I understand the benefits of homeschooling through the summer: the kids stay in the routine, math doesn't leak out of their brains, and they get to keep progressing in the required subjects.
I just can't do it.
In our home, June and July are weeks of 4-H projects, sleep away camp, daycamps, swimming, fishing, and outside chores. The learning process doesn't stop, it just jumps to a different track. Instead of math and writing, they are doing 4-H projects: woodworking, muskrat trapping, small engines, quilting and cake decorating. Last summer it was raising a calf, woodworking and vegetable gardening. Useful, important stuff that we would not have time for during the regular school year.
There is also the benefit of how these practical "classes" make my life a little simpler. By next year I will have two young carpenters that can build those shelves I've been wanting. My daughter beautifully decorates all the cakes I make and is teaching me how to use a sewing machine. Plus, my son will be able to trap annoying groundhogs and fix the lawn mower. Yes, I really like 4-H.
For the most part, the kids enjoy our summer schedule. On a typical day, they sleep in, work on 4-H projects for a few hours, do a few chores, read for 30 minutes, then have the rest of the day to themselves. To avoid all those requests for computer, TV and Wii time, I have a peg system. Each child starts the day with two pegs that they can use for 30 minutes of TV, Wii or computer games. However, certain educational websites like Timez Attack or Google Earth are peg-free. They can earn extra pegs by doing chores, or, if they don't use their pegs, they can turn them in at the end of the day for a little money. I am not very strict with this, and often make exceptions, but at least it sends the message that there is a limit to these activities.
For me, it's important that Kingdom Way Academy (the name of our school) take this time in the summer to do different things. It's rejuvinating and gives me the needed mental break before preparation begins for the next school year.
