I sat down recently and thought about what I NEEDED my kids to learn this summer, what I thought they could practically learn this summer, and what would be fun for them to learn this summer. These would be our Summer Goals.
Here are the goals that me and my little cubs will be working over the next few months.
Curtis can practice his Addition and Subtraction facts. Gabs MUST learn to tie her shoes for kindergarten. Anabelle ABSOLUTLY has to eat lunch during the 30 minute time frame that she’ll have in Prekindergarten, which is much shorter than the HOUR AND A HALF pace she’s currently sitting at. Griff MUST be potty trained this summer. I’m over the diapering stage of life!!!
Next, I made my little chicken scratched chart pretty and printable for you. Print it out. Assign some goals.
(Don’t forget your own, like “STOP HOARDING, YOU WEIRDO.” That’s my goal. I listen better to myself if I call myself playful names.) Learn and grow together!
Hoarding Clothes
Heather Moritz has great ideas on how to set goals with kids using her SMART goals printable. She explains the importance on teaching goal setting and offers an easy way to accomplish it.
Setting goals for the summer is another great way to keep organized, in control of the chaos, and focused. Without the interruptions of a school day, you will be able to obtain those goals in a condensed amount of time with greater consistency and reinforcements.
Brainstorm with your kids and include them in your goal setting. There may be some things that they want to learn to do that you have never thought of. Include those ideas along with your ideas of things that need to be accomplished this summer.
Whoops. It’s June. Those little crazy people came home and we’ve been going non-stop ever since! I’m sure you can relate. Hopefully you’re still surviving! Let’s get back on track!!! This is Brooke, guest blogging for Susie Peas with my Summer Survival Series. Here is my Day 4 Summer Survival Tip – Sign Up for Activities.
Get A Planner and Start Filling it Up
Open up your planner. You have one of these, right??? I’m old school, so mine’s on paper. And I use a pencil because LIFE.
Plan your summer survival
If you don’t have a planner, and even if you do, just find a cute and free printable version online. I like to print two copies. One serves as a rough draft. I write down EVERYTHING. Lots of stuff overlaps. I choose which activities we are going to do, copy them onto a final draft, and then THROW ALL OF THE PAMPLETS AND BROCHURES AND FLYERS AWAY!!! Now that you’re ready, here we go.
First, the sports. Once you sign up for a team sport, it needs to become priority. Chances are it wasn’t cheap. And team sports are an awesome way to teach our kids responsibility and loyalty. Your team is depending on you to show up. Check out i9 Sports for activities in your area.
Sign Up for Camps
VBS and Summer Camps at Parks or Recreation Centers
Next, choose some summer camps! Vacation Bible School is important to us, so I check out those dates first. Your local parks and rec department has CHEAP summer camps, I’m sure! I used to be a day camp director in my hometown, and it was SO.MUCH.FUN. Sign up IMMEDIATLY. These are booked incredibly fast.
Library Fun
Now check out your local library. Sign up for summer reading and check out their summer calendar for fun events! Our STL libraries have magic shows and story tellers and musical performers scattered throughout all of their locations all summer long.
Camps of Their Favorite Hobbies & Activities
You can also find amazing art camps, zoological camps, gardening camps, cooking camps, science camps, etc. with a quick google search. Chances are the places you’re already visiting, like the zoo or even the GROCERY STORE, have summer camps available!
What about your state’s conservation center??? Did you think to check there? Last summer ours offered a BAT TAGGING NIGHT. WHAT?! So much fun!
Bowling Alleys nationwide are offering free bowling throughout the summer for kids. And many movie theaters show reruns of old favorites for around a dollar!
You can Sign Up for Summer Activities Everywhere
Bottom line, there are SO MANY INCREDIBLE SUMMER EVENTS going on each day around you, and if you’re not looking, you’ll miss ’em! These summer activities are a great way to make some amazing memories for you and your kiddos this summer.
Be sure to check out Susie Pea’s ideas for Grandma Camps too! Fun and easy step by step ideas on how to host a successful day full of fun, food, and family! And also find great ideas on Geocaching with Kids. Another fun activity to add to your summer calendar.
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When it comes to making money, the only prerequisite you need is a good idea. Adults aren’t the only ones with great ideas to make some extra bucks, kids have some pretty good ideas for their own side hustles. This creativity can help them with their earning potential clear into adulthood. A side job will also help them develop people skills, problem solve, and learn how to manage money once they’ve earned it. If you are stumped and want some help thinking of a few ways to make a dollar, here is a list of money makers that might spark your imagination.
Most of us probably had a lemonade stand in our front yard when we were growing up. Mowing the lawn, babysitting, and shoveling snow were popular ways to make some extra dough too. And after you completed the job, did you skip to the nearest candy store? Or did you save it for a new skateboard? Whatever your end goal, learning the value of a hard day’s work to get the pay was surely a life lesson that you still can live by. With a side job you can teach your kids this too.
Here are 10 easy side hustles for kids who want to make a buck.
Lemonade Stand
We are starting with this one because it works! Take advantage of your mom’s garage sale and set up a table by the entrance. Chances are she has already hung signs around the neighborhood, you just need to add one by the front of your table. You can earn more profit by selling bottled water out of a cooler too.
Donut Stand
Those early garage sale shoppers just might be hungery as well. You can add a few dozen to your display and sell them for a profit. I’m sure you will sell out in no time.
Dog Walking
A lot of people in your neighborhood work during the day and do not have time to take their dog for a walk. You could hand out flyers offering dog walking services. Learn leash laws. Be sure to take something with you to clean up their messes.
Dog Treats Sale
If you like to cook, maybe you can bake some dog treats and sell them. Kind of like a bake sale, just not as savory. @cozycook.com has a fun recipe for a homemade strawberry banana dog treat.
Doggie Dooty
Here’s another job people don’t have time for or just don’t like to do. They will pay you to come by once a week to pick up poo. All you need are gloves, double bags, 5 gallon bucket, and a scooper. You can bring some of your fresh baked doggie treats for the customers too!
Produce Stand
This was one of my kids favorites! Their Grandma had a huge excess of tomatoes from her garden every year. They would load up these yummy red veggies and sell them to all of the neighbors. If you grow a large garden, you can sell your home grown bounty up and down the block out of a little red wagon. If you don’t normally grow a garden, it might be a fun family project to start. Here is a post from @growingfamily.com on how to garden with children.
Recycling Cans
Your child can earn some money by collecting aluminum used cans. Ask friends and family to save their cans and you can help your child pick them up once a week. What a great way to teach them all about the recycling process and how important it is to our world. Here is a great teaching idea about recycling from @learningmole.
Make YouTube videos
My grandson loves watching YouTube videos of other kids playing with toys. Some of the videos are of people opening toys and giving their opinions of it. As silly as this sounds, it is the new craze. Everyone is doing it! These kid entrepreneurs are making tons of money with these side hustles largely through sponsored videos and affiliate links.
If you are worried about your children being on Youtube, they can still do this without showing their faces. There are various child Youtubers who do not show their faces – they just focus the camera on the toys.
Yard Sale
When it’s time for some spring cleaning, help your child go through his own toys, games, and clothes to find things that he isn’t using anymore and sell them. Separating, organizing and then selling can be a great cleaning project to do with you child.
Selling Used Books
While you are getting things ready for the yard sale, begin collect all of the books that you have outgrown or no longer read. Use an app like Bookscouter to see which ones are worth something and then sell them on Amazon or eBay. To boost up your inventory of books, go to other garage or yard sales, or used book sales at the library. I love to find gently loved books at the thrift stores too. Here is my post on Amazing Thrift Store Finds. And My Favorite Secondhand Stores in St. Louis.
Side hustles are a great way for kids to bring in some spending money. As they learn the hard work it takes to make money, they also learn the value of a dollar. These jobs are perfect for kids to obtain responsibility skills as well as to take pride in themselves. ~ Susie Pea
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