized that it had been a while since we had gone to the library; don’t forget to do this! There is something special about “new books,” or ones that children choose for themselves. Just make sure to keep them separate from your house books. We use a milk crate–easy to pick up & go when it’s time to return.
- Audio Books–On the subject of reading aloud, don’t forget to check out sites like Project Gutenberg for free ebooks of all kinds. LibriVox offers free audiobook versions of many of the public domain works found at Project Gutenberg.
- Make-your-own audios–If you own a headset microphone for your computer (it might have come with your PC, or you can get one for about $10 at Wal-Mart), you can create your own audio files! Just download Audacity, a free MP3 recording and editing software. Older children can read aloud stories for younger children, or Mom can dictate chapter books for the big kids to listen to during long afternoons or before bed. I’m already thinking of lots of ways that I can use Audacity during school time as well…
- Popsicles–Making popsicles is as fun as eating them! We were fortunate enough to get one of those Tupperware popsicle-making sets as a gift, but you can buy sticks and paper Dixie cups at your local dollar store. Just put the cups on a cookie sheet, fill them as desired, partially freeze them, pop in a a stick, and re-freeze. When you’re ready to eat, you can try to make it come out of the cup neatly…or just tear the paper part off. We have made lemonade popsicles and yogurt popsicles using this recipe.
- Forts, jails, playscapes, stores, restaurants, and more–I don’t know about you, but it usually drives me crazy to have the children build forts and such with the kitchen chairs, couch cushions, pillows, and blankets. It is such a huge project (between the building, the dramatizations that follow, and the clean up), and we almost always have other (“educational”) things to do. So summer is a great time for the kids to kick back and imagine to their hearts’ content–and I actually suggest it!
We also are watching more movies–as many as one a week! 🙂 On the topic of movies…and free fun…we still have a copy of the “Biology 101” DVD series from Westfield Studios hanging around! It is one of two copies that was offered as an opt-in incentive when we switched newsletter providers–BUT the winner hasn’t contacted me after several email attempts. If you never thought biology could be entertaining, you definitely haven’t seen this film! The title doesn’t do it justice. Anyway, I thought it would fit in here to offer the 101, and hopefully the winner will respond this time!
Here’s how it will work: Just leave a comment with your own low-cost “summer fun” idea. I’ll randomly select one of the commenters (using random.org to generate the number) as the lucky winner. You must provide some way for me to get in touch with you (if a link to your blog or Web site, make sure I can find contact info there). Comments are open as soon as this post goes live, and will close at midnight (EST) on Friday, July 11. I’ll choose the winner over the weekend, so check your email to see if it’s you!
Have a fun summer!
Blessings,
Cindy
PS–I’ve included this post in Works for Me Wednesday over at Rocks in my Dryer–feel free to check out some helpful tips there!