There is still time to try some of these ideas with your family!
Summertime togetherness
For some families that phrase is filled with happy anticipation when summer is seen as a time of slow lazy days filled with spur-of-the-moment activities.
For other families it strikes terror in the minds of parents - what will we do with all that extra time together?!?
Honestly...we wish we felt like the first option all the time. The reality is we have many days when we wonder what to do with that extra time.
Here are some ideas from families just like yours - looking to infuse some sacred moments into those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer!
For other families it strikes terror in the minds of parents - what will we do with all that extra time together?!?
Honestly...we wish we felt like the first option all the time. The reality is we have many days when we wonder what to do with that extra time.
Here are some ideas from families just like yours - looking to infuse some sacred moments into those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer!
Cook’n with the Kids; Michael age 8, Kimberly age 6.
(A note from Sarah: As I started this project with my kids, I was hoping for the perfect family cooking experience. Even though the reality did not match the ideal picture in my head, the outcome was way better than I expected!)
A new family moved to our street this summer. In addition to their 3 young boys, they just had a new baby girl on July 4th. To welcome them to the neighborhood and to celebrate the birth of their baby, I decided to make them a couple of my best recipes: Sloppy Joes & Chocolate Chip cookies. It occurred to me that this would also be a good opportunity to involve my kids in a little lesson on“love thy neighbor.” When I explained to my kids what we were going to do, my son, Michael, seemed a bit hesitant. To my surprise, he told me that he does not like it when people “thank” him for nice things that he’s done. So in one of my best parenting moments I responded with, “That’s weird. We’re doing this anyway.”
I put a some music on as I diced the green pepper and onion ahead of time to avoid any accidents with the knives. For the Sloppy Joes, Michael worked the pan at the stove, while Kimberly measured ingredients. We actually made two skillets of Sloppy Joes so that we could have some for our dinner later. Michael & Kimberly followed directions beautifully. The kitchen got a little messier than usual, and our dog, Blue, got a couple tastes when Michael held the spatula down at this side! This led to lessons about keeping your hands and utensils clean while cooking. Michael ended up washing his spatula a few times. Kimberly got distracted only once when a Rihanna song came on and she took a break to dance in the family room. Michael
really enjoyed the cooking and told me that he will help me make Sloppy Joes again sometime.
As the Sloppy Joes were simmering, we moved onto the cookies. Michael and Kimber made it absolutely clear that they both wanted to be involved in measuring and mixing. Blue came close to tasting the cookie batter too, but we got better at keeping our spoons and spatulas on the counter! We all worked together well and once the cookies were baked, we sat down together at the table to conduct our ‘quality assurance.’ The cookies tasted great!
Kimberly helped me decorate the Tupperware container for the Sloppy Joes and we all signed a card. We placed the food together on the counter and holding hands, I lead the kids in a brief prayer. I almost never pray out loud. I guess this was the awkward part of the experience for me. But taking a lesson from my kids, I did my best.
We took the food to our neighbors and were invited inside. They were very grateful and welcoming, and the kids began to play together. I met their new baby girl and we all got to know each other better. When it was time to leave the kids still wanted to play, so we invited the boys back to our house for an hour. New friends were made today, and the blessings of being in relationship with one another were obvious.
With feelings of contentedness and pride, I thought the day would come full circle when I sat down with my kids for our own meal of Sloppy Joes. I believed it to be one of our favorite family meals. So imagine my shock when Michael and Kimberly asked to have cereal for dinner! Why? “Because we hate Sloppy Joes MOM!!!” What? I prayed out loud for the second time that day – “Lord, please help me……..”
A new family moved to our street this summer. In addition to their 3 young boys, they just had a new baby girl on July 4th. To welcome them to the neighborhood and to celebrate the birth of their baby, I decided to make them a couple of my best recipes: Sloppy Joes & Chocolate Chip cookies. It occurred to me that this would also be a good opportunity to involve my kids in a little lesson on“love thy neighbor.” When I explained to my kids what we were going to do, my son, Michael, seemed a bit hesitant. To my surprise, he told me that he does not like it when people “thank” him for nice things that he’s done. So in one of my best parenting moments I responded with, “That’s weird. We’re doing this anyway.”
I put a some music on as I diced the green pepper and onion ahead of time to avoid any accidents with the knives. For the Sloppy Joes, Michael worked the pan at the stove, while Kimberly measured ingredients. We actually made two skillets of Sloppy Joes so that we could have some for our dinner later. Michael & Kimberly followed directions beautifully. The kitchen got a little messier than usual, and our dog, Blue, got a couple tastes when Michael held the spatula down at this side! This led to lessons about keeping your hands and utensils clean while cooking. Michael ended up washing his spatula a few times. Kimberly got distracted only once when a Rihanna song came on and she took a break to dance in the family room. Michael
really enjoyed the cooking and told me that he will help me make Sloppy Joes again sometime.
As the Sloppy Joes were simmering, we moved onto the cookies. Michael and Kimber made it absolutely clear that they both wanted to be involved in measuring and mixing. Blue came close to tasting the cookie batter too, but we got better at keeping our spoons and spatulas on the counter! We all worked together well and once the cookies were baked, we sat down together at the table to conduct our ‘quality assurance.’ The cookies tasted great!
Kimberly helped me decorate the Tupperware container for the Sloppy Joes and we all signed a card. We placed the food together on the counter and holding hands, I lead the kids in a brief prayer. I almost never pray out loud. I guess this was the awkward part of the experience for me. But taking a lesson from my kids, I did my best.
We took the food to our neighbors and were invited inside. They were very grateful and welcoming, and the kids began to play together. I met their new baby girl and we all got to know each other better. When it was time to leave the kids still wanted to play, so we invited the boys back to our house for an hour. New friends were made today, and the blessings of being in relationship with one another were obvious.
With feelings of contentedness and pride, I thought the day would come full circle when I sat down with my kids for our own meal of Sloppy Joes. I believed it to be one of our favorite family meals. So imagine my shock when Michael and Kimberly asked to have cereal for dinner! Why? “Because we hate Sloppy Joes MOM!!!” What? I prayed out loud for the second time that day – “Lord, please help me……..”
Summer service project for your family
The shelves of local food pantries typically run low during the summer months. Here is an example of how your whole family can serve their neighbor.
Inspired by a vacation bible school food collection, Diana took her sons (ages 8 & 10) and three family friends shopping for donations. They went to the grocery store together and each person picked out an item or two to buy for the food pantry. After they got home and before they donated their items, Diana and the kids read Luke 10:25-37 (the Parable of the Good Samaritan) and reflected on the experience of helping other people.
Here are the reflection questions they used to talk about the experience.
The kids agreed that sometimes the right thing to do is hard but Jesus wants us to help others. It is not about us feeling comfortable, it is about taking care of the people in our community who tend to be forgotten.
Try this with your family. As you can see it doesn’t take much time. It will lead to really interesting conversations and you may learn some things about your children along the way!
One last thing ~ say a family prayer over the food before you donate it. Pray that those who receive it will be nourished and feel cared for by the kindness done in Jesus' name.
Links:
Glen Ellyn Food Pantry
People’s Resource Center
Inspired by a vacation bible school food collection, Diana took her sons (ages 8 & 10) and three family friends shopping for donations. They went to the grocery store together and each person picked out an item or two to buy for the food pantry. After they got home and before they donated their items, Diana and the kids read Luke 10:25-37 (the Parable of the Good Samaritan) and reflected on the experience of helping other people.
Here are the reflection questions they used to talk about the experience.
- Why did you choose the items you did?
- Can you imagine what it would feel like to receive help from someone you have never met?
- What does it feel like to be the one helping people?
- As seen in actions of the Samaritan traveler, sometimes helping others takes us beyond our comfort zone. We are called to sacrifice. Why is that a part of Jesus’ story? Why does Jesus’ want us to do things that may be hard for us?
The kids agreed that sometimes the right thing to do is hard but Jesus wants us to help others. It is not about us feeling comfortable, it is about taking care of the people in our community who tend to be forgotten.
Try this with your family. As you can see it doesn’t take much time. It will lead to really interesting conversations and you may learn some things about your children along the way!
One last thing ~ say a family prayer over the food before you donate it. Pray that those who receive it will be nourished and feel cared for by the kindness done in Jesus' name.
Links:
Glen Ellyn Food Pantry
People’s Resource Center
Playing with your children...and enjoying it!
There are only so many games of Wii or scenarios of Barbies that parents can play. That's normal. It's not about the games, it is about YOU! Our kids simply want to be with us. It doesn’t matter so much what you do together just that you are together as a family. Think about what you like to do and share that with your kids: bake, fix up old cars, ride bikes, or read out loud.
What do you like to do with your kids? I asked this question of an artist friend of mine. Here is his answer. Let it inspire you to share your interests with your children!
~ Written by Rich who lives in Wheaton with his wife Tammy and their daughters, Elise - 5 and Liana - 3.
My daughters have many different interests but I have found that they both love using their imaginations. I have a graphics and video background so we sometimes write out a storyboard and act out a short movie based on their toys. The girls do all the character's voices, help with the lighting and setting up the scenes. Once they see the end result, they love it and want to do another one! We also shoot movies that are made up as we go. The girls will dress up in costumes - princesses mostly! They make up a storyline about a hidden treasure map and go looking for it around the house. It is cute to watch these and is a timestamp of their lives. I think about how we will look at these years from now, laugh and be touched by how much they have grown.
My daughters love it when I tell them a story. The stories are all made up on the spot and sometimes I include the girls as main characters. This has since turned into a tradition at the dinner table. We create the stories together. My wife and I usually begin a story and then the girls take over telling fantastic tales of butterflies, dolphins and owning and running their own restaurant. Our latest storyline is of my two daughters as the main characters no taller than an inch off the ground and finding themselves getting into all sorts of mischief.
This kind of imaginative play is what they usually request but we also do the usual board games, drawing, crafts (we sometimes make things out of clay, bake it and paint it), hide-and-seek, read books, play outside, etc. I always end up having just as much fun as they do!
What do you like to do with your kids? I asked this question of an artist friend of mine. Here is his answer. Let it inspire you to share your interests with your children!
~ Written by Rich who lives in Wheaton with his wife Tammy and their daughters, Elise - 5 and Liana - 3.
My daughters have many different interests but I have found that they both love using their imaginations. I have a graphics and video background so we sometimes write out a storyboard and act out a short movie based on their toys. The girls do all the character's voices, help with the lighting and setting up the scenes. Once they see the end result, they love it and want to do another one! We also shoot movies that are made up as we go. The girls will dress up in costumes - princesses mostly! They make up a storyline about a hidden treasure map and go looking for it around the house. It is cute to watch these and is a timestamp of their lives. I think about how we will look at these years from now, laugh and be touched by how much they have grown.
My daughters love it when I tell them a story. The stories are all made up on the spot and sometimes I include the girls as main characters. This has since turned into a tradition at the dinner table. We create the stories together. My wife and I usually begin a story and then the girls take over telling fantastic tales of butterflies, dolphins and owning and running their own restaurant. Our latest storyline is of my two daughters as the main characters no taller than an inch off the ground and finding themselves getting into all sorts of mischief.
This kind of imaginative play is what they usually request but we also do the usual board games, drawing, crafts (we sometimes make things out of clay, bake it and paint it), hide-and-seek, read books, play outside, etc. I always end up having just as much fun as they do!
A Daytrip to Starved Rock State Park
~ Written by Debbie who lives in Aurora with her husband Ross and their daughters Evie -7 and Ellie – 4.
One of our favorite places to visit as a family is Starved Rock State Park in Utica, Illinois. It takes only a little over an hour to get there and it is a fun place to visit any time of the year. The park is free to visit and there are many trails and hiking paths, offering a unique and different experience each time we go. We often start our day of hiking at the canyon trails found just outside of the actual state park. These relatively short hikes provide beautiful scenery, easy hiking, and the opportunity to create your own path if you want to cross over the streams and creeks to get to the waterfalls.
There are also caves to explore and rocks to climb on, as well as wildlife to spot. Starved Rock itself offers a variety of trails of varying difficulty, with well-marked paths, stairs to assist in many of the inclines, and much natural beauty.
In preparation for our trips to Starved Rock, we plan as best we can, but keep things simple. Some things that always get packed include: sunscreen and bug spray, Band-Aids and first aid cream, hand sanitizer, and toilet paper (there are restroom facilities, but sometimes not stocked with TP). We
also make sure to pack water bottles and snacks such as dried fruit and trail mix (the girls love to help make this ahead of time, mixing nuts, raisins,
sunflower seeds, granola, etc.). In terms of clothing, we dress in layers, wear hats, and make sure we have sturdy, close-toed shoes. We also throw extra socks and shoes in the car, in case we end up with wet feet from our adventures crossing the water. Also, don’t forget the camera!
Our girls are definitely outdoor girls, and truly enjoy hiking through the woods all day. We enjoy the time with them and the opportunity to talk about anything and everything. Starved Rock and the trails around it allow us an easy way to discuss nature and God’s world. There are so many places to
stop and see the wonders God created; numerous creatures to watch; sounds to stop and listen to. Picking their way across the creeks on fallen logs or flat rocks allows the girls to problem-solve, work together, and push themselves to accomplish something more difficult than they are used to doing.
All in all, we strongly recommend a family trip to Starved Rock in the near future.
Try adding these bedtime activities before and after your trip:
~ The night before your trip read Genesis chapter 1 from the bible. (The Spark Story Bible also has a great version of the creation story.) As you read let your children imagine all the wonders God created “in the beginning.” Then wonder out loud together what are some of the wonders they will
see the next day on their trip to the woods?
~ Bedtime the day of your trip. Relax together with no other interruptions and let your mind go back to your trip in the woods. Let each person share the things they are thankful for from your day together. Once everyone has shared, pray a simple prayer to thank God for all he created especially [list your things here].
There are also caves to explore and rocks to climb on, as well as wildlife to spot. Starved Rock itself offers a variety of trails of varying difficulty, with well-marked paths, stairs to assist in many of the inclines, and much natural beauty.
In preparation for our trips to Starved Rock, we plan as best we can, but keep things simple. Some things that always get packed include: sunscreen and bug spray, Band-Aids and first aid cream, hand sanitizer, and toilet paper (there are restroom facilities, but sometimes not stocked with TP). We
also make sure to pack water bottles and snacks such as dried fruit and trail mix (the girls love to help make this ahead of time, mixing nuts, raisins,
sunflower seeds, granola, etc.). In terms of clothing, we dress in layers, wear hats, and make sure we have sturdy, close-toed shoes. We also throw extra socks and shoes in the car, in case we end up with wet feet from our adventures crossing the water. Also, don’t forget the camera!
Our girls are definitely outdoor girls, and truly enjoy hiking through the woods all day. We enjoy the time with them and the opportunity to talk about anything and everything. Starved Rock and the trails around it allow us an easy way to discuss nature and God’s world. There are so many places to
stop and see the wonders God created; numerous creatures to watch; sounds to stop and listen to. Picking their way across the creeks on fallen logs or flat rocks allows the girls to problem-solve, work together, and push themselves to accomplish something more difficult than they are used to doing.
All in all, we strongly recommend a family trip to Starved Rock in the near future.
Try adding these bedtime activities before and after your trip:
~ The night before your trip read Genesis chapter 1 from the bible. (The Spark Story Bible also has a great version of the creation story.) As you read let your children imagine all the wonders God created “in the beginning.” Then wonder out loud together what are some of the wonders they will
see the next day on their trip to the woods?
~ Bedtime the day of your trip. Relax together with no other interruptions and let your mind go back to your trip in the woods. Let each person share the things they are thankful for from your day together. Once everyone has shared, pray a simple prayer to thank God for all he created especially [list your things here].
Share your family fun ideas!
Does your family have special summer activities they like to do together? How do you weave your faith into your family time? Email Pam to share your ideas with other families! pvoves@faithonline.org
Does your family have special summer activities they like to do together? How do you weave your faith into your family time? Email Pam to share your ideas with other families! pvoves@faithonline.org