Summertime, Summertime
Now is the time most parents are signing there kids up for camps and making sure their summer vacation is accounted for. Keeping kids busy so they don’t get “bored.” Hmm. I don’t remember ever being bored in the summer. We played out side all day, rode our bikes where we needed to go, went to the pool, played board games on rainy days and generally stayed busy with out adult direction or direct instruction. We didn’t go to camp or take classes 3 days a week. We played.
I know-that was a different time. Things are more dangerous now. At least that’s what so many people think. I don’t buy it. I think that now we have so much media telling us all about all these bad things that happen that we have became afraid. It seems common place. When really, bad things always happened-you just didn’t hear about it as much. Now that doesn’t mean I send my kids out in the woods by themselves at night. But I do let my kids play out side by themselves, out in the park with friends or siblings with out me. They ride their bikes places and get this-they don’t have their own cell phones!!
I look so forward to summer time. Playing outside all day and really being tired at night. My kids usually take a class or 2 or 1 or 2 weeks of camp during the summer-but not this year. I am not spending the money and I plan to offer lots of fun around here along with lots of chances for undirected play. Abby and her family moved into our backyard a few weeks ago. So I am looking forward to lots of kids running around the park this year, making forts, digging in the mud and investigating the woods.
This weeks unplugged theme is BOOKS. I have several books checked out from our library that are choked full of outdoor, summer activities.
First off, if you need anymore reasons to throw your kids outside this summer you should read the national bestseller, LAST CHILD IN THE WOODS-SAVING OUR CHILDREN FROM NATURE-DEFICIT DISORDER. By Richard Louv.
The next book is well worn and tattered for good reason. It is loaded with activities and games. I have lots of book marks in this one! GO OUTSIDE by Nancy Blakey.
THE BOOK OF FAMILY NATURE ACTIVITIES By Page Chichester has 50 projects and activities. These are a bit more complicated but not too difficult. Also, a bit more scientific, but great for older kids.
THE KIDS GUIDE TO NATURE ADVENTURES By Joe Rhatigan is full of colored photos and practicale how to activities.
Great environmental book that answers lots of WHY questions.
NATURE’S PLAYGROUND By Fiona Danks and Jo Schofield covers outdoor activities for all four seasons. And what I like best is that the activities don’t have a list a mile long of things you have to gather or go and buy. Mostly they are found, natural objects.
HANDS ON NATURE put out by The Vermont Institute of Science, is more like a manual but again, full of useful information and environmental science projects.
These are just a few, I am sure there are many, many more great books out there full of ideas to make your summer in the back yard a great one!
Tags: blog, family, friends, park
(You might want to change bored games to board games lol)(I’ve done that typo myself so I can laugh about it)
I wonder if you’ve seen the website called..Free range kids? A fave of mine.
http://freerangekids.wordpress.com/
Lea is heading to camp for a week in June for the first time. She’s always wanted to do an overnight camp so she is going with a friend to a humanist camp in Cinci. I’ll miss her so much, but I’m glad she is getting the chance to try it.
You and Abby can definitely organize your own camp right there, what fun that would be. It’s so great to have friends as neighbors. Like family in a way!
Have fun this Spring and Summer!
None of my 5 kids have ever done a summer camp or classes — we are usually so very busy playing and exploring together, no time for running all over town to activities.
I agree, undirected play is so very important, and it’s wonderful to see what the kids come up with when left to their own devices outdoors. It’s good for them