summer
-
Summer Science – Ice Tie Dye
My daughter and I tried ice tie dye earlier this summer and it was such an easy way to create really awesome tie dye art. Usually I’m NOT a tie die fan because you just can’t avoid a serious mess. Ice tie dye was totally doable with minimal mess. Here’s the idea – You either band the item you want to tie dye just like you usually would OR just crumple it up for a different look. Then you set the item on a baking rack and balance the entire rack over a bin (you’ll want something to catch all the dye as the ice melts). After setting all of…
-
Classroom Recipes for Summer
One of the most useful tools for the classroom that I’ve ever put together is my Classroom Recipe Book. This collection of recipes gets used over and over again throughout the school year, but summer is a time when they can really shine! Summer gives us the opportunity to slow down a bit an really play. Play with all of these ingredients, make messes, explore and then explore again, and try something totally different. That’s what these recipes are all about. Some of my favorite recipes for summer (that are included in the book of course) are: All of these are wonderful to use outside and kids absolutely cannot resist…
-
Things to do the week before summer camp
‘Twas the week before camp and all through the house… I’m sure there’s a great poem there, but that’s not my style. It is however the week before camp at our house and that has come with a super long to-do list! Here’s what needs to be tackled before I send my girl off for the week. I’m sure that I’m forgetting something, but hopefully I’ll have it all under control by the end of the week.
-
Preparing Kids for Summer Camp
We’re deep into packing to send my girl to overnight camp for a week, and we’ve been doing some other things to make sure she’s prepared too. Any new camp can be a big deal for a child, no matter how old they are. It means new people, different schedules and expectations, and situations that they’ll have to figure out. Going to camp is a great opportunity for children to build independence and learn more about themselves, but it can also bring a lot of anxiety. Here are some of the things to consider as you prepare your child for any new camp experience. Know your child. A shy child…
-
Preschool Summer Themes
There are so many fun themes to explore in the classroom during the summer! If you’re looking for a little inspiration , or some easy resources click on the images below – they’ll make the planning easy so you have more time to do a little relaxing by the pool!
-
Hiking with Kids
One activity that my daughter and I both enjoy is hiking. We have very different definitions of “fun” hikes – she prefers the most adventurous physical trails, while I like a chill scenic vibe – but we’ve both learned a lot about planning for a day on the trails. Here are some of the things that I always consider before heading out for a hike. Know your limits. All of our local hikes are pretty flat – we don’t live in a mountainous or hilly area at all. This means that our bodies are used to a fairly steady elevation. I’d have no problem spending an entire day in a…
-
Camping with Kids
We just got back from a weekend camping trip and we are all exhausted because we played HARD. Camping has always been a favorite for our family – our daughter’s first camping trip was when she was only a month old. Over the years we’ve learned so much about camping with kids at different ages and stages. Here are some of the things that work for us. Pack intentionally. We try not to take TOO much stuff with us when we camp (that’s kind of the point), but there are definitely things that make life easier when you’re traveling anywhere with little ones. The areas that I really focus on…
-
June Bucket List
When I first started blogging it was really popular for one blogger to share an image with prompts and others to fill it out, then everyone would write a post about their responses and all of the posts would be linked together. I even used some of these in the classroom, it was so fun. I thought I’d bring it back this summer. I’ll share a bucket list and you use the image however you like! Here’s the template for June – you can download the PDF or copy and past the image above. This is what’s on MY bucket list for June:
-
Keeping a Summer Routine
Summer can be really hard for children. During the school year they have routines that they can depend on. They know when meals will happen, they have a good idea of what each day will look like, and they understand what the rules and expectations are for each of the adults and environments they interact with. When all of this changes it can feel like the floor has dropped out from underneath them. This can lead to unexpected, and sometimes unwanted behaviors. Continuing some of those same routines, and creating new ones definitely helps! Routines help make sure that tasks get completed, they keep us all a little happier and…
-
Summer Chores for Kids
Even as an adult I struggle to do all of the household tasks that I’m responsible for on a regular basis – so it makes perfect sense that children have a hard time cleaning up after themselves. Giving them age appropriate chores early on helps them understand that we all play a role in taking care of our environment. Summer is the perfect time to add a couple of chores to the daily routine. When days are longer and schedules are a little more flexible, then it can be easier to implement new routines. Selecting the right chores for children helps set them up for success. Here are some things…
