A few weeks ago on Instagram, I posted a picture of our summer goals. You might recall that last year my kids also made some goals. It sounds silly to say, but the making and accomplishing and rewarding of those goals turned out to be one of the highlights of the summer.
Several of you asked to see this year's lists, and I'm happy to oblige. (But first, if you haven't read the post from last year, I recommend that you do so before reading any more here. In that one, I talk a lot about how to make goals with your kids. In this one, I'm going to stick mainly with the goals themselves.)
As with last year, our goals can be broken down into three categories: educational, practical, and fun. The main difference from last year to this year is that the lists grew significantly in length. That's my fault. I think I was so happy with how successful we were last year that I may or may not have went a little overboard when suggesting goals for them to work on. Only time will tell . . .
Without further explanation, here are Aaron's, Maxwell's, and Bradley's goals, broken down by category. (Some of the goals are family, rather than individual, goals, so you'll notice some overlap.)
Aaron, age 6 (almost 7)
- Educational
- Finish Piano Adventures Level 1
- Learn multiplication facts
- Finish math workbook
- Read one nonfiction book per week
- Read Story of the World with Mom
- Memorize five scriptures
- Practical
- Make phone calls and answer the phone
- Learn to clean the bathroom
- Follow a recipe and make blueberry muffins
- Fun
- Memorize five poems
- Catch a ball
- Write in journal once a week
- Complete ten chess lessons
- Read Redwall and Prince Caspian with Dad
- Swim across the deep end of the pool
- Educational
- Finish Piano Adventures Level A and Start Level B
- Identify three new bug species
- Memorize five scriptures
- Read Story of the World with Mom
- Practical
- Tie shoes
- Pour liquids
- Turn on bath water
- Vacuum
- Fun
- Memorize five poems
- Catch a ball
- Write in journal once a week
- Complete ten chess lessons
- Read Redwall and Prince Caspian with Dad
- Read a Magic Treehouse book
- Educational
- Practice writing
- Learn 25 sight words
- Go through 25 pages in reading book
- Identify three new bug species
- Memorize five scriptures
- Practical
- Memorize address
- Memorize phone number
- Wash bowls, plates, and utensils
- Wipe the kitchen table
- Fun
- Catch a ball
- Put together five new puzzles
- Memorize five poems
We've already had some surprises. For example, I think Aaron's piano goal is going to be really difficult to accomplish unless he significantly increases his daily practice time. That might be a good thing, but it also might not be very realistic The most surprising goal for me is how much I've loved reading The Story of the World to my kids. We look forward to it each day, and we're learning so much (me included).
And of course, like last year, we have the incentive of monthly rewards if they're making reasonable progress on their goals. We'll go see Inside Out in June, Mike will take them camping in July, and we'll go to the planetarium in August.
The intent of this post is not (I repeat, NOT) to guilt-trip you into making summer goals with your kids. You have to understand: goals are my love language. When we spend the morning following a routine and crossing items off our list, I am in my happy place. If you can relate, then this post is probably for you, so feel free to adapt our lists to your own child's age and personality. But if you look at this post and just feel overwhelmed and sick to your stomach, then disregard it completely. I mean that. Forget about it! There are a thousand ways to enjoy summer. Rather than feel like you have to do X, X, and X to make it a successful and memorable summer, I would instead encourage you to think about what makes you and your kids happy and satisfied and then make those things a priority.
P.S. If you have any questions about any of our goals, please ask. I'll do my best to answer them!
Amy, I think this is so cool. If I had kids, I think I'd find myself doing the same thing during the summer! I especially like your practical items like "pour liquids" and "make phone calls." (I think last year you had "learn to make a sandwich" on Aaron's list.) These are things so many parents take for granted their kids will learn how to do, but few actually walk their kids through the steps.
ReplyDeleteThis makes me want to create a summer list for myself! Top if the list? Learn how to make gravy!
Yes, that's one of my favorite reasons for having them make some summer goals...otherwise I think I'd just assume that they'd learn how to do some of these everyday skills, but they might not! This way, I'm spending time teaching them, then observing, and finally refining those skills.
Delete