Needs ideas for this summer

[Josiegirl]

My 20 yo dd is home for the summer and working with me, starting next week. We've written down a schedule of sorts, such as different activities for different days. We'd like to teach some sign language, spanish, play math games, along with science and reading, have a cooking/baking day, maybe a music/dance day. We're trying to incorporate different activity days and still keep a good chunk for outdoor play. Ages are 1 yo- 9yo, 10 kids in all. Any help or advice would be more than welcomed!
We're also creating a chore chart, using their names on stars attached by velcro, listing chores they already fight to do.
Thanks!

[Cradle2crayons]

My 20 yo dd is home for the summer and working with me, starting next week. We've written down a schedule of sorts, such as different activities for different days. We'd like to teach some sign language, spanish, play math games, along with science and reading, have a cooking/baking day, maybe a music/dance day. We're trying to incorporate different activity days and still keep a good chunk for outdoor play. Ages are 1 yo- 9yo, 10 kids in all. Any help or advice would be more than welcomed!
We're also creating a chore chart, using their names on stars attached by velcro, listing chores they already fight to do.
Thanks!

I don't have as many kids as you but instead of chore lists for the daycare kids I give each kid an assignment for the week, complete with a badge stating sir job title. Some of my job titles are "kitchen helper"... "Animal helper" ... "Outside helper" .. "Little one helper"... Etc.... And they assist with each job title all week and then rotate.

Little one helper helps me when I have a small one here like my special needs baby who is tube fed. Animal helper feeds the kittens and dogs and checks their water dispenser and let's the dogs and cats in and out the door to potty when the animal asks. Kitchen helper assists with setting e table and preparing food. Outside helper assists with anything outdoors like sweeping the porch, picking up stuff, and helping to clean out the wading pool etc.

They are very proud of their badges and it keeps them busy. Of course, I have to redo all the chores but it does take a little less time when I go back over them.

As far as activities go, we don't necessarily do theme weeks but most of our summer stuff is outside related. Such as science projects, nature stuff etc. it's easy because we live in the woods far from real world stuff and neighbors. Lol.

[cheerfuldom]

I think you are off to a fantastic start! just organizing and getting enthusiastic about the summer is a great. you might consider taking pics and letting us following along with your success.

as for ideas, my favorite way to get new ideas is to follow blogs via facebook. everytime someone updates the blog, if you already "like" the blog on FB you will get a notice to check out the update.

some of my suggestions

play at home mom
happy hooligans
fun at home with kids

there are tons more but you can check those out and find links to other suggested sites and before you know it, you have 20 blogs you are following and a huge assortment of ideas. another suggestion would be to check out preschooling and homeschooling groups and blogs.

i know there is a nice one that one of the providers on this group does called mrs. steinel's house

all of these places have fun, hands on activities that involve no electronics or screen time and no pressure academically....just good classic kids fun.

[Starburst]

Class Job and responsibilities (some may depend on the age of the children):

Student of the week/day Hold flag for pledge of allegiance, Line leader, Calendar assistant

Light/ Electricity monitor- Making sure all the lights, TVs, Electronics/fans are off when a room is unoccupied

Water Monitor- Making sure that all the facets, hoses, are off after water activities- also making sure other kids don't waste water

Class Feeder- In charge of watering and feeding the house plants and class pets

Toy Monitor- Clean up leader. Making sure that everyone is participating in clean up time and putting things in right place. In charge of final check to make sure everything is put away and in its place before next activity before teacher's final inspection. Also need to participate in the cleaning.

Junior Helper/Helpers (1-3)- Helps setting table/ activities/ nap time (setting up mats/blankets/pillows)

*some jobs you can combined or stretch out more depending on how many kids you have, students can change jobs every week or keep them for the summer depending on the job- student of the week day gives everyone a chance to the "class leader".

You could also do mini-daily or weekly work shops:

self-help/life skills:
Manners/Etiquette
Safety
Hygiene
Responsibility
Small/Large Motor Skills
Vocabulary (English/Spanish/ASL)
Hand Eye Coordination
Matching

Music time/song themes:
Disney/Nickelodeon movie/cartoon songs
Hawaiian
Rocking 50s
Groovy 60
Far out 70s
Totally 80s
Phat 90s (Finally a use for the Macarena)
Wild West Country
Mascaraed/Mystery
Royal Renaissance
All American Kids (Patriotic songs/ songs about America)
Camp Daycare (Nature songs/ Campfire songs)
Culture Mixer (Salsa, Celtic, Mambo, Classical, Etc...)

Science (for older kids):
Animals/bugs- technical names of babies, females, males {try to find a new word for female dogs though}; life cycles of frogs/butter flies
Ocean- fish, sea mammals (maybe a field trip to aquarium/beach if possible)
Outer space- solar system, stars
Plants - gardening/growing seedlings
Health- How to live a healthy life style, Health and Nutrition tips

Social Studies (older kids):
Community field trips- Library, Fire Station, Police Stations, elderly homes, Hospitals/doctor offices (or see if they can come to your house)
Family tree/ home culture- "All About Me/My Family", talking about their traditions and what their families heritage/background is or what their parents do for a living
Friendship- older children will learn how important friends are and what is the difference between a friend and a bully , signs of bullying, why bullying is wrong and how to stop a bully (its a hot topic in schools lately)
Safety- Crossing street, stranger danger, fire drills/tips

Literature (older kids):
Group story times- older kids can take turns reading to younger kids or reading and discussing a book
Dramatic Play/Plays- Older kids can organize a play based on their favorite (appropriate) children's story for the younger kids, some younger children can participate as well
Vocabulary Older kids can be given an advanced vocab word every day or once a week, could be a word that is a synonym for words they already know (interesting-> intriguing)

[craftymissbeth]

It's been awhile since I've seen you around, Starburst.. Welcome back! happyface


And I LOVE the Happy Hooligans blog. She has so much fun with her DCKs!

[Starburst]

It's been awhile since I've seen you around, Starburst.. Welcome back! happyface


And I LOVE the Happy Hooligans blog. She has so much fun with her DCKs!

Yeah I was busy with finals for spring and starting summer school- Still got 5 more weeks of summer school.