Preschoolers and Peace - Beat Winter Burn Out!

Beat Winter Burn Out! • Feb. 27, 2008

•    Take a week off from academics and focus on skills like woodworking, cooking, baking, sewing, drawing, knitting, crafts, gardening, computer, shooting, knife-throwing, archery, etc.

    Some helpful websites for skill-building:

    http://heartsandtrees.blogspot.com (Homeschool graduate shares all kinds of wonderful and do-able ideas. Her kits are nicely done and inexpensive, but you don’t have to spend a dime to get ideas from her blog.)

    http://cp.c-ij.com/english/3D-papercraft/index.html (Great free downloads to print out and let the kids create.)

    http://ihavetosay.typepad.com/meandmygirl/ (A mom’s blog with neat ideas from snow cones to basic crafting skills. Aimed at the elementary crowd.)

    http://www.biglearning.com/treasurewoodworking.htm (Basic wordworking tips, tutorials, and info for kids.)

    http://www.artistshelpingchildren.org/howtodraw.html (Free step-by-step drawing lessons.)

    http://www.copper-tree.ca/garden/index.html (Kids’ gardening, from planning to harvest.)

    http://www.knifethrowing.info/ (General knife-throwing site.)

    You can also order a knife-throwing DVD and practice knife from the Vision Forum link on the sidebar.


•    Take a hiatus from formal science and explore nature together. Early spring is the perfect time to get out for a drive to see the blossoms, splash in the creek, pack a picnic lunch and explore a pond, or venture to the foothills where you can photograph or paint the landscape and animals.

    Some helpful websites for nature study:

    www.treasureboxpress.com/catalog/item/3107126/2842429.htm#image_1

    http://heartsandtrees.blogspot.com/2008/02/indoor-nature-study-idea-tabletop.html

    www.backyardnature.net

•    Get out in the yard and play! Forget all the game rules you knew as a kid? Try this site:

    http://familyfun.go.com/games/indoor-outdoor-games/specialfeature/summer-games-june/index.html?CMP=NL_Wkdr


•    Implement an afternoon tea time. This can be really simple-- serve tea and hot chocolate, apple slices, cheese cubes, and store-bought cookies.

•    Build forts in the family room and let the kids do their school work inside. Give them a shoe box for a mailbox and write each other notes.

•    Plan a restaurant for dinner. Make a menu, assign everyone a task (waiter, sous chef, etc.) and surprise dad when he gets home.

•    Send the older kids on a treasure hunt. Not as difficult as it sounds! Make clues the night before and make the prizes be breakfast, a run to 7-11 for Slurpees, choosing a chore to skip for the day, extra free time.

•    Declare “Board Game Day” and set up tournaments with the ultimate winner getting to choose dessert.

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Sharing Thoughts

"Get out in the yard and play," she says. - Feb. 27, 2008

Shared by Pomaleedon

Good heavens, girl. What world are you in?! Oh, yeah. California. It's not exactly below freezing in California right now, is it? My boys go out to play, but I'll stay inside, thank you very much. Winter is very much in its full strength around here.

We're in our 7th week of lessons, though, and I've really felt the need for a Sabbath week. We did take Monday off, and it was just enough to get me over the hump. But barely. We'll see how far I can get in planning the upcoming weeks before I schedule a week of throwing knives. :D

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LOL - Feb. 27, 2008

Shared by PreschoolersandPeace

Well, the one blog has ideas for snow cones... :D

Lisa and her kiddos were here today. All the kids ate lunch outside, then stayed out there for about two hours. I tend to forget my non-warm-weather readers, don't I? It was 70 degrees here today. The almonds are in bloom, daffodils everywhere, plum and peach trees are pink...

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These are some great ideas! - Feb. 27, 2008

Shared by mom2two

With all the rain we have had over the last couple of months, we have spent way too much time indoors! We packed a lunch today and headed out to the park. The fresh air and warm sunshine felt so good today!

Yvonne :o)

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Thanks! - Feb. 28, 2008

Shared by 4littletreasures

Some awesome ideas here! I'm in Australia, and what's so great is that these ideas can be implemented all over the planet! Blessings and Grace,
Amanda

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The almonds are in bloom aren't they? - Feb. 28, 2008

Shared by Cyndy

...and I'm about to weep....up her in the land of the Cascades we're just happy the snow is departing! But just the other day I was saying to Husband, "(sigh) the almond and peach trees are blooming down in the valley (bigger sigh) sometimes I miss living there."
Thanks for the great ideas Kendra...I'm thinking this just may be the thing we need...uh, except for possibly the knife throwing

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Thanks :) - Feb. 28, 2008

Shared by Quinne

Hi Kendra :) Thanks for the ideas! We are somewhere in the middle of the rest - daffodils blooming beautifully and 22 degrees last night :)
Have a lovely weekend! Love, Q

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