Search Results for: blog sending your kids to college for the summer

Back-to-School: Keeping Kids on Track

We’ve just hit the midpoint of summer vacation, though you’d never know it by strolling through Wal-Mart or Target. The popular discount retailers have their back-to-school displays front and center, reminding parents that they have yet another financial obligation looming. Personally, I am trying to ignore the stacks of new pencils, tablets and binders. However, I realize that parents of college-bound kids don’t have the same luxury. When Wal-Mart starts stocking Neutrogena Acne Facial Wash next to No.2 pencils, you know that the back-to-school clock is ticking. Thankfully, my daughter won’t be leaving for college for another decade or so. … Continue reading →

Summer Camp Drama

My first grader is acutely aware that she is too young for sleepaway camp; however, that hasn’t stopped her from bemoaning the fact ad nauseam. A few of her friends from church just turned eight, making them eligible to attend overnight Bible camp this year. This milestone has brought out my daughter’s inner green-eyed monster. Dealing with the incessant whining, complaining and tears has not made me a happy camper. Last summer I enrolled my daughter in three day camps, which featured all the fun of overnight camp, minus the drama, hassle and financial burden. In fact, the experience was … Continue reading →

Summer Learning

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It’s hard to believe that in a few days school will be out for the summer. Tyler’s school year ends next Friday, although for all practical purposes it ends this Friday. Next Monday-Wednesday they are testing. On Thursday, they have the fifth grade graduation ceremony, class parties and they get out early. On Friday, they will be dismissed at 11:50. Should learning stop when the last school bell rings? When I was a child, we didn’t do anything in the summer but play and have fun. We attended vacation bible school for a few weeks each summer but that was … Continue reading →

Luxury Summer Camps For Kids

If you are a parent of a summer camp loving kid then you know what a challenge it can be to narrow down your options. There are literally thousands of summer camps out there. I know because I’ve written about many of them. From cash camps and camps for youngsters whose parents are heading off to war to summer camps for “American Idol” wannabes. Those blogs discussed the fact that sending your child away to experience a summer adventure in a log cabin can really put a dent in your wallet. However, I realize that not every reader is in … Continue reading →

Spring Break- Not Just for the Kids

Spring Break is here and the kids are home from school this week. It’s a bittersweet time for me. Sure, I’m excited about not having to wake up at 6:30 (I’m not a morning person!) but the problem remains what to do with Tyler doing this time. Working from home has definite advantages. During breaks and early dismissals, I don’t have to worry about missing work or finding other alternatives for Tyler. It also means that I have to try to work with him hanging around my neck (sometimes literally). Although he can certainly amuse himself and understands that this … Continue reading →

The Cost of Summer Homeschooling

Let me first direct you to Myra Turner’s blog, written this morning about Sending Your Kids to College for the Summer. This is definitely an excellent idea. When I read Morning by Morning, How We Home_Schooled Our African American Sons to the Ivy League, the author, Paula Penn-Nabrit I found the same recommendation for homeschoolers. Mrs. Penn-Nabrit talks about how important summer programs were for her children. She sent her children to NASA space camp, to Art schools, to computer camps and more. She did this regardless of the expense. She was glad to spend the money to add enrichment … Continue reading →

Sending Your Kids To College For The Summer

As you set out making your plans for summer programs for your kids, don’t overlook your local college. Many colleges offer classes and camps for kids. You can usually find out about these offerings through the department that handles continuing education or special courses. It’s a great way for your kids to get a taste of what college life is all about. Here in Mobile, The University of South Alabama offers camps for kids as young as 5. They offer a little bit of everything: art, foreign language, even a CSI Forensic Science Camp. Some campuses also offer enrichment classes … Continue reading →

The Lemonade Stand

Yesterday, my children (along with a buddy) did their very first lemonade stand. I realize that lemonade is just about to go out of season but really, we had been meaning to do it all summer and just never got to it. Everyone over the age of four was involved in the lemonade stand and really, it was a pretty big hit. We sold out all of our ingredients and at the very end had to turn people away. . .and we were only out there for about an hour. The experience though, got me thinking about what a great … Continue reading →

Current Event Discussion Topics

Yesterday, In my post about the cost of summer homeschooling, I referenced Myra Turners blog on Summer College for Kids and compared it to a lesson I learned in a book by Paula Penn-Nabrit. Another Lesson I learned from Morning by Morning, How We Home_Schooled Our African American Sons to the Ivy League, is the importance of having daily conversations with your child. It is great to talk about things on your children’s mind and to have conversations that will uplift your children and their self-esteem. It is also important to talk about things going on in the world around … Continue reading →