Middle-schoolers Summer Schedule

[Abby Normal]

Apr 30, 2015 10:56:34 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

Oh, volunteer work!  I like that.  DS is an animal fanatic.  He could sit at the Humane Society all day and play with the cats. 

Then definitely look into it.  Ours has a great program.  The kids work with dogs and train them some basic commands.  Oh and if your DS is able to do it-  check into the Pet care & Dog Care Badge's.  Bonus!

[alabamagal]

Well I'm wondering what to do with my DS and he is 20. He will be home from college next week through early Aug.

He will try to get a job. He says he wants to work "outside". Hopefully he can find something. It can be hard when people know you will be leaving. Also since we moved in Jan we don't know many people here and DS knows no one. Might be a long summer.

[973beachbum]

You guys got me looking.  The college that DH teaches at has a summer program that is called "send your kids to college this summer".  It is run by the college and was mostly designed for people who work there.  They wanted something that was more than daycare but fun along with learning.  they have morning and afternoon sessions that cost $80 for a week per session.   They also have before and after care.  If you sign up for both morning and afternoon they include the before and after care free.  So for about $160 a week your kid can go there from 6 am to 6 pm. 

Obviously that is a long day but so is that plus sitting on the couch playing minecraft.  And we all know he would do it.

In fact one of the classes is minecraft designers and another is minecraft modders.

[Chocolate Lover]

Apr 30, 2015 11:26:57 GMT -5 973beachbum said:

You guys got me looking.  The college that DH teaches at has a summer program that is called "send your kids to college this summer".  It is run by the college and was mostly designed for people who work there.  They wanted something that was more than daycare but fun along with learning.  they have morning and afternoon sessions that cost $80 for a week per session.   They also have before and after care.  If you sign up for both morning and afternoon they include the before and after care free.  So for about $160 a week your kid can go there from 6 am to 6 pm. 

Obviously that is a long day but so is that plus sitting on the couch playing minecraft.  And we all know he would do it.

In fact one of the classes is minecraft designers and another is minecraft modders.

Mine would love the Minecraft class! 

[Abby Normal]

Apr 30, 2015 11:34:08 GMT -5 @anne81 said:

 Also a Lego robotics Star Wars camp.

oooh-  I think you're near me-  who is that one through. DS would love that.

Can you PM some details?

[973beachbum]

Trust me i would have bet a lot of money that no child of mine could "forget" to eat.

The minecraft is a class that I think teaches coding through building worlds and stuff.  I actually read the description five times and I am still not sure what it is saying.

the ones I think he would like mostly run $99.  And I would have to sign him up for both morning and afternoon the weeks he did it.  This is the county college next to our not in our county.   So it is a decent drive one way.  Although I should say that on a random Tuesday in the winter our CC is all of a 20 minute drive away.  I don't want to think about how long it would take in the summer with the GSP under construction.

[ponomo]

You guys have way better camps around you than we do!  

[973beachbum]

Apr 30, 2015 11:49:44 GMT -5 ponomo said:

You guys have way better camps around you than we do!  

The one that I posted though is the only one like it for a 30 mile radius.  All the others are really daycare or basketball camp type thing.  I think suggesting my minecraft addicted ADHD son play basketball all day in July is going to be a serious non starter!

[Deleted]

Apr 30, 2015 11:26:57 GMT -5 973beachbum said:

You guys got me looking.  The college that DH teaches at has a summer program that is called "send your kids to college this summer".  It is run by the college and was mostly designed for people who work there.  They wanted something that was more than daycare but fun along with learning.  they have morning and afternoon sessions that cost $80 for a week per session.   They also have before and after care.  If you sign up for both morning and afternoon they include the before and after care free.  So for about $160 a week your kid can go there from 6 am to 6 pm. 

Obviously that is a long day but so is that plus sitting on the couch playing minecraft.  And we all know he would do it.

In fact one of the classes is minecraft designers and another is minecraft modders.

Our college has a program like that too.  DS is going one week and it's just the afternoon.  He's taking a "Mission to Mars" class where they use a simulator and other cool stuff and a "Snack Attack" class where they learn to make healthy snacks.  

[Abby Normal]

Apr 30, 2015 12:04:54 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

 "Snack Attack" class where they learn to make healthy snacks.  

Do they teach them to eat them as well?  

[Deleted]

I hope so!

[973beachbum]

You guys are cracking me up!  Sorry but I really have to get some work done.

[Deleted]

I ran into DS's Dad while out on my lunch walk and he's in the "keep him busy" camp.  Still, I think I'm going to not sign him up for the classes the first couple weeks.  So, he'll have 2 weeks off, then 7 weeks of camps or vacations, then 4 weeks off.

We're both worried about his physical health.  He's not obese, but definitely not thin either and he's so sedentary.  He had to do some kind of relay assessment at school (he tried explaining it to me, but I was confused).  Apparently "normal" for a boy his age was 41 and he got a 19.  The other boys in his group scored in the 50's and 60's.  He told me, "but at least I'm improving, last Fall I got a 14!" 

[zibazinski]

As a former PE teacher, wah 

[zibazinski]

Time for some major physical activity. Don't you have horses? Isn't he feeding them and mucking out the stalls? That's not a good score at all.

[Abby Normal]

Not to defend MPL's DS- but I've found with my DS that the teacher is a bit subjective.  Last year, he didn't actually "pass" PE.  Because he couldn't skip. Yes, my son struggled in the "running and skipping" state standard.

He was getting a low score again this year so I asked his PE teacher (same as last year) what was up. He said " I'd like to see him try harder at the things he's not good at.  I KNOW he's capable of more."  Had a long conversation with DS and it did get better. I make him run a mile a few times a week and we do pushups nightly.

It wasn't that he wasn't improving- but teacher wanted to see more out of him that he was doing. 

He's still one of the slowest at the mile run- but he wasn't the last.

[Deleted]

I just don't get it.  I do take him out to the barn with me.  I also take him with when I walk the lake and he bikes it (5 miles).  On the weekends he does it pulling his brother in a trailer.  He is in scouts and goes on campout once a month where they're going all the time.  He walks to his Dad's twice a week after school and it's almost 2 miles.  Up until a couple months ago he was on the YMCA swim team.  He never competed, but was doing laps from 4-7 hours a week with the team. 

Last Summer my Mom did a "Grandma Boot Camp" where she took him biking and hiking every day for a couple weeks. 

I shudder to think how he'd be if we just left him to do as he pleased for 3 months in the summer. 

[zibazinski]

I'd find out. He is not trying vs. Not capable?

[Deleted]

I would say not capable because he says it's completely humiliating.  He does get worn out very easily. 

[Abby Normal]

Apr 30, 2015 12:53:47 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

I just don't get it.  I do take him out to the barn with me.  I also take him with when I walk the lake and he bikes it (5 miles).  On the weekends he does it pulling his brother in a trailer.  He is in scouts and goes on campout once a month where they're going all the time.  He walks to his Dad's twice a week after school and it's almost 2 miles.  Up until a couple months ago he was on the YMCA swim team.  He never competed, but was doing laps from 4-7 hours a week with the team. 

Last Summer my Mom did a "Grandma Boot Camp" where she took him biking and hiking every day for a couple weeks. 

I shudder to think how he'd be if we just left him to do as he pleased for 3 months in the summer. 

If hiking, cycling, swimming and baseball were PE activities-  DS would get an A+.  

Unfortunately, it's sprints, pushups, situps and the ever dreaded Volleyball.

DS had to do a sprint test.  They had to line up along the side of the basketball court.  Whistle blows and they sprint to the other side.  Whistle blows and they sprint back. When you can't finish your sprint, before the next whistle blows- you are out and that is the total.  He did not do very well and the totals were close to what you had for your DS above.

Sprinting is the worst for him.  He not a runner.  He'll never be a great runner.  He doesn't have legs he has tree trunks just like his dad.  Not fat, just weirdly muscled. You look at him and his friends in shorts and his calves and thighs are like twice the size of his friends, who are of course runners on the cross country team.

But it's also what makes him a good pitcher.

[Deleted]

Proof I get him out there!  This was just Sunday (and yes, I pack the other kid in that trailer.  It's what he gets for not learning to ride a bike yet).    He will never be a skinny guy, he has always had just thick, solid arms and legs.

[Deleted]

Apr 30, 2015 13:03:59 GMT -5 Abby Normal said:

Apr 30, 2015 12:53:47 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

I just don't get it.  I do take him out to the barn with me.  I also take him with when I walk the lake and he bikes it (5 miles).  On the weekends he does it pulling his brother in a trailer.  He is in scouts and goes on campout once a month where they're going all the time.  He walks to his Dad's twice a week after school and it's almost 2 miles.  Up until a couple months ago he was on the YMCA swim team.  He never competed, but was doing laps from 4-7 hours a week with the team. 

Last Summer my Mom did a "Grandma Boot Camp" where she took him biking and hiking every day for a couple weeks. 

I shudder to think how he'd be if we just left him to do as he pleased for 3 months in the summer. 

If hiking, cycling, swimming and baseball were PE activities-  DS would get an A+.  

Unfortunately, it's sprints, pushups, situps and the ever dreaded Volleyball.

DS had to do a sprint test.  They had to line up along the side of the basketball court.  Whistle blows and they sprint to the other side.  Whistle blows and they sprint back. When you can't finish your sprint, before the next whistle blows- you are out and that is the total.  He did not do very well and the totals were close to what you had for your DS above.

Sprinting is the worst for him.  He not a runner.  He'll never be a great runner.  He doesn't have legs he has tree trunks just like his dad.  Not fat, just weirdly muscled. You look at him and his friends in shorts and his calves and thighs are like twice the size of his friends, who are of course runners on the cross country team.

But it's also what makes him a good pitcher.

Yes, running is my son's downfall (that and somersaults).  He has never done a single pull-up and I'm not sure how great he is with push ups.  He's strong in cycling and swimming. 

[Abby Normal]

OMG-  That is spooky.  That could be my kid- down to the cargo pants!

[Deleted]

Apr 30, 2015 13:03:59 GMT -5 Abby Normal said:

DS had to do a sprint test.  They had to line up along the side of the basketball court.  Whistle blows and they sprint to the other side.  Whistle blows and they sprint back. When you can't finish your sprint, before the next whistle blows- you are out and that is the total.  He did not do very well and the totals were close to what you had for your DS above.

Well, if that's what my son was talking about (and sounds like it was) there is no way he'd be good at it. 

[Deleted]

Apr 30, 2015 13:11:13 GMT -5 Abby Normal said:

OMG-  That is spooky.  That could be my kid- down to the cargo pants!

Well, we've already determined we're raising the same kid.  LOL  Mine isn't good at baseball though. 

[Abby Normal]

Apr 30, 2015 13:13:22 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

Apr 30, 2015 13:11:13 GMT -5 Abby Normal said:

OMG-  That is spooky.  That could be my kid- down to the cargo pants!

Well, we've already determined we're raising the same kid.  LOL  Mine isn't good at baseball though. 

I know- but gees I didn't really expect them to look so similar.  It's official-  Somehow they were seperated at birth or cloned.

[thyme4change]

I do exactly the middle - as I do with many things.  As you all know, I live in Phoenix, and I wish we went to school all summer and had Jan - March off.  But, alas, when the kids are out of school it is during a season when going outside and playing is painful.

I try to do an every-other week thing.  That way they have down time, and things that interest them.  My son wants to do two soccer camps this summer - but they are evening camps, not during the day.  So, he can veg all day, and then go over there.  We have a couple of families in the neighborhood where the kids mostly stay home, so there is a lot of swimming, and whatever.  We also buy new Kinect games every summer.  

[zibazinski]

My kids grew up in Florida. It was swim team in the morning then swimming in the pool all afternoon. I used to love the absolute exhaustion at the end of the day. They slept like logs. Rinse, repeat! 

[zibazinski]

Thing is, PE encompasses a lot of different activities so he should do well enough in other things to bring up his scores.  I had some very large students who couldn't run or do some other things but they could hit a ball or kick one hard enough to at least get to first base. One of my biggest was always the winner of the punt, pass, and kick competition. 

[hoops902]

So I don't have kids, but my thought is always that they don't need to be couch potatoes during the day.  I look at it this way, they don't have homework anymore, so they will have plenty of time to veg out and play video games for an hour or two in the evening/late afternoon.

My nephews (5, 11 & 12) go to my mom's house most days.  They have a couple days a week that they do a fun activity for 1/2 a day (state park, movie, etc) and a couple of days that they just do whatever she's doing at home (help in the garden, grocery shopping, practice sports with grandpa, etc).  Usually once a week the older ones get to stay home while the 5 year old stays with her.  Those days they have a few small chores around the house, then they can play video games by themselves the rest of the day. 

To me it all seems like a pretty nice mix of active vs some time to veg out.  Each of them do a week or two of specialized camps or vacation with someone else during the summer to mix it up.