Summer Reading Challenges and Screen Time Limits for SUmmer?

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  • January 30, 2013 at 3:06 pm
    Tristan
    Participant

    Okay, I’m really wishing away winter at the moment and so here is my wishing it were summer question:

    What summer reading plans do you make with your children?

    We do the library summer reading program usually but the kids finish the reading (specific # of hours) in 1-2 weeks. Sad and sorry.

    We’ve done a scripture reading challenge last summer. Went great.

    This summer I think I want to do a challenge for each child with a specific list of books they can read toward a fun family activity at the end. I’ve seen a cute bingo board idea where each square on a large board has one of the following:

    – Book title

    – Author (choose a book by the author)

    – Place/way to read for ___ minutes. (in a hat, under a tree, in pajamas, by the garden, etc)

    So what about you – what ideas for a summer reading challenge do you have? I’m not too keen on prizes that are “things”. We usually do activities together as prizes, mostly as a way to spread out some fun summer favorite activites so we don’t do them all in the first two weeks of summer.

    Any book lists for specific ages/grade levels? I’m thinking about pulling some of the literature titles from SCM for my oldest to read, the younger ones will have books based on their reading ability.

    In combination I’m thinking about what our summer ‘screen time’ limits will be. We tend to cut out a good bit in summer anyway. Any thoughts on screen time limits for summer?

    I’ll try to come back later to share more of my ideas but kids are calling!

    January 30, 2013 at 3:36 pm
    Des
    Participant

    This is a great question!!  I don’t have any really good answers for you, but wanted to bump you up.  I’m thinking that we’ll have a list of books that they can choose from, i’m pretty sure that we’ll have number of pages to be read instead of hours.  We don’t do alot of separate prizes either, I think we’ll do a dinner out or ice cream etc….

    January 30, 2013 at 3:58 pm
    chocodog
    Participant

    Well, Screen time I am thinking you mean TV. right???  Anyway, if that is what you mean I would use that as a reward and ditch the TV during summer.  There are so many things to do that you don’t need to be indoors unless it is to do schoolwork during the afternoon when it is hot .  Then a little history or science screen time is good. I don’t let the kids turn on Screens unless they have all chores or homework finished anyway. In the afternoon would be a good time to squeeze in a good book.  In the summer there is so much to do that it is better if they are outside.  Exploring the outdoors, jumping on the trampoline, running threw the sprinkler, climbing something, ect..

       We usually reward after everything is done in the summer…  When we are done with school we usually go to the beach, hike up to the falls, go to the Library, go for Ice Cream or visit someone.  It is never dull around here in the summer and I would rather we do something then sit around watching TV or sitting at a computer.

       There are those down times for you of course. 🙂  I still send mine outside and take a breather. This way they are learning more around them then sitting like a bunch of bumps on a log….  They are studying the log with the bumps.   LOL  

      There are so many programs going on during the summer that we don’t have time to go to them all. We must be picky at all we can do. I try to pick the educational programs.  🙂

       Blessings to you .   I hope you find tons of stuff to do during the summer.. I love to take them to the beach in the evening.  No one is around and I can read a book while they play.  YOu don’t have to go in the water if you don’t want to.. 🙂  It’s their reward   😉

    January 30, 2013 at 4:21 pm
    HollyS
    Participant

    I would love to do these: http://blogshewrote.blogspot.com/2009/05/adventure-boxes-part-1.html

    Basically, each of your DC pick a subject to study (horses, oceans, cars, etc.) and you fill a box with books, crafts, games, etc. on their topic (or topics). 

    January 30, 2013 at 5:14 pm
    Tristan
    Participant

    chocodog – yes, screen time includes tv, as well as computer, video games, and any electronic device that is not reading a book (so apps and such on an Ipod or Kindle Fire, tablet, etc).

    We’re already pretty strict on the non-tv screen time. Video games/computer games only happen on Saturday, each child gets 20-30 minutes depending on age. That’s it. So mostly at my house it is tv time via dvds and netflix.

    I’ve seen those before Holly! Neat idea.

    One thing I know is we won’t be doing much running around places this summer. June is the end of pregnancy 8 and July we’ll add a baby. I always prefer to be home then. So we won’t participate in summer programs really this year. The kids will have plenty of outside time, a garden to manage, and so on. So with a book challenge added in I think we’ll have just enough ‘planned’ to keep us from craziness in the lighter schedule of summer.

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