SAHM's what are you doing kid wise this summer?

[RCT]

with the end of school nearing me....having them both around just half the day is hard, fighting and bickering, the heat is too hot, and what not, what am I going to do this whole summer.....:banghead: feel like a bad mommy, but they have been so whinny already, just though i would ask what you are all doing to beat the summer, well should I say bordom? thanks in advance...

[AnnW]

Keep them in the pool or away from each other as much as possible! LOL
Mine are older so they are pretty good about calling a friend over, going down the street to find someone to play with, reading a book, or entertaining themselves. When they get restless they do have a tendancy to fight, so then I just throw them out it the hot, mosquito infected back yard till they make up! ;)
When they were little, if we weren't at the pool, I would try to plan one outside, run your head off, activity a day, have a couple of crafts to do a week, but I didn't really work at too hard at entertaining them cause I felt that while they might need direction, I wasn't there to be their entertainment..they needed to learn how to do that on their own.
We are big on water toys around here...hose, crazy daisy, squirt guns (good for when they are at each other's throats..I even play! LOL) . Have fun!

[KarlaB]

I run away and tell dh he has to deal with them since he is home for the summer!! :newwink: My kids aren't in school yet, so I deal with them 24/7 7 days a week! :lol: We try to get outside when we can and I try to vary what we do out there - sprinkler, pool, sand box, park, etc. We also go the the library for story hour and take part in a summer reading program. I also try to do crafts with them - indoor and out. We also plan day trips - like to the zoo, parades, fishing, science museum, etc. It doesn't matter what or how much we do though, we still always seem to have bickering and whining every day! LOL! I also agree with Ann about not being there to entertain them 24/7. While I do do a lot with them, I also believe they need to play on their own...or we would all suffer from my insanity! ;) Good luck! :)

[angie r]

My kids aren't in school yet either! We have playgroups 2 or 3 times a week. Play with neighbors and in the pool. The library is great because it is cool, educational and free! I am putting the kids in a couple of vacation bible schools too. One starts next week and they go from 9 until 12. I don't know what I'll do with myself!! We also have a movie theatre that runs free movies for kids on Wednesdays at 10am all summer.

[SMB]

My three dk's aren't in school yet either. During the summer we do a lot of park hopping. We do a different park every week. Kind of breaks up the monotony. We do lots of water play, I usually fill up this big muck bucket with water rather than the wading pool. Then they can fill their own squirt bottles and the baby can just splash his hands in it or use the giant paint brush. Messy crafts are good to do in the summer, just hose down the driveway when you're done. The best boredom buster is a friend if there are kids nearby.
Sheryl:)

[Diane]

Here's how I keep my dck's busy... They will spend over an hour sitting at the table playing with play doh. You can also make your own... they always enjoy doing this. (goop too) They enjoy doing puzzles, coloring or painting and they totally enjoy playing with the Lite Brite... They like to "bead" whatever you CAN bead, including cereal (fruit loops, Cheerio's) or just regular beads... I read a LOT of stories to them and they also enjoy making up their own stories to tell each other. (hilarious) They enjoy swimming in their little waiting pool... squirt guns, spray bottles, etc. They enjoy drawing pictures on the driveway/sidewalk with sidewalk chalk... I bought a HUGE bucket full of chalk at Target for about $2.99 or we'll make our own. Bubbles, Hoola-hoops, bikes (we even had a bike wash the other day) Hopscotch, tag, hide and seek, I spy. Twice a week we'll walk to the park/play ground and sometimes we may even bring a picnic lunch. (Let them make their own sandwiches) Kickball, basketball... Sometimes we'll build a tent over the clothesline and I'll take out our sleeping bags and we'll pretend that were camping... Playing house... but the boys call it "kitchen" because they don't/won't admit to playing "house". LOL We go for walks and bring our bug barn for all the bugs we might find or we'll look for pretty rocks (agates) or collect anything that is unusual. I always try to do a variety of things with them every day so they don't get bored. I also agree that I'm NOT and shouldn't be their entertainment. It's good for them to learn how to use their own imaginations, but I may direct them if they seem to have a hard time deciding what to do. As much as I have at my house for them to do to keep busy... a few of them will STILL get bored. Ugh! I use to get frustrated and would feel really guilty... but I've come to the conclusion that sometimes no matter how much you have for them to do... it's still never going to be enough. LOL They WANT/CHOOSE to be bored and sometimes there just isn't a darn thing you can do about it. :) At this point I may suggest that they go outside and chase themselves (or their shadows). LOL Good luck... I hope you can find something to help occupy them for the summer. It really can be frustrating sometimes. :)

Diane... :wave:

[RCT]

such great ideas...besides going down to the lake, all I could think of was the crazy dasiy and the blow up pool, but its so buggy lately, and HOT.....these table activities sound great too, I will have to give up some puter time so that they can play thier educational games here huh...:lol: I love my kids, but hate the bickering....really hate the bickering...and I know its coming...the lake is fun, but then me and the dog and the kids have to be in it, and sometimes that stinks....:lol:...ever swim with a 6 month old dog and a 3 and 5 year old....eeek...thanks again for the advice and suggestions....