#VoicesForOurSons – Summer Enrichment Ideas

Hard to believe that the end of the school year is quickly approaching us! As the mother of a tween son, it dawned on me recently that at the end of this summer he will be considered “too old” for most traditional summer camps and daycare programs. My  “tween” will be entering the realm of being a teenager. With that transition comes many changes, responsibilities and questions – mainly “What to do all summer long?”

I remember my summers were spent at my grandmother’s house babysitting and helping her in her daycare center. For a preteen and teenage girl, that was great and I loved the extra money, but that option is not available (or appealing) to my almost-teenager.

Val over at Children of The Old School shared some great resources for summer enrichment programs.  As a blended family, a portion of the summer is covered as my son will spend some much-needed quality time with his father.  The remainder of the summer I would love to begin getting him prepared mentally for 8^th grade and, also, doing fun, but educational, activities, too.

At the beginning of the summer, I will be giving my tween a learning packet that includes a summer reading list, fun activities based on places he will be visiting, worksheets printed off from educational websites his teachers recommend and a journal to help document his summer travels and activities.  By the end of the summer, he must be prepared to present a digital and oral presentation to our family detailing his summer adventures and his expectations for the upcoming school year. I want him to enjoy his summer (that’s what childhood is about) but I, also, need to keep him focused on academics and real-world application skills.

The first Wednesday of each month, myself and three fellow mothers will be collectively sharing our voices and our social media reach. We are all raising young boys and believe in the concept that it takes a village to raise a child. We will be sharing their successes, their opportunities for growth, their dreams, and their aspirations. While our experiences may differ, collectively we speak for our sons. I challenge you to join us and add your voice and your passion.

You can connect with us on our respective blogs:

• Children of The Old School
• And Starring As Herself
• Mama Harris’ Kitchen
• Divas With A Purpose

We encourage you to share and grow with us. If you are a fellow blogger, and have an article that speaks to this cause, I invite you to link up below and add your voice. Not a blogger? Then please join in on the conversation below or use your voice and reach by sharing this among your social media circles using the share buttons below.