Help our kids fight the summertime blues
TV ClubHouse: GD Archives: Help our kids fight the summertime blues
Happymom | Sunday, July 13, 2003 - 10:48 am     Flylady.com has over 40 suggestions re: keeping kids busy with fun during the summer. A few I really liked that haven't been mentioned here: picking fruit weekly service project (or maybe just one) - bake cookies for shut-ins or Habitat for Humanity workers, play bingo or do crafts at a senior citizen home or nuring home &/or bring bright homemade cards and treats, pick up trash, sort food at a food bank, put together small packets of toys or toiletries for local hospital and deliver them |
Wargod | Friday, July 18, 2003 - 02:17 pm     Hey guys, I need some suggestions. Part of Caleb's homework is to read 15-20 minutes every night instead of one book a night. We have moved from reading the short story books to chapter books because we want something he can read a little of each night. One of the goals this school year is to teach the kids to read longer books and have them be able to summarize the book. Anyways, he's 7, and reads at a second/third grade level. Right now he's reading The Secrets of Droon and doing good at it. It's a fantasy type book, he's loving it, and can't wait to get to the end. The problem is, I have no clue what other books I can get him. I lucked out with this one when I bought it because I figured I'd be reading it and not him. I need suggestions on chapter books that are age appropriate, fun for a 7 year old boy, and stuff that is challenging, yet not too difficult for him since the homework part is reading it on his own. (Hehe, I figured this was a good place to ask since we had talked about books as a summertime activity somewhere up there.) To add to what Happymom said, my kids have been visiting a retirement home their whole lives. I used to work at one, so the kids would come to visit..the kids enjoy spending time with the residents, and the residents enjoy having the kids come visit since a lot of them don't have family nearby and don't get to see their own grandkids. We've done crafts, volunteered, visited. It's great for the kids because they almost always learn something new they probably wouldn't have learned by not visiting. |
Draheid | Friday, July 18, 2003 - 02:45 pm     Wargod: I asked DS (age 10) to help you out and he's brought the following titles for your consideration for Caleb: Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Laura Sachar Encyclopedia Brown (many titles) by Donald J. Sobol Star Wars: Jedi Apprentices (and others) by Jude Watson Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder (Similar to Little House On The Prairie we think) He also suggested books such as "First Step Bible" or similar books if you're interested in such. Of course, he's on the 5th Harry Potter book now and enjoying that as much as the first 4. Hope this helps. |
Wargod | Friday, July 18, 2003 - 03:07 pm     Thanks Dra! I'll wait til he's off track in two weeks and swing by the bookstore with some choices for him to pick out. How tough are the Star Wars books? I have half a series or so, but don't think he's ready for those yet. I'll be keeping a list, so any more suggestions would be appreciated. Reading is a big, big hobby of mine, and I try to install a love for books in my children. Right now is a great age to do it since they enjoy learning so much. |
Ducky | Friday, July 18, 2003 - 03:20 pm     Wargod these are some suggestions from Little Ducky who just turned 8 last April. He really likes to read chapter books also. We get alot of are books when he brings home book orders from school from Scholastic Books Link and Carnival Books Link and are able to purchase different sets. These are the books that we have started collecting that are chapter books and you can buy four or some times five at a time in sets. Which help keep the prices down instead of just buying one individual book. We have started collecting the series of JigSaw Jones Mystery Cam Jansen Mystery Horrible Harry Junie B. Jones The Boxcar Children and Pokemon The Carnival Books club does not start up again until August when school starts back up here. It has alot better prices and the kids get to win prizes. |
Wargod | Friday, July 18, 2003 - 03:42 pm     I love Scholastic books! I bought more books last year for the kids than I remember. But, had only bought the Secrets of Droon series (3 books, two of which have mysteriously disappeared.) Does LD like the Junie B. Jones series? I had seen those, but wasn't sure if Caleb would like them or not since the main character is a girl. |
Ducky | Friday, July 18, 2003 - 04:12 pm     Junie B. was one of the first chapter books that LD started reading when he was in the first grade. He is now going into the third grade. They had them in the classroom and he enjoyed reading them. So he asked if he could order some. He likes them because they are about things that happen to her in school and all of her friends and all the mischievous things that they do. And he gets a laugh out of some of the things that happen to them. |
Meme9 | Friday, July 18, 2003 - 07:56 pm     War, When my kids started reading chapter books, they would read some to me, then I would read some to them(this keep the story interesting and they didn't seem to lose interest). It was something that worked for my kid when they were young. They absolutely love to read, and by second grade they were reading novels(books without pictures). Even on vacations, a trip to the book store was always on todo list, and most of the time they wanted to go before we we're even in the hotel. Puzzles, and building block(lego's)and creative toys, kept my kids buzy for hours. On grocery days, we made what we called "Webster Suits". They made the name up, and they still talk about the fun they had with them. Anyway, we used the brown paper bags, cut a hole in the top for their head, cut arm holes, slip them on and they played while I was able to put groceries away(this help so they didn't want to eat any of the goodies that was been purchased). They sometimes colored or used markers to make them pretty...but most of the time the just played with them the way the were. LOL, now I'm missing those days!!! |
Reader234 | Sunday, July 20, 2003 - 05:52 am     Cant resist joining in!! Book for boys - Knights of the Kitchen Table (I'll do a search and make sure I've got this one right!!) (ta da!!) Knights of the Kitchen Table (Time Warp Trio, 1) by Jon Scieszka,( Jon Scieszka also wrote The Stinky Cheese Man, another funny read, its a big book with different takes on old fairy tales, definately worth looking at, the boys will love this too!!)ITs a fantasy, the first book tells how the boys get the fantasy time warp book, and they visit things in the past, have an adventure and come home again!! Its short like the Cam Jensen mysteries which boys love. Personally, I am not a fan of Junie B Jones, nor of Captain Underpants.. personal, but if it gets kids to read who am I to judge? I just think parents should read before they buy (or check out from library!! - also with Captain Underpants, so many kids read and discuss it, that I gave in, but made it such a lecture situation, my kids dont want to read it LOL!) Another fav summertime activity is Joy Bubbles!!! You get a bucket add some water then throw in your dish soap (Joy used to work the best, but now I use what I have, Dawn mostly!!) if you want to go all out, then you get some glycerin to add (it throws more color when you make the bubbles) Now you find kitchen or other items that will make bubbles (like a cheese grater...) Also good activity is to make a giant bubble maker with 2 wooden dowels and some yarn!! (sounds like I have to do another search to get it right!! I taught preschool for many years, and it teaches you to think on your feet, a lil of this and maybe this works too!!) When I do bubbles I also taught my kids that you make a bubble and put your hand in, it pops right? Well what if you stick your hand in water BEFORE you put it thru the bubble??? hmmmmm I love science!! ta da >>> This recipe is a winner. It's easy to mix up--and inexpensive to boot. Simply stir together 6 parts water, 2 parts Joy dishwashing liquid (this brand works the best), and 3/4 part corn syrup. Store in a covered container. Have your kids try experimenting with a variety of homemade bubble wands: pipe cleaners bent into interesting shapes, cookie cutters, yogurt lids with the centers cut out, and so on. For a giant bubblemaker, cut off the top and bottom of a large metal can with a can opener and hammer the inside edges until they are smooth (a parent's job). Dip either end in the sol (http://familyfun.go.com/raisingkids/learn/activities/feature/famf77bubbles/famf77bubbles.html) OK so corn syrup you would have on hand, but in my search magic bubbles still use a Tablespoon of glycerin!! Can make a wand by using 2 straws and yarn... |
Happymom | Thursday, July 24, 2003 - 04:37 pm     War, if your son likes science, there is a series of books called I Wonder Why. (They are about 8x11 size). They aren't chapter books, but they are quite interesting. Also, the Magic Tree House series would probably be interesting to him. (Although the reading level won't be very challenging for him, he would probably love them, and they would probably be a quick read for him. Junie B. Jones is about the same reading level, 1st/2nd grade, I would think. I, too, am not a big fan of Junie B., because of the lack of proper grammar, "plus, also" (anyone who's read Junie B. will understand why I put those 2 words in quotes) she is a bit rude. However, they are quite funny and the kids love them. Like my 2nd child's 3rd grade teacher said, "we like to read for pleasure too." (This child will start 4th grade in the fall. She is very, very particular. I hoped the teacher would give her more challenging reading assignments. I don't want to push too much. The last thing I'd ever want to do is to take away the joy of reading! Other than Harry Potter, she's mostly done only "junk food" reading since she began reading. She (and her reading level and test scores) are none the worse for all that unchallenging reading.) |
Happymom | Thursday, July 24, 2003 - 04:37 pm     Reader, thanks for all the great bubble info! |
Reader234 | Saturday, July 26, 2003 - 03:00 pm     Happymom, has she read the Wrinkle in Time series? or From the Mixed up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankenwiler? (sp) Both I believe are Newberry award books that catch many a readers (gilrs) interest. Actually if she is very particular, maybe spending some time at the library with a helpful librarian? Here at our library during the summer they employ teenagers (girls and boys!!) They have lists of recemendations on 3/5 cards, and these teenagers spend lots of time going over choices. Our library does fun summer time activities that links books and kids!! Our school is a smaller school (w/in a large district) and our teachers send out postcards to the kids, its nice that the 'stay in touch' but it also keeps the kids reading... Wonder what books were popular in class? Maybe her interests are different? There is so much good fun reading choices, my passion of course BOOKS!! like you said whatever works!! And I confess to reading some pure trash books too!! *G Just like to give heads up, my dd is only 6, but she is determined to be "grown up" She wanted the Black Beauty books, I tried to coax her into reading several other more interesting horse stories, because quite frankly "I" found black beauty boring (as a kid!! lol). Well, woouldnt you know while she was at grandmas for a short vacation, she begged grandma for a book (can you imagine grandma's surprise!!) and yep, she is now the proud owner of Black Beauty!! Methinks she is trying to prove mom wrong... one of these days she may become aware... but for now I'm just amazed at her reading choices!! (oh, I have 2 older boys, hence her need to read above her, to prove to them!! She is reading the HP books to prove she can!! SLOW DOWN,, it is ok to enjoy being a kid!!) |
Tabbyking | Saturday, July 26, 2003 - 04:46 pm     i absolutely loved the original Boxcar Children and the one that followed, "The Little Yellow House". all the sequels, written by someone else, weren't as good. i was so into the first book that when our 3rd grade teacher read us a chapter each day, i rushed to the library to get the book so i could read ahead. it was so good, i have read probably 10,000 books since! i also loved 'the happy hollister' books. for my son, who detested reading, it was the Goosebumps books which got him started in the 3rd and 4th grades. then he went on to other things. so even if something isn't your cup of tea, if it gets a kid reading let them have at it. they are going to have tons of text books to get through later. it's funny how in my family all the girls are big, big readers and the guys read what they have to...and instruction manuals only when they have 11 screws left and the wives say, "i am not letting little billy ride his bike with this many parts obviously not put on right!" |
Happymom | Monday, July 28, 2003 - 06:00 pm     Reader, she loved the Wrinkle in Time books! (actually she read 3 or 4 of them, she has the whole series, so she still has one or two to look forward to). Thanks for thinking of her! We do go to the library, she does ok there, mostly gets science and craft books. (It sounds as if your library is better than ours!) She is almost done with the latest HP book, so that's kept her busy for awhile! She is not the voracious reader that my oldest is, she won't put life on hold until the book (or series) is finished. (My 12 year old does this...as do I if possible, although I haven't dared to do that since I was nursing my 6 year old when she was a newborn eating around the clock! I do really miss reading like that...someday...) Anyway, she does read a lot every day, she plays a lot too. So I am thankful for both of those things. (My 6 year old daughter, like yours, is always trying to be grown up and prove that she's not little!) Back to my 9 year old...Her 2nd grade teacher gave her Mixed Up Files...she's never read it, though. I don't know if it's the cover or what. She is SO particular. I may try reading some of it to her, that works sometimes to get her intersted in new books (new to her). Sounds like this particular daughter of mine and your DD are similiar. She read The Secret Garden in K (I was sure it would be too boring for her but she loved it! We took turns reading it aloud to each other), and in 1st decided she wasn't going to read anymore until the next HP book came out! That's when she began reading a lot of science books. (She had to read for DEAR (drop everything and read) time in class.) Her teacher gave her Wrinkle in Time as a gift at the end of the year. She really has enjoyed as many Boxcar children books as she could get her hands on! It's so interesting how all 3 of my kids have very different reading interests. Tabby, I, too, remember that first Boxcar book as being one of my favorites as a kid. Interesting you mention Goosebumps. I know a school psychologist very well who buys those for gifts for students (especially the boys) who don't show a lot of interest in reading. (LOL re: instruction manuals!) War...I thought of another series for your son. Some of the words will be too difficult but it is the Magic School Bus series. I actually think the chapter books will be a lot easier than the picture books (which may even just look too overwhelming visually, even at first glance, for a 7 yr. old). You can help him with the harder words, such as specific names of dinosaurs. The chapter books really aren't hard unless specific terminology is being used. The picture books are great too, especially if science is interesting to him. The chapters are short and the print is large, right about 2nd/3rd grade level. One more for you War, The Bailey School Kids. They all have funny names like Dracula Doesn't Drink Lemonade, or Wizards Don't Wear Graduation Gowns. They are about 2/3 grade level. They will probably not be scary, my younger two love/loved them. My oldest did also, but was scared of them in 1st grade because of the titles. (She was scared of a lot of things for quite a few years.) She started reading them when she was in 2nd grade. (She would never go near Goosebumps because of being scared, in 6th grade she started reading horror books, LOL!) |
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