Summer Bucket List 2013

School has been out in central Illinois for a couple weeks.  Have you done anything really fun with your kids yet?  or just running to camps, practices and ballgames? Is your supper bad nachos and a diet soda in lawn chair while watching your child play ball?  Time to get planning.  Summer is a blank canvas but often we get so busy with 'stuff', we forget the fun summer can offer.

Check out these past summer posts for ideas to get you started on a fun filled summer with your child!

The Family Field Trip---http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2010/05/family-field-trip.html
http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2012/05/summer-bucket-list.html
http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2012/05/summer-bucket-list-part-2.html
http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2012/06/art-appreciation.html

Safety Town---http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2010/05/i-want-to-ride-my-bicycle.html

Playdates---http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2010/05/breakfast-playdate.html
http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2012/05/drama-queen.html
http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2012/05/drama-queen-part-2.html

Fun & Games---http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2010/06/water-play.html
http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2012/07/wacky-olympics.html

Farmers Market---http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2010/06/farmers-market.html
http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2011/05/farmers-market-2011.html

Ice Cream---http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2010/06/i-scream-you-scream-we-all.html
http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2012/07/heres-scoop.html

Holidays---http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2010/07/survivor.html

Zoo---check out June 2012 posts

The Great American Backyard Campout

The Great American Backyard Campout  is Saturday, June 22nd.  My childhood is filled with mostly wonderful camping memories :-)  My parents traveled with five kids in a station wagon and pulled a small camping trailer.  We camped in Yellowstone and Yosemite National Parks, the Boundary Waters of Minnesota and Virginia Beach. 

My husband and I were 'Weekend Warriors' camping for a night or two in local state parks.  After the boys were born, we began day trips to state parks.  We would get a campsite and set up camp.  We would spend the day fishing, hiking or playing depending on the park. The boys would take nap in the tent.  We would build a campfire and cook dinner.  After dinner, we would clean up camp and head home.  It was a camping style that worked for us.

The Great American Backyard Campout is an opportunity to introduce your child to the concept of camping in the security of your backyard.  Your Great American Campout  can be as organized or unorganized as you wish.  It's an opportunity for you and your child to spend an evening under the stars together or with friends.

A quick Internet search will provide you with  lots of helpful information and hints to hosting your own backyard camp-out. Here are few ideas and hints to get you started---

*Keep it simple.
*Check the weather.
*Set a date and time. 
*Invite family, friends and neighbors.
*Encourage people not to use their phones during the campout.
*Check your local fire codes for open fires (municipal and neighborhood).
*A tent can be optional---Sleeping bags can be placed air mattresses on the ground or large sheets. 
*Food---hot dogs, burgers, s'mores or Hobo Packs (foil cooking).  Want to keep it really simple? Order pizza and have it delivered!
*Have bug repellent, wet-wipes for sticky faces and sticky hands, joke books (to tell around the campfire), flashlights and lawn chairs.

A backyard camp-out will create a lot of fun summer  memories for you and your child!

The Brains of the Family

If only it was that easy!

Art Garage

Looking for some summer fun for you and your child?  Gather a group of friends and head over the the Art Garage or The Hive.  Both businesses provide a wide variety of materials and art experiences for all ages.  Check out the article in Peoria Journal for more information...http://www.pjstar.com/news/x1690792531/Area-businesses-offer-chance-to-create-your-own-pieces-of-art

The Hive---http://thehive305.com/

Fired Up Studio---http://www.firedupstudios.biz/

The Lemonade Stand

National Lemonade Days is Friday, June 7th - Sunday, June 9th.  National Lemonade Days is a coast to coast 'lemonade stand' to benefit  Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation.   The ALSF is non-profit organization that is "fighting childhood cancer, one cup at time."  In 2000, Alex Scott (1996-2004) was four years old and a cancer patient. She set up a neighborhood lemonade stand to help fund finding a cure for childhood cancers.  She raised $2000 that day and the foundation continues to raise money one cup at time.

Who can pass up cute kids selling lemonade? This would be a great family or neighborhood project.  Get a card table. Make a poster.  Use social media to let friends and family know about your lemonade stand.  Click on the links above to learn more about foundation.  You and your child can help make a difference in the battle of childhood cancer. 

Bug Eyed!

Very Hungry Caterpillar Inspired Playdough Fun!

 Our Very Hungry Caterpillar unit at the end of the school year inspired me to cook up a new batch of green playdough for the classroom.  I added large googly eyes, black pipe cleaners and all the red and green plastic caps I could find in our sorting bin (we have hundreds of plastic caps for counting, sorting and patterns).  Homemade playdough will last much longer than store bought.  I just store in plastic zippered storage bag and it will keep for a year to eighteen months. 

Need some playdough recipes?

http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2011/10/dough-boy.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Take playdough to the park, on trips. to family reunions or outside on your picnic table. Have playdough ready for indoor play---rainy summer days and baking hot summer days!  It's time to cook up a batch of playdough for summer fun with your child!

Fact or Fiction...sugar & hyperactivity

An interesting article on sugar and children...http://www.sfgate.com/health/article/Sugar-may-make-kids-fat-but-not-hyper-3994648.php