summer challenge

i have to be honest, a summer with all five kids at home can be overwhelming. the last days of school, i can feel my heart beating faster, my breathing rapidly increase. i wouldn't say that i have a full blown panic attack but i definitely feel the pressure. thoughts of filling a summer with activity for five little people can be daunting.

this year, i decided to get organized. the more organized i became, the better i felt. i created an entire summer checklist for the kids to accomplish each day. surprisingly, the kids were all for this idea. we are now two weeks into our summer here in the south and we are on a roll. i can't say this will work for everyone but for us, this has been a life saver. too much idle time during the summer causes problems; kids fight, they are restless, and quite frankly, i don't want to have to entertain them all day everyday. i'm also from a family of educators. my dad is a retired principal, my mom's a former teacher and speech pathologist, my sister and sister-in-law both teach and i used to teach high school. my kids are surrounded. i don't want them to spend the summer losing all the information they learned over the school year.

all of those factors led to our "summer challenge." each day the kids have a series of tasks to do. at the end of the week, they can earn a star for completing a week of tasks. the stars add up to rewards. it's a simple concept but, surprisingly, the kids love it. i have to be honest, i love it too. they are busy and working for a couple of hours a day and i have time to sit with each of them to help them get their projects or teach them something new. i am actually thrilled with the results. feel free to use this idea and run with it. it may not work for you exactly the way it has worked for us but, please, make this your own and use it to bring some sanity to your own house this summer.

Rules: These were read to the kids on our first day. They all agreed so we kept going!

My kids had already been trained on their weekly chores so that was easy for them to continue. They had several books already purchased for them to enjoy over the summer. We purchased Bridge Books from amazon.com. 

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=bridge+books

i printed out a check list for each week. i made several copies for each child with a place for the dates at the top. each child has their own clip boards so their lists can travel with them.

we brainstormed as a family for great ideas for rewards. this is what our family decided upon.

at the end of each week, if my kids have completed their assignments, they get a star for each area. 

They get to choose the reward for our family. That's it. So far so good. The kids are engaged. The days are full. The rewards are fun. This is my kids' summer challenge...and my summer sanity.

summer survival kit

i don't know about you, but when the first day of summer vacation comes for my kids, i am filled with mixed emotions. i love the freedom of no schedules, no game practices, no waking up early (not that summer vacations means my kids will sleep in even a little). i love having a little extra time to spend with my kids.

then the first few days of summer arrive and i am hit over the head with the reality that i have to keep five kids occupied for three long months. my first instinct was, "it's summer...go outside and play like i used to." that lasted for about 10 minutes until one of them came in crying.


then, to top off my summer frustration came a comment from my oldest. after a day filled with seven hours of playtime, he declared, "this was the worst day ever. i didn't get to do anything i wanted to do."


no, son, the worst day will be tomorrow...when you really won't get to do anything you want to do.


so began my ideas for summer survival...both my own survival and my kids...because, so help me, i was about to just lock the bunch outdoors and let them figure things out "lord of the flies" style. some of these may work for you, some may not but they have been a life saver. it does take a little time, money and preparation but i think you'll be surprised at the outcome.
isn't a "given" anymore. it is a privilege the kids have to earn. pretty much anything they consider "fun" has to be earned. can't you just hear the cries of "worst mommy ever" exploding from my kitchen? really, it doesn't go down like that but it's more fun to think i overcame that kind of adversity.


here's what you'll need:

• plenty of school supplies: i purchased new crayons and markers for each kid, several new pencils, some 3x5 cards to make flashcards and some store bought flashcards. we had some computer programs for learning spanish as well as some educational software.
• workbooks that are age appropriate for each child (hint: get a book big enough to last the summer)
• three little buckets: these can be found just about anywhere and they don't need to be big or expensive.
• craft sticks: i found mine at target
• something to store all your materials in: you only need this if you're a neat freak like i. the random clutter makes me crazy.
• books, games, coloring books, bubbles, sidewalk chalk, etc. for "fun time"
• some sort of a reward system: i purchased little reward papers and some stickers. when all of the kids have a page filled (three filled pages) we have a movie night.

the school supplies

the work books

the buckets

here's where your preparation comes. the craft sticks need to be divided by bucket. one bucket will be filled with school work titles, one with chores, and one with "fun" ideas. i started with the school work and on each stick, i wrote things like "workbook," "computer," "spanish," "flash cards," "reading." these need to be written for each child. i put stickers on the top of each stick so each child would grab a stick labeled with his or her sticker. i doubled up certain tasks like "workbook" so there was more of a probability that one or more children would be working on the workbook at a time. this just simplified things.

some of the sticks for my 8 year old

some of the sticks for my 5 year old
"read a book" instead of "read for 30 minutes"

to earn some "fun time", the kids have to do 30 minutes of school work. they get to pick a stick from the bucket and get busy! at the end of 30 minutes, they can either pick a stick from the "fun" bucket or they can have free time. you can decide how long free time lasts. i usually count on it for 30 minutes. if they can last longer without fighting or complaining, i may let them keep going. if they come in fussing...it's time for another bucket!

the "fun" bucket can be filled with summertime activities. these are generally activities the kids can do around the house that don't involve a trip to the pool or some other big family activity. those are rewards. these "fun" things can last for about 30 minutes and the bucket is my answer to, "i don't have anything to do." i figure they can pick from the "fun" bucket and make it happen or they can pick from one of the other buckets. their choice.

the "fun" bucket

the "chore" bucket is my personal favorite. during the school year, the kids have chores but they are more limited with what they can accomplish then they are in the summer. during the school year, after homework and some limited play time, the time for chores is limited as well. during the summer, all bets are off! this is my time to teach my kids how to do certain things around the house. don't know how to load the dishwasher? here, let me show you. if i can get some of these skills mastered by my kids during the summer when i have time to sit down and work with them on the tasks, by the time the school year rolls around, they will be experts.


i know there are people out there who think that kids should be kids and enjoy playtime. here's my take on that. kids learn all the time. they learn how to read and write. they learn what they can get away with. they learn what work is and they learn what lazy is. i have no problem teaching my kids the value of hard work. i also want them to understand that being a part of a family means everyone has to do their part. i'm not raising any dead beat dads or lazy husbands. i'm raising independent, hard working, responsible boys (and girl). the earlier they can learn some of those traits, the better. so, to that end, my kids do chores. we all work together; we all get the jobs done; we all take care of one another. in my opinion, that's just what families do.


to that end, we have the "chore" bucket. you can put any chores on these sticks that your family does. my kids know how to do dishes, empty the dishwasher, sort laundry, dust, vacuum, put clothes away, clean base boards, pull weeds, etc. my kids are responsible for making their beds and keeping their rooms clean regardless. the bucket chores are extra chores. so, here you go, the chore bucket. you can modify it as needed to suit your needs but i would challenge you to stretch yourself and your kids over the summer. teach them how to do something new while you have them at home and have the time. when they're out on their own, they'll be happy to know that you don't wash red socks with white t-shirts. trust me.

the "chore" bucket

i expected to be fighting these buckets everyday. the truth is, however, that the kids seem to like it. they know what is expected of them and they rise to the occasion. adding the buckets makes things more fun for them as they never know what a day is going to hold.


happy kids, happy mom, happy summer. what do you think? is mission summer survival the thing for you? is there anything i should add?

top 15 must-have *PAID* iphone apps for parents

this post is part three in a series of four posts about the top paid and free apps for parents and kids. if you happened to miss out on the previous two, here are the links:

the top 25 *free* iphone apps for parents

the top 15 *free* iphone apps for kids of all ages 

we hope that you are enjoying finding out about new apps as much as we are. if we happened to miss your favorite, please leave a comment and let us know. we would love to hear about them.

enjoy!

one:

real simple recipes--no time to cook--$4.99

Looking for quick and easy dinner ideas? this is for you! there are nearly 850 easy recipes for dinner that you can make—start to finish—in 40 minutes or less.

two:

nike+ gps--$1.99

map runs, track progress, link with favorite itunes playlist, get motivation. i am borderline obsessed with this app. 

three:

pac-man or ms. pac-man $4.99

this app needs no explanation, really. does it? the classic arcade game now in your iphone. brilliant. 

four:

white noise--$1.99

great for traveling. period. amazing for drowning out the ice machine that your hotel room is next to, or the crazy bachelorette party down the hall. also wonderful for helping your kiddos fall asleep while away from home. we use a noise machine for both of our little ones at home and it helps using this app and having one less thing to pack on trips. 

five:

my kids info--$0.99

this app is a family information manager for parents that helps you keep track of your kids day-to-day activities, medical information, important contacts such as teachers or doctors and all other information relevant for your children. we all have these lists, but now they can be in one place. so easy. 



six:

baby brain: your baby log--$2.99

i remember going to our first peditritions appointment with our newborn and we were asked a ton of questions ranging from how many poop & pee diapers the little one had produced to exact hours of sleep and feeding times and frequency. really?! i had barely slept myself and didn't even know what day it was! i truly wish i had app back then. track it all easily with this app. if you are expecting or know someone who is, get this! 

seven:

hipstamatic--$1.99

go retro with your digital photos! this app adds old school character by turning your phone into a customizable work of art. there are hundreds of different effects that can be created by swapping out lenses, flashes and film. i am loving the look that i can easily create with this app!

eight:

ihomeopathy--$3.99
an easy to use guide for treating first-aid emergencies, childhood ailments and common illnesses with homeopathy. everything from treating bruises to bug bites, burns and allergic reactions. 




nine:

two hundred sit-ups--$1.99 
it sounds crazy, right? this app provides a 6 week training program that will soon have you on your way to completing 200 crunches. all it takes is this app and about 30 minutes a week. (note: there is also a hundred push-ups app if you are feeling really crazy.)






ten:

postale--$0.99
easily create custom postcards using your own photos and personal message and then share them via email, facebook or twitter. there are different theme and layout options as well as multiple postal stamp designs to choose from. when you are ready to send, the app will create a unique poststamp on your card that shows the date and location that your card was sent from. it is so much fun!




eleven:

couch to 5k--$2.99
ever dreamed of running a 5k but don't know where to start? this app is your built-in trainer to get you to where you need to be to race. you can do it! we do so much for our kids--it's time to do something for yourself too. you deserve it!


twelve:

pack & go deluxe--family to do, tasks and travel packing list--$1.99
my family is not that large (there are only four of us). however, when we go on vacation, i always seem to forget something! life just gets busy and this app provides me with a great reminder of what to pack for a local trip to the farmers market or a theme park to packing for a big trip (like our upcoming cruise). create 100% custom lists for each member of your family using their bank of over 800 items or add your own. i have never been more organized or ready for a trip. 




thirteen:

martha's everyday food recipes--$2.99
whether you love martha or hate her, you can probably agree that she makes some dang good food! this app provides great, easy recipes along with the integration of a shopping list and fun video tutorials. i love that they provide you with great images so that i know what  i am making is supposed to look like! 




fourteen:

chore bank--$1.99
this app is the ultimate parents tool to keep track of your child's allowance, completion of chores and spending money. say "hello" to you own bank of mom or dad. this app allows you to create a virtual bank account for each child. you set up a chore list and assign a monetary value to the chore and then when he/she completes the core you simple check it off and the dollar value assigned to the chore is added to their "bank account". you can even set an interest rate. i think it is a fabulous way to keep mom/dad organized while teaching your child great lessons in the value of money.






fifteen:

craigs list pro--$0.99
quite possibly the easiest way to search and post items to craigslist. super easy to search for items and i love that it uses gps so you can find out which items really are located closest to you. 




what are your favorite paid apps for your iphone? leave us a comment and let us know!