Trei Johnson's Blog

I don't know if this will be of any help to all those parents with kids stuck at home for the summer but it worked for me for many years and my kids actualy looked forward to summer as did their Father and I.

We formed a Community Summer Camp in our neighborhood with all the stay at home Mom's and Dad's. Each week a set of parents who are normally at home would get together and plan a weeks worth of events for the neighboorhood kids. Things such as:
Trips to the local Museums, Zoo's, Aquarium, Beach, Park, etc. Those that had a pool often planned a pool party, cookout, or neighborhood 'OLYMPIC GAMES'. There were Movie Days, Shopping Days and Let's have a Circus Days (family pets included). For the older kids there was neighborhood MTV Events (music concerts with neighborhood talent) and block parties with dancing. One group planned a "show off your ride" event...anything you could ride, or drive (bikes, big wheels, skateboards, rollerskates and cars).
To cover the expense each child donated $30.00 per week (cheaper than any babysitter or day care around) and usually more than enough to cover the costs since we got GROUP DISCOUNTS at most places. Any left over was kept in a fund for the end of the summer bash where the entire group would go to one of the theme parks for the day (group discount and florida discount made it very affordable) what was left in the spare fund helped cover the costs for food and tickets if needed. The point is that ALL our kids were kept busy, EVERY Dad and Mom got at least 4 weeks of off time (no kids to worry about) we got to know everyone

Both sounds like great ideas and suggestions!

My daughter likes to eat EVERYTHING with her hands, not just finger foods! We're talking chicken breast, steak, pie (okay I'm exaggerating about the pie). But it's time for her to use a knife and fork the right way. Then she can come home and teach me!