Designing Summer

It's the first full week of summer break for the kids and so far things are off to a solid start.

One of the interesting things about summer is that it's easy to imagine it being magical.

Long days. Family adventures. Reading. Swimming. Time outside.

But unless you're intentional, summer has a way of quietly disappearing one day at a time.

For us, we're trying to be very mindful of what our summer will include.

One focus area is keeping our kids involved with their studies so that we can hopefully avoid a "summer slide" and even maybe, just maybe give them a leg up to start the new school year.

Another focus area is intentionally creating opportunities for fun, adventure, and new experiences.

To help make all of this happen, we've created a simple list of goals for the summer. They're all subject to change, but here's where we're starting.

Our first goal is simple: reading.

We're aiming for 30 minutes twice a day.

Also aligned to this we're working with the kids to try to establish some goals around number of books to read for the summer. We're thinking 8 would be great (about one book per week), but that might prove a little too ambitious, depending on the length of the books they pick.

We'll also allow journal writing during one of these times if they would like.

We tried this last year too, but the kids pushed back a little on it, and it didn't remain a consistent feature of their summer. We'll be making it more of a priority this year.

The next goal is to complete 5 "Workbook" pages per day

We found some educational grade based workbooks with a mix of language arts, math, science, etc. content at our local bookstore and we'll be using those to facilitate some learning and/or concept reviews.

I will also likely create some math worksheets on my own for them to do from time to time throughout the summer.

I've noticed something over the years. If I hand the kids a professionally printed workbook, I often get a groan.

But if I sit down with a pencil and create a worksheet myself, they suddenly become interested.

I suspect it has less to do with the math and more to do with the fact that Dad made it specifically for them.

Other Goals

We've also talked to the kids about some other goals for the summer, trying to ask them about their interests. So far, through a number of conversations, that list is looking like this:

• Decorate a truck or float and be IN a 4th of July Parade (maybe)
• Climb a Mountain
• Sleep on an Island
• Catch a fish
• Go Kayaking / Canoeing
• Build an epic sandcastle
• Explore space with a telescope
• Catch a frog
• Build something in the shop with Papa
• Sew something with Gram
• Read 5 books (8 as a stretch goal)
• Write a song
• Open a savings account and create a matching program with Mom and Dad

This includes ideas from me, my wife, and the kids. It will likely grow in the coming weeks.

I'm hoping this plan works and that we're able to achieve most, if not all of these goals.

In past summers, we've admittedly had some similar plans and goals, and then things have sort of fallen apart after a week or two. This year, I'm committed to doing better.

Writing that down here will hopefully serve as a bit of an accountability tool.

Looking over much of this, I'm struck by a couple of things.

First, most of these things don't cost much money.

It's a great reminder that the things kids remember and value often aren't expensive vacations, fancy, toys, or elaborate adventures. Rather, they are simply experiences shared with people that they love.

Second, most of these goals aren't really about academics at all.

They're about experiences.

They're about giving the kids stories they'll remember years from now.

The reading, writing, and workbook pages matter. Setting them up for success in school is important for us.

But I also know that they'll get far more excited about catching a frog, sleeping on an island, or climbing a mountain.

I doubt the kids will ever remember how many workbook pages they completed this summer. But they might remember those other things.

Maybe that's exactly how it should be.

The real challenge now isn't creating the list.

It's making sure we actually live it.