Building with Marshmallows and Toothpicks

What a great activity for the kids! They really enjoyed this and it was very easy(even for the 3 year old)!


What you need:

Marshmallows
Toothpicks
Construction Paper( Sissy just wanted to use it, obviously you don't have to)

NOW BUILD!!

They have already decided that this is going to be a regular activity, they want to build one taller than they are! 

The hardest part was not eating all the marshmallows...

*Summer Points*

Anyone else have a hard time keeping kids motivated through the Summer?

Intentions are good, but seriously how many crafts do you actually get done, how many "Practice Workbook" pages get done? How many times have you said "You really need to work on tying your shoes!"?

Did you know that Children can lose up to 2 months of knowledge over the Summer?

Well this is an awesome way to keep your child motivated through the Summer and get all those fun activities done, keep their brains exercised, and learn life skills they need!

Start a "point" system! 

*Start by Figuring out the things your child will do to earn these points.
Is there certain subjects that they didn't do so well on in school?
Are there life skills that it's time they mastered?
How about earning points for fun activities?

*Determine the timeline they will have to do this(for us it will be June 1st-August 1st)

*Determine how many points each one will count for.

*Decide how you will keep track of the points they earn, and how many points they can earn in a week.

*Decide the prizes that will be awarded for the points.
(Kids can help with this as you want them to be excited and motivated to get the prizes!
 Think Extra Privileges, Chuck E Cheese, Water Park, Toys, $Money$

*Decide how often kids will receive the prizes.

This is the list that we have chose for our 8 year old daughter

2 points            

For every small book read

For every Journal entry

Making Bed


5 points            

For every chapter book read

For every page of neat handwriting

Draw a family portrait

Make Muffins

For each week of swimming lessons completed

For each week of Sign Language lessons completed

Keeping shoes picked up(all week)

Help in Garden

Jumping in pool(without being caught)

Send pictures/letters to friends(5 pts each friend)

Clean interior of car (5pts each time)

Vacuum

Fold Laundry (5pts for each load)

Strong Handshake and Introduction


10 points           

Swim across pool(unassisted)

Cook soup

Learn to trim nails

20 push ups

Tie shoes(10 times)

Say Hello in a foreign language (10pts for each language mastered)


20 points              

Identify all 50 states on a map

Plan and Prepare a meal for the family

Master 20 (irregular) spelling words

Camping Trips (Help pack, organize,etc..)

Plan and prepare a picnic

Read a book and write a 3 paragraph(minimum) report

For every trail hiked


50 points            

Write and publish 2nd grade memories

Scrapbook

Recite all 50 states

Learn the National Anthem

Good report from Summer Camp


Bonus Points        

Picking up room without being asked (10pts each time)

Summer Skills Workbook (1pt for each page completed)

Maps- From our house to school,YaYa and Papas,Papaws(5pt each)

Cursive Handwriting Packet (5pts each)

Paragraph writing (5pts each)

Multiplication Facts (10 pts per set)

Craft Projects Completed (2 points per project)

Swimming under water (200 points)

Helping Brother complete puzzles (1 point for each puzzle completed)

Counting to 10 in a foreign language (20 points for each language mastered)

Loading the dishwasher (correctly) (10pts)

Everyone's point system will be different for each child! How will your child earn points? What kind of prizes will you use?

Have fun keeping your kids motivated this Summer! :-)



This concept was found on Pinterest and Full Credit Goes to Busy Kids=Happy Moms

Building Arts and Crafts Boxes

Doing arts and crafts with kids is so much fun! And they will remember it and cherish the time with you! You are not just making crafts, you are making memories!

In the beginning it can be daunting, but it doesn't have to be difficult or expensive! Use items you have on hand and then fill in with items from the dollar stores! Plan different projects through the week and put on your calendar, this will help you stay motivated and held accountable to getting them done!

My now 8 year old isn't interested with toys anymore...at all. She wants to watch TV,Read, Play DS, or be outside. That's about it. So I knew when school gets out and she is home everyday, there will be conflict over the TV everyday if I do not have things organized and easy to get to!(Plus this makes it so much easier for us to pick up and go out on the patio table to do our arts and crafts!)

Making the Summer Activity 2013 was just the push I needed to get my act together and organize our Arts and Crafts. I had no idea what we had or how much we actually had!

We started out by searching each room in the house and basement looking for all items we use or want to use in our arts and crafts(and Brothers preschool stuff)! This is what we found...

OMG, I had no idea we had this much stuff! We got right to work spreading everything out so we could see exactly what we had and which items needed to go in which boxes, and organizing everything!

We started with the smaller box with hinged lid that will be our everyday box that we can carry from room to room or outside.

Contains;
Dry Erase Board and Dry Erase Markers
Pipe Cleaners
Glue
Paint
Scissors
Color Wonder Pad
Water Painting Pads
Construction Paper
Tape
Crayons
Colored Pencils
Markers
Pencils, Extra Twist-able Crayons, Color Wonder Markers and Paint Brushes in Bag.
Hello Kitty Frame (first project)

I love this box with the handle and the locking clasp, so simple yet so easy for us! :-)

Next we decided to do a bigger box to house all the stuff that we just don't use on a regular basis.

The empty wipe containers are great for all the little things that get lost in the shuffle!

Glitters and Glues

Scissors(variety), Pencil Sharpeners,Stamp punchers,etc..

Variety of Paint Brushes

Paint
Mod Podge
Tacky Glue
Crayons
Fabric Paint
Window Markers
Craft Sticks

Construction Paper
Notebook Paper
Doodle Books
Handwriting Books
Stencils
Stamp pad

Finished project, 2 organized Arts and Crafts boxes!

We may have different items in those boxes at different times of the year depending on which projects we are working on or what season it is.

I took Sissy to JoAnns for the Memorial Weekend sale to spend some extra money she had(they had most Summer Camp crafts 50% off) ,we spent right around $15 to add all this to our collection for this Summer. They will all be spread out so not to do them all in one week! ;-)

When buying supplies it doesn't have to be expensive! I used these boxes because that's what we had on hand. I think a great idea would be to get a produce box(with lid) from a local grocery store and decorate it yourself(or with kids)!
When you buy supplies please do not go and try to make a box all at once, it can be overwhelming and expensive! Start with a few things that you need for certain projects and slowly add to your collection! Also consider your child's age and buy age appropriate supplies!
We are very blessed with a YaYa that loves to give craft supplies for birthdays and holidays! :-)

Have fun making your boxes and hurry up and go make some memories with your kids!  :-)

Life of kids with Blogging Moms...having to wait until Momma takes pictures to check out the loot!

Menu 5-27/6-2-13

Only 3 days of school left here! We are very excited! Sissy is counting down the days until she goes to Summer Camp, we are getting all of our activity/craft supplies together, making some plans.
Summer 2013...Here We Come!

We have a lot going on this week(something every day) so it may be a hit or miss week but at least we have a plan! :-)

Monday:
Cereal with Fresh Fruit
Sandwiches/Salad
HM Chicken Tenders with Annies Mac&Cheese and Peas

Tuesday:
Smoothie
*Daddys Choice*
?

Wednesday:
Bacon and Egg Sandwich with Fresh Fruit
?
This Pasta with Salad

Thursday:
Cereal/Yogurt with Fresh Fruit
L.O.
Crabby Patties  with Roasted Veggies

Friday:
Smoothies
?
Short Ribs,Kraut,and Taters(Crockpot) with Green Beans

Saturday:
Muffins with Fresh Fruit
CLEAN
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Sunday:
OUT
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FRIDGE