Summer Tips: Scheduling, Part 2

Last week we challenged you to take some time and create a daily schedule for your family this summer. We hope that you did that.

This week we will give you a sample of our summer days with our kids. The benefits of directing and leading your children far outweigh the abstract idea of just "hanging out." Keep in mind that God worked six days and rested on the seventh. 1:7 is a good ratio for free time.

Here is a sample schedule followed by some comments.

7:00 arise—morning responsibilities (wash face, make bed, personal Bible time)

7:30 breakfast and clean up

8:15 Bible study (together, usually a Bible story)

8:45 outdoor play (not structured)

9:45 math and reading and writing skills review (practice workbooks are available in many stores)

10:45 snack

11:00 household jobs or yardwork (time varies)

11:45 recreation / a game together or something else fun

12:15 lunch and clean up

12:45 individual reading or resting time (time depends on age)

1:15 afternoon activity time (pool, park, slip-and-slide. . .)

4:00 return from pool, showers and all

4:30 music practice, drawing, hobbies, or new skill practice

One child plans and cooks the meal (with help)

Evening:
6:15 Mealtime and conversation about the day

7:15 Clean-up

7:30 family time (games,movie,read aloud,walk. . .)

9:00 Bedtime preparation (pajamas, teeth, 10 verses from Proverbs, a song, a prayer)

1. Don’t be rigid; be flexible. The schedule is to help you, not drive you.

2. Change the schedule as you need to. Some days you just don’t need it.

3. Have fun; enjoy your children. Your lives together last for such a short time. Time passes much too quickly for a mom.

4. Do the same things over and over each day. They like repeating the same kinds of things.

5. If you are a working mom and have a babysitter, it is even more important that you build a schedule into the day. Give it to the babysitter and expect her to follow through.

Areas to keep in mind: [1-12 years]

I determined the GETTING UP TIME, because that put me in control of the day; so even though I may have let them sleep later, it wasn’t random.

PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

MEALS TOGETHER whenever possible. As the kids get older, you may want to do breakfast and dinner as a family and allow snacking for lunch with paper plates.

JOBS AROUND THE HOUSE and yard

EXERCISE or cardio activity (I had a 20 minute kids’ aerobic DVD that used fast and slow animals to give the kids a workout if we didn’t have a pool day), or slip n slide, or an early morning bike ride

READING AND MATH time (Anyone can buy books at the teachers’ supply store. Choose a grade and do one or two pages a day.

DRAWING--When my kids were growing up there was a 30 minute show where the host showed children how to draw. I also bought a book called “Teaching Children to Draw” We would sit around with paper and different art media and follow the instructions to create masterpieces!

LEARNING A NEW SKILL, craft, or hobby [This takes involvement from you to get them started] This could also include computer skills: power point, designing web applications, keyboarding

Each child had a night where he had to PREPARE THE EVENING MEAL. It involved going through the cookbooks [kids cookbooks are fun and are available through the library], making a shopping list, and doing the preparation [with help if needed]. Lots of fun and variety emerged as each one’s adventurous tastes had an opportunity of expression.

MUSIC PRACTICE

INDIVIDUAL READING-- The video game time was determined by how much reading time one had. It was equal. 30 minutes of reading = 30 minutes of video games

GAME TIME outside, or inside board games

SCHEDULED MOVIE OR TV TIME

FAMILY READ ALOUD TIME

PLANNED TRIPS are great if you can do it every week or every two weeks. Try to take advantage of what is available in the city where you live: hands on science museum, art museums, take tours (We scheduled a family tour in the government building one year—a learning experience for all of us). Just ask.

Kids have their own BIBLE READING, but in the summer I do a study with them. We have studied individual character qualities, friendships, and the tongue. Have each child select a Bible character to study, identify with, and imitate.

Quote: The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it. Michelangelo

Copyright 2008 ParentWisdomNet