Tuesday, May 15, 2012

The Children's Summer Bucket List



Usually, I forgo the summer bucket list tradition, because I enjoy the lazy, easy going, days of summer.

But, A (age 11) has other ideas.  Our weather has taken a sudden summery turn, and she doesn't want to waste a minute of it.

Never mind that it's still technically spring for more than a month, yet.  In our house, summer started today, when A asked for the butcher's paper, pulled out her pens and pencils, moved our Africa book map out of the way, and started working on a to-do list to take its place.

She decided to go with a flower theme, writing ideas for things to do, places to go, foods to make, movies to watch, and days to celebrate on the petals, to be colored in as each item is completed.

It wasn't long before she was joined by the other children, and together with inspiration from Pinterest and "The Long List of Holidays" at about.com, they produced quite an ambitious list, reflecting a few of our family favorites, traditions, and a hoped for summer trip to Oregon, as well as enough recipes to completely derail any weight loss plans the Man of the House, or I might have had this year (wretched Pinterest!).

Go camping, go fishing, make s'mores, watch fireworks,make pink lemonade, roast marshmallows, make root-beer floats, plant carrots, watch the 4th of July parade, look for pictures in the clouds, catch a frog, have a tea party, have a picnic, read The Borrowers, watch The Secret World of Arrietty (DVD release May 22?), watch Mirror Mirror (DVD release June 26?), curl dandelion stems, make donuts (National donut day is June 1), celebrate National Cheesecake Day (July 30), pet a starfish, celebrate Chocolate Pudding Day (June 26), celebrate Father's Day (June 17), celebrate Yo-yo Day (June 26), teach D to ride a bike, go to summer camp, go to Vacation Bible School, visit a museum, write a book, make homemade drumsticks, draw with sidewalk chalk, blow bubbles, have a sleep-over, go to the mall, make blossom cookies, look for ladybugs, make chocolate chip ice-cream sandwiches, make chocolate peanut butter and banana smoothies, run through the sprinklers, have a concert, go swimming, make ice cream, have a water gun fight, make popsicles, visit a ghost town, walk on the beach, make homemade strawberry jam, have a water-balloon fight, visit Grandma's, feed the ducks, spot a moose, participate in the library summer reading program, go yard-saling, visit the cheese factory. 

I am happy to see, that other than summer camp, and a visit to the Oregon Coast Aquarium (to pet a starfish), most of their plans are very low budget, and easily managed.  It's possible I might still get an easy going summer after all.

It's great to be a homeschooler.

8 comments:

Phyllis said...

Looks like a wonderful list! I love it when the older children start taking on some of the responsibilities themselves.

Eddie said...

Great list! Also great nail polish in that photo. :)

My daughter is the same age as yours and she's been making lists as well. I suspect if she has her way we'll be doing A LOT this summer, especially if we add in the 4 year old's requests.

Amy Dingmann said...

What a list! Sounds like you're going to have a busy and amazing summer! :)

Anonymous said...

If you do make it to Oregon, may I suggest the Mark Hatfield Marine Science Center. It is near the aquarium and admission is free.

An Almost Unschooling Mom said...

Anonymous - I didn't realize that was still open. Thanks!

Cristy said...

Fantastic! Summer started at our homeschool this week, too. I planned to push on through for a week or two more, but got overruled.

I'll have to have the kids make lists of what they would like to accomplish this summer.

Ticia said...

I need to sit down and make a list........ And maybe some cute way of displaying it like your daughter made :)

Natalie PlanetSmarty said...

It's a wonderful self-directed list! It looks like a wonderful summer is waiting behind the corner for you!