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• June 21 – School’s Out – What can we do in our local area?
• June 28 – Fourth of July and patriotic activities
• July 5 – Beach and water fun
• July 12 – Space and astronomy
• July 19 – Travel
• July 26 – Family Reunion time and Camp Cousin
• August 2 – Picnics for day hikes and backyards
• August 9 – Exploring the mountains
• August 16 – Nature and the out-of-doors
• August 23 – Exploring history
• August 30 – Back to school, end of summer

Do you have special activities you do on specific days or weeks during the summer?

Post from: Blisstree

Summer Themes for Kids’ Activities

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Char, from Casual Keystrokes made a summer chore chart just for her kids one year that I think many will like. I like that she added her children’s pictures on this to help those that may want to argue, each child has their own chores they are expected to do.

The Charming Cards lady mentions the MomAgenda and how it has 50 tear out sheets and five spaces for chores. This would be great to write up and tape to bedroom doors or the tv set.

For me and my family we basically write out a chore list for the next day per child and hang them on the door. We give a list of chores (basically what they normally do) with one or two assignments to start off with.

Example: SoccerBoy has to do dishes and kitchen counters, then read 3 chapters of a book he picked out to read. Course I had to do a writing assignment as I don’t want them to slack off on either reading or writing and he must to a brief summary of what he read for that day. He does have the option of writing a blog entry as well, this however is more for fun because each child has a blog that they reactivate every summer and love trying to make money from google on it.

Pick chores you think your child will be able to do, here’s a list of age appropriate chores. Once all chores and assignments are done they are basically free to play or hang out with friends on the street. Keep in mind kids like to see that they will be rewarded for their hardwork so give them something they will enjoy in the end. In our case it is playing outside or video games, but only if the chores get done.

Post from: Blisstree

Making that Summer Chore List

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Life outside the military seems to be a bit different, last year when I hosted a party at the house only two parents attended and the rest just sent their kids over and never showed up. I hadn’t even met these parents so they didnt know me from Jack the Ripper if ya know what I mean. But with this school year now coming to an end I’ve been approached by Soccerboy, age 12, about a “School’s Out Party” he wants to attend.

I did request a party invite as I always have, I don’t care if it is written on paper I need to know the parent is doing a party and kids aren’t just going over unannounced. I got it and he asked, “Do you guys have to show up?”

How would this make you feel? Now I know he’s getting to “that age” when kids attend parties on their own but something struck me as wrong on this. I looked at the invite and it is right after school and over before 5 pm. I do plan on calling the number at least to find out if parents will be there but thought I’d ask ya’ll….at what age do kids attend parties without their parents? Second, what age do kids have parties without an adult present?

Post from: Blisstree

What Age: Kids Attending Parties Alone?

However in the United States (Europe and Canada too?) June is when school’s out. It doesn’t matter where I am in the world, here at b5media’s Health and Wellness Channel, we celebrate the school’s out month in this month’s Channel Theme Day.

The fabulous bloggers of Health and Wellness Channel has a lot of great things to say, I’m telling you!

Read on…

Marijke Durning wrote 7 Ways to Help Children in Pain at Help My Hurt while Video: Hints for babyproofing your home at The Womb Within.

As the school year comes to a close, Angela White at Breastfeeding 1-2-3 hopes that teachers are planning to incorporate breastfeeding education into next year’s K-12 curriculum using special lesson plans developed by New York State.

While Karen Lynch of Pink Ribbon Review said: Though the noise level in households with children goes up threefold in the summertime, the cadence of kids embarking on this annual rite of passage is a poignant reminder for survivors that we need to let loose and celebrate the passing of time! — in her post entitled: School’s Out for Summer Pink Ribbon Raucaus.

Here at Cancer Commentary, I asked how has cancer in your family affected your school year and school breaks?

Kristina Chew of Autism Vox wrote: School’s On! Summer school, that is—-Charlie’s first day of Extended School Year is tomorrow; he does best when the usual orderly routine of things (meaning, yes, school) is in place.

According to Liberty Kontranowski of Healthbolt: Sure, school being out means gobs of fun for the kids. But let’s not forget about fun for the adults, too…fun of the bedroom variety, that is.

While Health and Men’s Scott Wharton, wrote School’s Out. What Now?

Gabrielle Sedor has joined in the fun, at Daily Tomorrow: School’s Out. So where can green students find green careers? and at Fertility Notes: School’s Out. What are you doing to continue your sex fertility education?

At Mental Health Notes, Alicia Sparks talks about the importance of (and struggles with!) helping children maintain a health sleep schedule during the summer months.

Every student looks forward to the last day week of school. How can you make the last week of school special, and the first days of summer filled with anticipation? Grace Ibay of Kids Health Notes compiled Ten fun ways to celebrate the start of summer.

When school is out, snacks are a plenty! Kendra of Diabetes Notes have a few healthy diabetic snack tips for keeping straight this summer. Instead of grabbing a cookie from the cookie jar or munching on a bag of Doritos why not have healthy and sugar free snacks waiting in the wings…

Thanks to many of camps around the world- kids that have disabilities or special needs including congenital heart defects and severe heart disease can take place in the summer fun all the same– said Kendra (again), this time at A Hearty Life.

Have fun reading…and enjoy your summer break (or in my case, school start).

Post from: Blisstree

School’s Out. (Or is it in?!): June Channel Theme Day

Now is the 4th year my son is attending school. He’s in prep now and is raring to go always. Today was his first day at school. We are in the Philippines and so June is actually the start of the school year — after 2 months of our own version of summer break (April and May).

So yeah…who doesn’t look forward to school breaks? We all do. And what does school breaks got to do with cancer? A lot I think, as no household in the world wouldn’t benefit from school breaks — with or without cancer in the family.

Speaking of cancer stories that has to do with school or school breaks, I found the following of note today:

Cancer doesn’t slow down pilot

When he learned that his Hodgkin’s disease was out of remission two months ago, he was determined not to let it slow him down.

In fact, it made him move faster.

The 27-year-old Hanford resident recently earned his sport pilot license in seven days — quite an accomplishment given it normally takes a pilot six months to a year to accomplish.

Student has struggled with hardship few college students face – cancer

Chris Glaser has exhibited excellence and perseverance in myriad ways during his time at Ohio University. He will graduate cum laude today, receiving a bachelor’s degree in advertising management.

But his success has not come without a fight. Glaser has had to battle a hardship few college students must confront – cancer.

“It’s not something you expect to face,” Glaser said, referring to the rare form of cancer that has been attacking his heart. Still, he has remained enthusiastic about his life and his work.

Teacher retires after 41 years at Jefferson

Sharpe retired Friday after teaching history at the campus for four decades.

Sharpe also saw herself grow up, she said.

“I got married, had a daughter, got divorced and beat cancer —- all at Jefferson,” said Sharpe, who coyly declined to give her age.

Nichols School grad sets age record as cancer researcher

But at 18 years old, Kermis has yet to set foot in a college classroom, let alone a medical school.

“Somehow on my registration, I’m Dr. Rachael Kermis, because everyone else is a doctor,” the Cornell University-bound teen said. “I think it has a real nice ring to it.”

Kermis graduated cum laude from Nichols School on Friday. And next month, she will help present the most in-depth study ever conducted about the link between the virus that causes cervical cancer and throat cancer. It has the potential to give doctors groundbreaking insight into how people get cancer.

How are you coping with cancer in the family? How has your condition (or your child’s condition) affected the school years or school break? I hope all is well and hang in there.

By the way, I am hosting the Channel Theme Day tomorrow here at Cancer Commentary. Stay tuned for the round-up of posts.

Post from: Blisstree

Cancer on School Break