Apr. 26, 2006
Homeschool Help: Trip and Summer Ideas

Are you going back "home" or on even on a long extended trip that you fear may make it difficult for your kids to come back home without their brains turning to mush, or an unfortunate case of "discipline decay?"  Are maybe you are wondering what do to about this l-o-n-g summer that is approaching?

We just got back from a week-long "whirlwind" of a trip.  And I know a lot of people who go back to see family for extended visits.  I was the queen of this when our DD was an infant and toddler.  DH would have a heavy work-load or there was a family emergency, so DD and I would take off for 3-6 weeks at time.

It's always interesting being "out of your norm" but you can do it!  Remember to have lots of grace and patience.  Remember to have fun yourself!   And learn when to be flexible, but yet keep some sense of "normality" for you kids.  

We know a missionary family from India that comes to the States every spring and they are so good at having a few rules for their kids and the hosts (they don't straight out tell us them, but they are sweetly firm in what they do for their kids).  Kids stay in parent's room on floor (I was told they are used to it).  They go to bed with the same tape every night.  The kids don't get to stay up late every night -- just when there is a special event, dinner, etc. 

Keep your rules, but bend them if necessary.  After all, you are on vacation.  If Grandma wants to give them a cookie, I've learned to finally say, "Sure!" without cringing.  Ask if you can help her bake some!  Do watch out for too many sweets though -- no one will want to be around junior if he's bouncing off the walls.  My kids may stay up past their bedtime and miss a nap or two, sure -- but not every day if we can help it.

This is not an excuse to not discipline though.  Be discreet if you have to, but you are the parent!  Don't send your kid mixed signals.  What they can't get away with at home, they shouldn't get away with there.

JUST SOME ACTIVITY IDEAS:

• FIELD TRIPS & JUST THE TIME YOU ARE THERE ITSELF:  Help your kids make a notebook or lapbook of your trip.  Gather brochures, tourist magazine, etc of things you go see up there.  You can also request an info packet before you go and look through what they send you with the kids and have them choose something to do.  (Do a search on the internet of the area -- most states, cities, etc will send you a tourist infor packet.)  While there, see if something catches your child's interest and then dive in and study it with them, either then or when you get back home.

•  NATURE STUDY:  Make a nature notebook.  Get your kids a notebook -- or we use a 5x8 binder and cut computer paper in half, three-hole punch it, and stick it inside and then you can move around or add sheets.  Take a hike, or just sit on a blanket in your backyard or a park, and see what you can spy at eye level.  I bought field guides from a used bookstore (also look in thrift stores and libary book sales, etc.), or you can look up that strange, unknown thing on the internet.  We go out and choose one thing that catches the kids' eyes.  If we can, we will pick it or capture it or take a digital pic of it so we can study it up close and draw it.  We also do flower presses, leaf rubs with crayons, tape things into our book, and put pics in it, and then write out where we found it, what it is, etc. 

 http://www.backyardnature.net/nsop/welcome.htm

http://sites.silaspartners.com/CC_Content_Page/0,,PTID61309%7CCHID452232%7CCIID,00.html

http://www.naturalsciences.org/funstuff/notebook/index.html 

 (this is from my state! =)  Sign up for their newsletter.)

 

** I will also try to post some forms and ideas in the next few weeks that I have on nature journaling.  

• CRAFTS:  I get plastic totes from Dollar General or WalMart with a lid with a handle for lots of things.  (They come in several sizes -- I like the CD or file folder -- I keep DD current homeschool stuff in the file size so when we travel, we just pick it up and go.)  Load it up with cheap stuff -- cotton balls, tongue depressors, markers, glue, pipe cleaners, foam shapes, paper, old fabric and yarn, etc.  It's all in one spot and the kids can be creative.  They can even make "thank you" gifts for your hosts before they leave.

• INCLUDE FAMILY:

1. Include the cousins, etc in on the fun.  A family at our church came to Abby's bday party last year when we did a Nature Scavenger Hunt.  The dad, who previously wasn't so sure about homeschooling, said, "If this is what homeschooling is, I'm sold!"
2. Let the grandparents teach -- even if they don't know it.  Have a broken radio, etc?  Can Gpa help the kids take it apart and show them how it works?  Have Gma use baking cookies to share why a recipe is her favorite, what fraction of a cup to use, etc. 
3. Take a birdfeeder/house as a hostess gift, have the kids help set it up, and they can wait and see who comes to the feeder with the family you are staying with.

Apr. 26, 2006 - Thank You!

Apr. 30, 2006 - Good Thoughts

Apr. 30, 2006 - Good stuff!

May. 2, 2006 - Untitled Comment