The other morning I was praying through this upcoming season. When I got to school, a lovely mom, Laura C., Anderson's bible teacher, handed me this book, The Super Summer Challenge, written by her sister-in-law, Linda H. Wicks.
You can find it at www.supersummerchallenge.com
Linda came up with a wonderful idea to challenge our kids to accomplish Goals in multiple levels--Spiritual,Physical,Mental, Caring/Sharing etc...
There are points for each area to be worked toward --short term and long term goals and a family reward for the end of the summer.
I love that the whole family is working together as they grow!!
I know that the kids will LOVE this idea because my mom used to do challenges like this with my younger brother, David, and I over our summer breaks. The first day of the summer she would reveal a wonderland of projects, and interesting activities in our garage and lists of ideas for activities for the summer that kept us growing,learning, and loving all summer long. I do believe our summers turned us into readers, taught us how to organize our time, brought out our creative streaks, made us into good friends--first with one another and with our neighbors. We were given opportunities to make lunches and snacks that taught us how to love cooking and creating in the kitchen. Other activities turned us into lovers of the outdoors and made us contemplative and great observers-- I still love taking a hike and knowing how to identify wildlife along the route. We also developed practical chore skills, worked ahead--even though we did not know it at the time in school skills...I spent hours singing and making up songs...David learned several instruments...Most treasured, were the times we grew in the Lord when we would visit nursing homes and sing together or bake cookies with a neighbor or memorize scripture together or read through awesome books that grew our hearts such as the Patricia St. James series....SOoooomany memories...of our dog Taffy running after the family on bike rides, of playing tag with neighbor kids AND my mom and dad into the night,of catching fireflies, laying in the grass and imagining and looking up at clouds, making a doll house out of cardboard and all the furnishings too, dressing up the dog and the cat in my baby clothes and taking them on stroller rides (oh, they were so embarrassed!), selling lemonade,making card towers......cheering and swimming at swim team matches....digging a humongous hole in the back yard and lighting campfires in it....
My own kids later would tell similar stories of long days streatched out in to glorious wonder...
AHHhhhh.... Summer!!!! It does NOT have to dreaded ;)
I grew up not allowed to say the word, "bored". Don't think I understood the word!
How was this in a world with no T.V.,computer,or video games?
Ahh....perhaps the LACK of these was the blessing!!!
These days are more challenging. Entertainments seem to push in from every angle. Draining our kids of imagination and good ole pure learning, fun,play,growth. And I find my most challenging times with patience and love between siblings and for growth in my home is when the things with electric cords start to push out the REAL life in my home. I'm putting a mark on this Summer--taking back the land!!--Anyone want to join me? Last night our Wii found a new home--the inside of my closet...and you know what? Instead of upheaval, my ten year old son woke up this morning and after heading out to weed the garden with me and have a breakfast smoothie at the picnic table he smiled at me and said, "You know what, mom? Just knowing the Wii is put away for a while makes me feel really new inside. I feel...kinda...clean." ....
".something new is growing up, can you not perceive it?"
We played and at a park today began our goal lists--eventually they will be written on poster board and revealed the first day of summer--there is a system for recording points and setting goals...but for now we have a lot of anticipation for growth this summer--not just from me but from the kids. I love that they will own their own challenge.
So far the boys have come up with so many cute and interesting and really useful ideas. I loved, read a book to my brother and learn how to make a meal for the family one night a week and look up a dictionary word and teach it to the family at dinner...learn how to do a cartwheel....play chess...clean up toys without being asked...make a creation out of recycled items...play legos for 45 min.... One even suggested to memorize Matthew 5 and to "write a letter to God" during his days....
Below, another mom has put together a sample chart of the activities and points for her family's summer challenge. I hope it is helpful to take a look at it--and the link above to Linda's book is a gem as well.
I encourage you to redeem the time this summer. Our days are so fleeting and our children's destiny so precious.
Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. (Psalm 90:2)
Love, Gillian
Luke 10:27 Way Of Life Planning Sheet
"'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"
| Start Date: | Katie (Age 10) | Hollie (Age 8) | | ||
| End Date: | Point Value | Points Earned | Point Value | Points Earned | Item(s) Needed |
| Tasks that Focus on Loving God | | | | | |
| Heart (Pursuing Interests & Passions) | | | | | |
| 1. Make a bracelet | 1 | | 1 | | Bracelet Kit |
| 2. Complete a sewing project | 3 | | 3 | | Sewing Kit |
| 3. Cook something new | 2 | | 2 | | List of simple recipes kids can make http://familyfun.go.com/recipes/kids |
| 4. Write and illustrate a story | 3 | | 3 | | |
| 5. Write a poem | 2 | | 2 | | |
| 6. Perform a song in front of 1 or more people | | | 3 | | |
| 7. Write a script and act out 1 scene | 3 | | | | |
| Soul (Spiritual Growth) | | | | | |
| 8. Memorize books of the bible | 5 | | 5 | | |
| 9. Memorize a bible verse from ones provided | 1 | | 1 | | Print verses from http://www.diggingouttogether.com/ organizing_tips/images/200710_Verses_To_Heed.pdf |
| 10. Complete a daily devotion | 2 | | 2 | | Purchase an age-appropriate devotional |
| 11. Read the bible for 20 minutes | 1 | | 1 | | Age-appropriate bible |
| 12. Apply a bible verse to a current situation | 3 | | 3 | | |
| | Katie (Age 10) | Hollie (Age 8) | | ||
| | Point Value | Points Earned | Point Value | Points Earned | Item(s) Needed |
| Strength (Physical Dvlpt & Forming Good Habits) | | | | | |
| 13. Brush your teeth five days in a row without being told | 1 | | 1 | | |
| 14. Clear the table after a meal without being asked | 1 | | 1 | | |
| 15. Eat 3 servings of fruit and/or vegetables every day | 1 | | 1 | | |
| 16. Try a new food (1 point per bite up to five) | 1-5 | | 1-5 | | |
| 17. Jump rope without stopping (Katie: 125 times, Hollie: 65 times) | 2 | | 2 | | Jump Rope |
| 18. Pick up brick from 10 foot | | | 3 | | |
| 19. Swim 1 lap at YMCA | 1 | | 3 | | |
| 20. Attend Saturday morning yoga class | 2 | | 2 | | |
| 21. Pick up sticks in the yard | 1 | | 1 | | |
| 22. Complete a parent-approved chore that is not normally your responsibility (1 point for every 15 minutes worked) | 1 | | 1 | | |
| 23. Organize a drawer, shelf or area of a room (before and after photo required) | 1 | | 1 | | List of areas in the home to organize (craft closet, desk drawers, etc.) |
| | Katie (Age 10) | Hollie (Age 8) | | ||
| | Point Value | Points Earned | Point Value | Points Earned | Item(s) Needed |
| Mind (Academic Growth) | | | | | |
| 24. Play an educational online game for 15 minutes | 1 | | 1 | | |
| 25. Read a nonfiction chptr book | 3 | | 3 | | |
| 26. Create a Power Point presentation | 5 | | | | |
| 27. Learn how to type | | | 5 | | |
| 28. Practice cursive for 15 min. | | | 1 | | |
| 29. Create your own stationary | 1 | | 1 | | |
| 30. Create a scrapbook page | 3 | | 3 | | |
| Tasks that Focus on Loving Your Neighbor | | | | | |
| 31. Write a one-page letter to a friend or family member | 2 | | 2 | | Stationary |
| 32. Serve at a homeless shelter | 1 | | 1 | | |
| 33. Visit a nursing home | 2 | | 2 | | |
| 34. Take food to a neighbor | 1 | | 1 | | |
| 35. Babysit a neighbor’s child (1 point per fifteen minutes) | 1 | | 1 | | |
| 36. Send a thoughtful e-mail to a friend or family member | 1 | | 1 | | |
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