My kids are home and safe this summer. They are calm and happy every day. There is no boredom here! How? I've planned a complete 8-week mommy camp and they are so excited. They've been enjoying the first few days with zero complaints or fighting between them!
We've made the difficult decision to keep our kids home from daycamp this summer due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It does add quite a bit of pressure on us, but it is a much safer alternative as national numbers are hitting record highs. So, that leaves us with the important task of figuring out what to do with the kids for the next 8 weeks.
I have created a complete summer mommy camp plan. 8 full weeks planned included breakfast and lunch menu, all activities, weekly themes, printables and more. I'm going to share all of this with you!
General Format
Basic format is 7:30 am we Daven (morning prayers), followed by getting dressed and recess. We eat breakfast at 9:00 am each day. Then, we do some brain teasers/puzzles at 10:00 am. 10:30 we enjoy activities relating to the theme for the week. Lunch starts at 11:30 am. 12:30 begins school-type work, which keeps the kids from getting behind over the summer. Then lastly, at 1:30 is the activity of the day. These daily activities are: Yoga, Art, Baking, Science, Dance Party, Movie, or special performances. We do this Monday through Thursday. On Friday, we do everything the same until 10, then the kids have their weekly religious studies. After that they are off.
You can download the 8-week calendar and the complete day-by-day, hour-by-hour schedule here: Calendar | Daily Schedule
General Resources
These are all the books we are using for the daily activities. Just click any picture to order on Amazon. We do use affiliate links and your purchases help to support this site.
Brain Teasers for Preschool ages.
Fun look and find puzzles for preschoolers.
Brain teasers for school age. I've got this for my going on 4th grader.
And fun puzzles for the gradeschooler. Picture puzzles, jokes, cartoons, quizzes, and lots of fun things.
Workbook for keeping my preschoolers on track educationally.
Third Grade review so my 9-year old will be on track for the school year.
Week 1
The theme for week 1 of Mommy Daycamp is Grocery Store. I had a concept for a fun pretend play game and created the entire week around this idea.
Theme Activities: On days 1, 3 and 4, we play grocery store. I bought price stickers from Target for $1.99. With the assistance of my 9 yr old, we gather up all of the kids play food and price every single piece. Mind you, the prices are very random. A banana might be $0.20 and the next banana $2.50. Then sorted the foods into "aisles", Fruits, Vegetables, Meats, Grocery, Bakery, and Deli. Finally, the two young ones took turns with the one play grocery cart we have and pushed it through our "store" buying up whatever they wanted. I handed them out play money to start. 9 sat at the end of the store as the cashier with her own tray of play money, including coins. She calculates on paper (no calculators!) how much money the little ones had to pay, and then she delivered them the proper change. I learn fast. After day 1, the rules became only 10 items per store run. The first day the two kids collectively emptied the store and it took 9 a long time to cash them out.
On day 2, we have a lesson on grocery stores. We start by watching the YouTube video, "Field Trip to the Grocery Store" from KidVision. Then we do mini workbooks to complete the lesson and reinforce what they learned.
Download the printables: Preschool Minibooks Elementary Workbook
Daily Special: Monday's special activity is Yoga followed by a relaxing visualization thanks to our Noggin' App. Tuesday, we bake Chocolate Chip Cookies. Sign up here and I'll personally send you my UNPUBLISHED Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe. This recipe will not be public until my second cookbook releases next year! Wednesday is art day. The little ones are drawing a Dinosaur, guided by Art for Kids Hub. The 9-year is actually quite an artist. I've set her up to draw the Shopkins character of her choice from Art for Kids Hub. Finally on Thursday, we play Freeze Dance. I'm very tricky with the pauses in the music. They'll be giggling within the first 60 seconds.
Week 2
The theme for week 2 of Mommy Daycamp is Families. Awww cute, right?
Theme Activities: Monday, we make puppets. Each child can make a puppet of a family member of their choice. They get brown paper bags, construction paper, glue, scissors, and markers to work with. Afterwards, let the kids put on a little interactive show with their new puppets. On Tuesday and Wednesday, they get to pretend play with all of the house and baby playthings we have. On Thursday, we make very basic family trees from green and brown construction paper that I free-hand draw into a tree trunk and some greenery. The kids can draw pictures of their family members, then cut them out and paste them onto the tree.
Daily Special: Monday is Yoga and Relaxation exercises from our Noggin' App. Tuesday is Science. We play Sink or Float with a big tub of water, a small tub of water and some household objects; Coin, button, toy boat, and a few other things. You can print our Sink or Float printable here. Wednesday is art. The preschoolers get to draw a Car with the crew from Art for Kids Hub. The 9 year old draws a summer pic of her choice, guided by Art for Kids Hub. Thursday is a dance party! with some of the fun songs and videos on GoNoodle.
Week 3
The theme for week 3 is Camping. There are lot's of ways we can go with this one.
Theme Activities: Monday, we will set up a pretend campsite in the living room. The kids get to roast their own lunch over the fire. Hot dogs and s'mores. This can be done using a barbecue grill or fire pit outside. Or if that's not an option, use the flame on a gas stove burner to cook the food. On Tuesday, we set up the play campsite again. This time, the kids get to make up their own scary stories. Wednesday, they have freeplay in the pretend campsite and let their imaginations flow. Thursday there is no camp activity because we are having a special activity instead. See below.
Daily Special: Monday will be Yoga and Relaxation exercises from our Noggin' App. They also have fun race challenges. I like to start with a race challenge, then the yoga poses, and close with an imagination journey to relax. Tuesday we bake cupcakes! We will be baking up Chai spice cupcakes this time. Wednesday is art day. The youngest two draw a Fish, following Art for Kids Hub video. My 9 year old draw a Camping Tent guided by Art for Kids Hub. Thursday is Movie day!! I plan to rent "Spies in Disguise" and serve nachos and ice cream during the movie for a super fun movie lunch.
Week 4
The theme for week 4 is Board Games. I am super excited for this week. We are a board game family all the way. We play multiple games every single week ,and I know that the kids are going to have the best time playing all together.
Theme Activities: Monday we play Soggy Doggy or maybe Candyland. At least, that's the plan. I'll accept input from the kids if they aren't feeling a certain game. Tuesday we play Mouse Trap. Wednesday we play Clue Jr. And on Thursday...we are going to build a life-size board game! Think giant dice and spaces that the kids can actually step on. For instructions and rules to play our life-size game called "Take a Walk" click here.
Daily Special: Monday is Yoga as usual. Though, we may play Floor is Lava instead. I'll let the kids decide. Tuesday is Science. We will conduct a color-mixing experiment. For instructions and printables, click here. Wednesday is art. The 9 year-old will paint Poppies with Art for Kids Hub. The 5 and 2 year olds will paint penguins with Art for Kids Hub. Thursday is a GoNoodle dance party!
Week 5
I think this is probably my favorite week so far. The theme for week 5 is Dress-up. The kids will be encouraged to dress in costumes every day of the week if they wish!
Theme Activities: On Monday, we will make our own costumes as a craft. I have a few options: Superhero, Princess, Fashionista. On Tuesday, the kids will have dress-up pretend play in any costumes they wish. Then, I booked a surprise video playdate from a Circus character via Happily Ever Laughter. Wednesday is Dress-up pretend play. They will be a little distracted as we are preparing for a major fasting day the next day. Which brings us to Thursday, we will not have mommy camp due to the Jewish holiday/fasting day. Mommy does not have enough energy to manage camp with no food or water.
Daily Special: Monday is Yoga and relaxation with the Noggin' App. Tuesday, we will bake Ninja cookies using my Soft Sugar Cookies recipe and ninja cookie cutters. Wednesday is art. The youngest two draw a person guided by Art for Kids Hub. My 9 year old draws her choice of Harry Potter character from Art for Kids Hub.
Week 6
The theme for week 6 is Dr. Seuss. This week promises to be fun and colorful.
Theme Activities: On Monday, we read "Oh the Places You'll Go" and "Hop on Pop.", then do some activities together. Check out this free download for some activity sheets. Tuesday, we tackle "Cat in the Hat" and "Green Eggs and Ham." There are a few more free Dr. Seuss activity pages by Well Nurtured Plants and Pillars Here and from K12 Reader Here. Wednesday we read "One Fish, Two Fish" and "Fox in Socks." On Thursday, we finish off with "Oh the Thinks" and watch the movie "Horton Hears a Who." I'm also looking for a space to squeeze in a viewing of "The Lorax." We'll see how it works out. If you have older ones, you can get some Dr. Seuss activity pages from Super Teacher Worksheets here. If you're willing to pay, there are a few good resources on Teacherspayteachers like these measurement pages or this drawing and writing practice.
Daily Special: Monday is the usual Yoga and Imagination Trips with Noggin' App. We do one of the racing games as well. Check under "healthy habits" in the app. Tuesday is more science. We make ricotta cheese following these instructions from The Kitchn. Make sure you have cheese cloth! On Wednesday, we do art. The oldest draws her choice of Pokemon from Art for Kids Hub. The young ones draw a butterfly with the help of Art for Kids Hub. Thursday there is no activity because we are watching a Dr. Seuss movie.
Week 7
The theme for week 7 is Pirates. Pirates week is going to impress these little ones with creativity and adventure!
Theme Activities: Monday, we get to learn about pirates. First, we read "How I Became a Pirate" by Melinda Long. Then we finish out the lesson with worksheets and activities you can download the printables: Pirate Pages Gr PK-2 | Pirate Pages Gr 3-5. On Tuesday, we have a half hour of Pirate pretend play. We have these fun props! Followed by our Surprise! virtual playdate with a pirate from Happily Ever Laughter. Wednesday, we have a pirate treasure hunt! I make up and hide 5 clues. The kids receive a treasure map, and must work together to solve the clues. At the end, they will find a treasure chest full of coins and gems! Finally, Thursday we watch a movie Trolls: World Tour. The kids are encouraged to dress up in their pirate gear anyway!
Daily Special: Monday we do Yoga and an Imagination Trip with the Noggin' App. Tuesday, we bake up peanut butter cookies. Yum! On Wednesday, 9 will be drawing a Kakamora with Art for Kids Hub. 3 and 5 will draw a shark with Art for Kids Hub. Thursday we end with a movie, so no daily special activity that day. At the end of the week, we will set up the science experiment for next week by adding eggs and vinegar to jars. Get the complete instructions from Go Science Kids.
Week 8
The theme for week 8 is Puzzles. There are SO many types of puzzles and it really varies based on age and ability. I'll share what we are using just to give some ideas.
Theme Activities: Monday, we will do the Farm Puzzle and possibly some Spelling puzzles as well. On Tuesday, the kids will all get to make their own puzzle! Blank puzzles are pretty inexpensive. Or you can get a puzzle craft set. On Wednesday, we will do shapes puzzles and mosaics plus a big princess puzzle. Thursday, the kids will finish a solar system puzzle and then choose their favorites from the week to redo.
Daily Special: Monday is the usual Yoga with the cartoon characters on the Noggin' App. Tuesday is awesome science as we get to check on our eggs. It's time to rinse them off and let the kids have the sensory experience of playing with the shell-less eggs. If the kids are old enough, you can explain the science to them. That's already explained by Go Science Kids. I love when other people do the hard part for me. Now onto Wednesday for art day. We have our final drawing project. 9 will select a Minecraft character to draw and 3 and 5 will draw a bumble bee all the art is guided by Art for Kids Hub. Thursday, is a pizza and ice cream party! And, we will have our very last Dance Party with GoNoodle or possibly some tunes from my phone.
[…] it was a matter of creating a schedule that was workable and consistent. You can see the full summer schedule here. Then, I needed to make sure that there were fun and memorable activities mixed […]