Summer Bingo - how did it go last year?

[niccig]

I know several BBBers did up bingo cards for their kids. You came up with a list of activities and put them into a bingo card 5x5 square. When they got 5 in a row, they got a ticket and so many tickets equalled a prize or outing.

So, how did it turn out? Did the kids like it? Anything you lerend from it to share? Did make doing some academics like reading or writing practice a little easier to accomplish? How long did it take your kids to complete a row? If they didn't want to do something did they do it eventually to complete a square or refuse to do it?

DS and I will have more time together this Summer, so I'm looking for something to give us ideas. I do need to work with DS on his reading, writing and math a little over the break, so I would incorporate some practice with fun activities too, but not sure if I would make 3 of his sqaures in a row be academic. Maybe I need more squares in a row.

Nicci

[SnuggleBuggles]

I know this isn't what you are looking for but just want to toss it out there. Last year was the first year I had no lists or goals and it wound up being wonderful. I never felt guilty about all the cool things we might not be doing. We had a few must dos but the rest of the time we really just relaxed.

[ellies mom]

We did it for a few weeks. We had a combination of different types of activities. Fun things, silly things, learning things, try new thing things, etc. I made a big full blown one for DD1 and a mini one for DD2 so that she could play along. DD1 was very gung ho the first week and filled the board. The second week, she did several. The third week, she did maybe two. Finally, I just gave up. In theory, it was a great idea but it didn't work out for us. I might try more of a bucket list or letting her draw activities out of a carefully filled hat.

I still have the excel file I used if you are interested. It only has three weeks on it but you can use it for ideas.

[niccig]

Originally Posted by SnuggleBuggles

I know this isn't what you are looking for but just want to toss it out there. Last year was the first year I had no lists or goals and it wound up being wonderful. I never felt guilty about all the cool things we might not be doing. We had a few must dos but the rest of the time we really just relaxed.

I hear you on this. Our issue is that when we're home, relaxing = TV. I need something to prompt me for ideas as I can never come up with something on the spur of the moment.

I do need to keep working on DS with his reading. He's still a beginning reader and things are just starting to click. I've been working through phonics with him to supplement what he's getting at school - turns out that reading is in scope of SLP practice, so I'm using a few ideas I've been learning about in class. This is also helping me as I didn't learn phonics, I'm a sight reader. Math and writing is more just games, writing to Grandma - things we normally do.

[niccig]

Originally Posted by ellies mom

We did it for a few weeks. We had a combination of different types of activities. Fun things, silly things, learning things, try new thing things, etc. I made a big full blown one for DD1 and a mini one for DD2 so that she could play along. DD1 was very gung ho the first week and filled the board. The second week, she did several. The third week, she did maybe two. Finally, I just gave up. In theory, it was a great idea but it didn't work out for us. I might try more of a bucket list or letting her draw activities out of a carefully filled hat.

I still have the excel file I used if you are interested. It only has three weeks on it but you can use it for ideas.

Veronica, thanks for this. I can see something similar happening with us. DS's interest could peter out over time, unless I can come up with something he really wants as reward for the tickets

I do like the idea of having a list of things to do, so when he does the "I'm bored" whine, he can choose something to do. I might come up with a list of things that can go on a bingo card or in a jar or just have as ideas to suggest to him.

I have a lot of things I need to get done at home this Summer, so I was thinking of splitting the day with me doing things at home while DS plays/does things on the bingo card, and then the other half the day we do something together, either at home or out. I did this during Spring Break with DS and it worked well.

[Twoboos]

I didn't do a Bingo card, but did an "I am bored!" jar. I just loaded it with different things to do. If they claimed to be bored, or were acting squirrelly, they picked an item from the jar to do. There were probably 50 things to do?

Activities ranged from fun things to academic things to cleaning up. It was a risk if they picked - whatever they get, they get. (Unless it was something we weren't able to do b/c of the weather, like play in the sprinkler but it was raining.)

We still use it!!!

[daisymommy]

I was so psyched about the idea and thought they would love it. And yet, they didn't (shrugging my shoulders).

What ended up working for us is I had printed out a blank calendar of all the Summer months, then filled it in with all the local activities I could find around here. Such as the free library Summer programs, rec center activities, free ice cream cone days, all sorts of stuff. Then everyday we had somewhere we could go if we wanted to.

Then we made an at home bucket list, of crafts, games, movies to rent, and activities. We chose something off the list each day.

That kept us busy all Summer!

PS: I have a Summer Pinterest board that includes a few "round up" lists from bloggers of 100+ ideas for kids Summer arts and crafts, games, recipes, etc. My user name is Suziehomemaker.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[niccig]

Originally Posted by Twoboos

I didn't do a Bingo card, but did an "I am bored!" jar. I just loaded it with different things to do. If they claimed to be bored, or were acting squirrelly, they picked an item from the jar to do. There were probably 50 things to do?

Activities ranged from fun things to academic things to cleaning up. It was a risk if they picked - whatever they get, they get. (Unless it was something we weren't able to do b/c of the weather, like play in the sprinkler but it was raining.)

We still use it!!!

This is a good idea. I can see how this will help even after the Summer.

[kristac]

We did bingo last year too. The kids got bored with it and I spent way too much time and effort on it. I think we will do a points system (without the bingo componant) or just a bucket. I like that bucket is flexible so you can add or subtract things as needed but the points might be more motivating....

Here's my summer pintrest board
http://pinterest.com/my_three_sons/summer/

[niccig]

Thanks Daisymommy and Kristac. I too wondered if it was more effort than useful. I could see DS doing the same and getting bored at some point. I do like the idea of coming up with a list of activities to do at home or events going on around town. I'll need to do that.

I'm not on pininterest, can I get an invite from someone?

Thanks.