Those with 4 year olds...what are they doing for the summer?

[mtemm]

I'm a SAHM and this is the first year I'm putting DS4 in organized activities and am trying to decide what to do. I know I want him in swim lessons and will have him do them pretty much all summer. I'm thinking about adding a couple of sessions of tennis, too (each session is 2 weeks). That seems like plenty to me. Just wondering what others are doing.

 

[Bob Slydell]

DW and I both work, so our 5 year old will be in summer camp at his preschool this summer, along with taking swimming classes a couple nights a week and t-ball on Saturdays. He usually takes tae kwon do as well, but we're putting it on hold for the summer so we aren't doubling up on activites.

 

[debster812]

DW and I both work, so our 5 year old will be in summer camp at his preschool this summer, along with taking swimming classes a couple nights a week and t-ball on Saturdays. He usually takes tae kwon do as well, but we're putting it on hold for the summer so we aren't doubling up on activites.

This was our experience when DS was this young as well. He went to the 'FunFest' that they did at his daycare. Once he left daycare for public school, we moved his summer activities to our local Y. We need to use summer camp as our day care since DH and I also both work outside the home.

To the OP--sounds like a pretty good summer for him.

 

[becka]

DS will be in daycare during the day but we hope to get him in swimming lessons and we are thinking of starting him in tae kwon do this summer or in the fall. Bob - How does Cameron like tae kwon do?

 

[Bob Slydell]

Bob - How does Cameron like tae kwon do?

He loves it It's been very good for him, both in developing coordination and with teaching him discipline (well, more than what mom and dad are teaching ). He has a wonderful teacher who's great with kids. Friday, he'll be getting his green belt (his 7th belt since starting around 3 years old).

 

[jekajekalynn]

Riding his trike in the yard. Also, Playing at the playground and just enjoying being a little kid in the summertime.

 

[kidshop]

Riding his trike in the yard. Also, Playing at the playground and just enjoying being a little kid in the summertime.

And maybe running through the sprinkler, and eating picnic lunches in the backyard.

 

[maleficent1959]

And maybe running through the sprinkler, and eating picnic lunches in the backyard.

Don't forget camping in your own backyard. And slurping up melty popsicles. Mmmmm.

 

[jekajekalynn]

His schedule will also include important meetings with butterflies in the garden several times a day, and stargazing with dh at night.

 

[maleficent1959]

I just asked my 5 year old DS what he would like to do this summer. I gave him a some options to get him thinking. He thought for a long time, and then he said "Make chocolate ice cream! And pick strawberries!" I can't wait for summer.

 

[jekajekalynn]

Ohh weekend trips to Crosswinds (a nature preserve) to walk and look at the ducks and their new ducklings, then going to the Bake Shoppe and getting cookies with sprinkles on them. Also , driving his Powerwheels jeep around the front yard, and going to Greenfield Village to see the horses and Choo Choos.

Yup, ds3 1/2's summer is full of things to do.

 

[Nancy]

I worked late nights when the girls were little so I was home during the day. They never were in organized activites, we went to parks, beaches, walks, played in the yard, etc. I was their organized activities...we just let them be kids all summer. I taught them to swim, etc.

 

[becka]

Gee, I sure am glad that I am depriving my son of a summer of being a kid because I am thinking about putting him in a few organized activities. Oh well, that is not anything at all compared to the evil of him being in full-time daycare.

 

[fabumouse]

Gee, I sure am glad that I am depriving my son of a summer of being a kid because I am thinking about putting him in a few organized activities.

My DD has been grossly deprived most of her life.

I am a big, big fan of organized activities for kids, regardless of the stereotype of "overscheduled" kids. Different strokes and all that. I don't like playing pretty pony for hours on end. Again, that's just me.

This summer my DD5 will be in part-day camp for 7 weeks and taking gymnastics once a week as well. Her TaeKwon-Do we're finishing in July and we're letting that go until January.

We'll just have to eat slushy popsicles in the kiddy pool during her coffee breaks.

 

[Aidensmom]

My poor deprived child will be in daycare.

But after he gets home and on weekends, he'll do the same stuff he does all year. Play football or baseball or have watergun fights with Mom and Dad or the kids in the neighborhood, tend to his garden (he currently cares for his own strawberry, wildflower, and sunflower plants), play with the dog and cat, go to WDW, the zoo, the science museum....

He keeps us very busy.

 

[Jenn Lynn]

Don't worry becka, I am putting DD in activities this summer. So far I have her in her pre-school's summer program. She ASKED to do tennis. I'm sure there will also be swimming. Possibly summer dance.

I try to keep her indoors and away from nature.

 

[maleficent1959]

Gee, I sure am glad that I am depriving my son of a summer of being a kid because I am thinking about putting him in a few organized activities. Oh well, that is not anything at all compared to the evil of him being in full-time daycare.

Was there something in the posts previous to yours that suggested that kids in daycare or organized activities were being deprived? OP asked what others were doing with their kids. Some are putting them in swimming or t-ball or other kid activities. Some are not. So what. Why the attitude? Are you just anticipating that someone will take this thread for a nasty turn?

 

[jekajekalynn]

I can assure you my posts were being lighthearted , and just about what my kid enjoys in the summer. However if some ppl want to take it out of context , get an attitude and get all snippy about it so be it. Maybe some ppl need a sprinkle cookie too .

 

[Bob Slydell]

Gee, I sure am glad that I am depriving my son of a summer of being a kid because I am thinking about putting him in a few organized activities. Oh well, that is not anything at all compared to the evil of him being in full-time daycare.

Hey, don't worry, we're evil through and through.

Then again, DS loves summer camp at his preschool -- so much so that he asked us last year to send him there even though DW was on maternity leave. He didn't want to miss any of their field trips.

 

[Nancy]

I know my post sounded like I was anti organized activities..sorry...I am not against organized activities...my kids were in pre-school 3 days a week, they did dance classes for years (2 of them did competitive dance for years which had them dancing 4 out of 7 nights a week) We just chose to keep summers free (plus saved me some money too). They now do school sports and practice for high school sports starts in the summer, and younger DD plays softball in the spring/summer. Of course they are teens now and can make that choice for themself, plus I work days now so I'm not around to take them places all the time.