I can’t believe it! I really and truly cannot believe it!
We made it through another school year, my friends.
We. Did. It.
Woooo-hooooooo!
Next up? Summer.
I’m over the moon thrilled and elated that summer is right around the corner!
This year, I’ve got something so cool planned. So totally awesome and fabulous, I can’t stand it.
I’ve just finished up–after months of drafts!–the plans for our Smart Summer Challenge 2016. And it’s going to rock.
Totally, 110%, completely going to rock.
Here’s the skinny. . .
Smart Summer Challenge 2016 — an invitation to learn, play, create, and invent — on their own time:
For the last seven years, I’ve hosted some sort of summertime learning challenge over at teachmama.com, and this year will be no different. My focus is always the same: to make learning a natural part of my kids’ every day–something that the kids actually want to do.
I don’t create full-day summertime mom-camps, so I want to let you know that off the bat. I know there are plenty of places you can get that kind of thing and some really great people who do that. Honestly, I love my kids and love the summer, but I don’t want to spend all day engrossed in activities with my kids.
It’s not great for my sanity, and it’s not great for my kids, either. They need free time. They need time with their buddies. They need time away from mom, who’s always up in their grill about making their beds and putting their dishes in the dishwasher.
And? I have to work. So there’s that.
The Smart Summer Challenge is simple. It’s about giving kids something fun and exciting to do each day. On their own time.
The Smart Summer Challenge is just that: a challenge.
I challenge you to put something fun out on the table for your children to do every, single day.
And here’s what’s awesome: I’ll give you all the blueprints for the entire summer.
Everything you need for each day of the week, Monday through Friday, for 14 weeks.
That’s a loooong time.
Each Wednesday, challenge members will receive detailed resource pages packed with the supplies you’ll need, the printables, and each and every daily activity for your child for the next week.
Here’s the deal:
Each week of the Smart Summer Challenge, you’ll receive:
- a detailed description of each day’s activity;
- a list of the supplies you’ll need for the week;
- the printables and graphics you’ll need;
- photos (for most!) to help you better understand;
- links to any relevant sites, videos, or slideshows;
- a printable for the table for each day so your child knows what to do!
For less than $2 a week, you’ll have an activity to keep your kids busy for 14 weeks. All summer long.
It will be the best summer ever. Do you know why? Because it’s going to be a Smart Summer.
This system of putting an activity out on the table each day works for us because I have three different kids–12, 10, and 9 years old–each with their own personality and plans.
So each one grabs an activity when it works for them–maybe before swim team? maybe after? maybe early in the afternoon? maybe right before bed.
I want this summer to be fun for them. And I want them to have some say in what we do each day.
And though they had their own ideas about what they wanted their summer to look like (see below!), I added, adapted, and think they’ll be pretty happy with what we have planned.
Despite what it may look like, The Smart Summer Challenge allows for so much flexibility in our schedules. They’re short activities that can be done independently (for the most part), so if something fun comes up in our schedule, we drop and go.
That simple.
How to I get the kids to actually sit down and do the activities?
A few ways:
1. Signing a Smart Summer Challenge Family Agreement helps. Really!
2. Use the Weekly Smart Summer Tickets! Kids set goals, keep track of what they’ve done, and you sign off. When they complete what they set out to do, they get a small reward. (If you want to use them–if not, no biggie!)
3. The activities are fun and the kids want to do them;
4. At any given time, on any given day, I have been known to toss a few gems into the gem jars of people who have been spotted doing the activity. Not every day, but some days.
5. Maybe an extra screen time card if they really rock out an activity?
6. I’ll join them. Really. These activities are so fun. I want to do them all.
Kids–I truly believe–like to hang out with their parents. Especially if their parents are kinda cool or funny or at least act like they’re cool or funny. I like to hang out with my kids, so when they sit, if I can, I’ll join them.
What are the ideas and what makes them so fun?
The activities are hands-on. They’re cool. They’re creative and crafty. They’re unusual. They’re familiar. They’re old and they’re new. They’re digital and battery-free. They’re indoors and outdoors.
It’s a mix, and that keeps them going. I provide you with a 14-week calendar. You do with it what you want.
Use all 14 weeks. Or use 12. Or use 10. Use what works for you.
A few things you need to know about the Smart Summer Challenge:
1.The 14-week calendar is free! Everyone gets the calendar. You choose which one will work best for you: 4-7 years or 8-14 years.
2. The challenge is less than $2 / week! If you want to officially join the challenge and grab the Smart Summer Challenge Resource Guide head on over to the teachmama shop.
It’s a steal, really. $24.50 to join one challenge (either 4-7 years or 8-14 years) or $44.50 to join two challenges (maybe you need both because your kids fall into both age ranges).
Each week, you’ll receive the Smart Summer Challenge resource pages packed with the links you’ll need, the printables, and each and every daily activity for your child for the next week.
You’ll receive:
- a detailed description of each day’s activity;
- a list of the supplies you’ll need for the week;
- the printables and graphics you’ll need;
- photos (for most!) to help you better understand;
- links to any relevant sites, videos, or slideshows;
- a printable for the table for each day so your child knows what to do!
3. Give your kids the skinny on the Smart Summer Challenge. Tell them: This summer is totally going to rock. We’re doing a Smart Summer Challenge with tons of kids around the world. That means, each day, you’ll have a fun activity waiting right here on the table for you. All summer long. Not even kidding. You’re that lucky.
4. Start learning, playing, creating, inventing, and thinking alongside your kiddos!
5. And? Share! Share your #SmartSummerChallenge via instagram or twitter to really be a part of the challenge. We will have a few goodies along the way for families who jump in on the fun. So start sharing and start learning.
6. Now. Go ahead and create the summer of your dreams. Well. . .
Wait. What’s holding you back?
My kids. They’re totally not game for anything anymore now that they’re tweens and teens.
Um. I understand. I get it. My kids have days when they just want to hole up and ignore me. And that’s fine. But there are many days when they want fun things to do.
They want an excuse to play with their old faves, to get their hands dirty, to explore and have fun.
And our daily Smart Summer Challenges let them do just that.
Me. I’m busy. I don’t have time for this.
Yes. You. Do. I’ve got every single thing you need right here. Fourteen weeks. Links to resources and everything. Just print out a few things, gather supplies the night before and set it out on your table or a small shelf or somewhere so it’s all there when the kids wake up. They’ll do it when they’re able.
In fact, I’ve so got this covered, that if you officially join the challenge, for less than $2 a week, you’ll have access to every single thing you need for the entire fourteen weeks. Every link. Every printable. Bam.
Okay, well. . . I may just be convinced.
Awesome. We’ll see you there!
Head over to the teach mama shop and join in on a challenge now!
Click below:
please note: Some suggested activities may involve a book, product, or supply that you need to purchase in advance. All supply lists will be sent the Wednesday in advance, and most products will be linked to in Amazon. It is suggested that if you don’t already have an Amazon Prime membership, you grab one now!
fyi: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Forever and always I recommend only products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” For more information, please see teachmama media, llc. disclosure policy.
`
Week two of 
