SAHMs in the Summer... what do you do?

My kids (especially DD) are in that phase when they don't listen and it's been difficult... school has been out for 3 days and I already want to pull my hair out. I'd love to be that cool mom that does so much with their kids but man... She throws tantrums, doesn't listen, throws more tantrums when I have to do what I said I'd do if she didn't listen... They run off in the stores then cry because they won't have their coloring books... then we eventually give them the coloring books, and they break/lose the crayons and refuse to clean up. Every single day, it's a battle about everything. They're 5. I swear it was easier last year!

How do you do it?

 

I make sure there is some sort of structure in the day. With school, there is a lot of structure and routine. I definitely don't plan out every minute of the day, but there is a general plan.

I also made sure we had plenty of activities. We generally got out of the house most days of the week. I'm fortunate that I live in a small town so nothing was that far away. For instance, Monday was grandmas, Tuesday might be zoo or kids museum, Wed. home, Thursday storytime and library park, Friday groceries. Also, at that age, we usually started off the morning with a couple mile bike ride to take the energy edge off.

Marissa

 

We spend A LOT of time outdoors. Pool. Park. Bikes. Yard play...sandbox, sprinkler, basketball/baseball/football, etc. Zoo. We also go to the library, children's museum, grocery shopping, etc.

 

I agree with some sort of structure and getting out of the house. A trip to the library keeps them occupied with new books which can lead to new imaginary games and art/craft projects. Our library has a summer reading program where the little ones can keep a log of books they've read or been read to them and turn it in for a small prize each week. A morning at the beach wipes them out and allows some downtime with a little TV in the afternoon. They seemed to behave better if errands were run after an activity, so we'd go to the pool in the morning, have a picnic lunch somewhere, then go grocery shopping and to the post office in the afternoon. I tried to plan at least one thing to really look forward to each week, like a playdate, an event (parade, carnival, rodeo), a short trip somewhere, just camping out in the backyard or living room works if you can't go anywhere. It gives you something to look forward to too.

 

I agree with some structure and activities. I have workbooks that we will work on every day for 30-60 minutes, just to keep up their skills for school. We'll do trips to the library, to the various playgrounds to play in the sprinklers, the malls, playdates.

 

My library sucks. And they don't treat things well at all so they're not ready to borrow books yet either (we have a ton though). How do you all do with the heat? I just can't handle 90 degrees with humidity, and it's what we get most of the Summer here.

They also don't want to play in the backyard for some reason.

 

We get out in the mornings to play outside. We also include water buckets and the hose in playing. Or, if it's warmer, we take popsicles outside. And sometimes, you just have to get over it and be outside. Last summer we had a record 52 days over 100 degrees. If we had tried to stay in the house, it wouldn't have been pretty. We just got out in the mornings and dealt with it.

At that age, mine wouldn't play in the backyard without me sitting out there.

Marissa

 

The only structure we have during the summer is when we eat. If that wasn't scheduled I'd have a kid eating at all times. Other than that we just hang out. I couldn't imagine going away everyday or even a couple of times a week. We are constantly on the go during school with all the extracurricular activities that summer is our downtime. We may go to the $1 summer movies, zoo or museum. It really just depends on what the kids feel like doing. We have a ton of things for the kids to do outside, bikes, scooters, trampoline, swingset, sports stuff ect so they pretty much entertain themselves. When its really hot they play in a sprinkler or little pool.
If they complain they're bored I tell them I can find them something to clean. They usually aren't 'bored' for long.

 

I've always done a lot of outside water play, either the beach, pool, splash pad, or just out back with the hose & a kiddie pool. A rainy day usually becomes a movie & pajama day.

 

Since the boys turned 4, I have gotten jobs at day camps in the summer. It is the only time of the year that I work full time. They go to camp--for free, and I get paid to work there. It is a win for all of us. They love camp, and are busy every day. My boys can handle about a week maybe two of togetherness before they are at each other--camp eliminates that problem. Camp is also the only time where they are together, although they usually put the boys on opposite teams or different groups if they split the group.

 

Inflatable pool, slip'n'slide, water cannons, wash the dog which turns into a water fight, sprinklers, lots of cold drinks and homemade popsicles. If you don't have a popsicle mold, just freeze juice in a disposable cup then pop it out and turn it upside down and put it back in the cup. We set up the slide on the steepest slope in the yard with the slip and slide below it and two paddling pools at the bottom, so its down the slide, down the slip'n'slide which is on a slope and hopefully the two crash pools at the bottom will stop you or else you're skidding out on the grass. Lots of fun.

If they won't go outside, fill up the bathtub and give them a can of shaving cream, some food coloring, and small containers.

 

On real hot days go outside early, right after breakfast...or even before, if the kids don't always eat right upon waking. And/or, at the end of the day, just before bedtime.

Check out what local places have events that are geared to kids or have free/discounted days.

 

Just wanted to say that we're in the same boat right now! My five and six year olds are at VBS right now, which has been a total life saver. If you're religious at all (and I realize it's not everyone's cup of tea), it might be a good change of scenery. We also bought passes to our local swimming pool(s) and it's great for killing a few hours or meeting up with friends.

Also, if you live in a small town like us, day trips once in a while might be fun. Look and see what there is to do in some nearby cities that are cheap or free and maybe make a mini-vacation out of it. I think we're gonna try out some natural springs in Austin some time this summer.

 

The first week was hell but it's better now. I was sick the last two days and they just played nicely. Knock on wood that it lasts!