Morning Madness | Easter Egg Hunt | Art & Literacy Night
How about that fizzled out snow storm? :)
So this week and early next week is Community School Summer Camp sign-up, exact time depends on the school. If you're worried about getting a spot at your school, do know that many parents tend to pick the school closest to them, not necessarily where their school is.
Besides our school, I've heard good things about the Tobin Camp, Morse Camp, Amigos Camp, Cambridgeport Camp etc.. So my guess is they are probably all pretty good. And if you're like me last year and signed up way too late, I've from Peabody's Community School that they can accommodate as many kids as needed, because they can just open up another classroom. So relax! :)
Question for you, is it often a mad dash out of the house for you on a school morning?
It sure was at ours. The typical scene: my daughter leisurely taking what seems like hours to eat, taking breaks to work on her latest craft project, see what her brother's up to, and generally ignore my pleas to please finish up.
I'd pack the snacks and look up to see it was already time for school! My husband has an alarm to wake up to help us. He'd come down and say to the kids, "Wait, didn't you wear this yesterday? Go change." Then I'd say, "what's the big deal to wear the same thing for two days. We're already late."
Through all this, my son would be playing his LEGO, apparently oblivious. My husband hurried to collect the kids' shoes, jackets, or backpacks to help us get out of the house on time. Then one of us would rush back in, "Oops, forgot the snacks!"
One Sunday my husband woke up and said to us, "Wait, don't we need to get ready for school?" We looked at him, surprised. "Uh, we don't have school on Sunday," my daughter said.
My poor traumatized husband! :( We clearly needed a better way.
I Googled how to get kids to take greater ownership of their tasks. (Everything I know about parenting is from either this Parenting Bible or Google.) I read about 5 articles, which basically all said, instead of keep telling them what to do, you get them to own the task, ask them questions, and try to be their consultant.
I talked to the kids that they are big enough to now own getting to school on time, but that I'll help them. Okay, my kids said. I asked them how much time do we need to get ready? "10 minutes", my son said. My daughter needed some help with the time subtraction, but my son figured out when we need to start getting ready. I asked him to set an alarm.
Next morning, the alarm went off, and my son said to his sister, "It's time, hurry, we need to get ready." My daughter may not listen to me, but she does listen to her brother. So they got ready in a hurry, I checked and it took only 5 minutes. Woohoo!
My son was proud of himself for being first, and continues his top ranking. For the first week, I at most just need to say, "Alarm!", and my son will start getting ready. My daughter follows, with a bit of reminding some days. And now they are both pretty good at it, and would notice the time.
Apparently now I'm the slacker... I've gotten a few warnings from my kids about how I need to hurry up. My daughter would say, "Mom's always the last." Grrr...
Okay, now I'm thinking... what else are they ready to own? Cleaning up? Homework? Hehehe... ;-)
Weekend Events
MIT Water Night: Explore the Science & Art of Water
The MIT Water Night is a family-friendly event to celebrate water on the evening of World Water Day, March 22. Come l...
Thursday, 6pm, MIT, Walker Memorial, 142 Memorial Drive 
Children ages 2-8 and their families are invited to join the Center for Families for a fun evening of listening to stor...
Friday, 5:30pm, Kennedy-Longfellow School 
It's sugarin' time in the Blue Hills! Join Trailside and the Massachusetts DCR as we continue a more than 20-year-old t...
Saturday, 10am - Sun., Brookwood Farm, Canton 
WCRB Classical Cartoon Festival
99.5 WCRB presents the 19th annual Classical Cartoon Festival. Kids of all ages will enjoy their favorite Warner Bros. ...
Saturday, 10am, Boston Symphony Hall 
Celebrate the coming of spring at our annual festival featuring fiber, food, and fun! Bask in the beauty of Mass Audubo...
Saturday, 10am, Mass Audubon, Lincoln 
Self-Compassion for Parents: Tools for compassionate parenting for all ages Do you struggle to remain kind and compa...
Saturday, 10am, HARVARD SOCH (STUDENT ORGANIZATION CENTER AT HILLES)
2nd Free Children's Art Discovery Class
Last one this spring! The Guild of Boston Artists is proud to hold Free Children's Art Discovery Classes to provide a f...
Saturday, 10:30am, The Guild of Boston Artists 
Celebrate Holi! Nazar Bollywood Dance Troupe - Colors of India
Experience the excitement of Bollywood and celebrate Holi—the Indian Festival of Colors marking the beginning of spring...
Saturday, 10:30am, John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum 
Join us on Saturday, March 24th for our annual Easter Egg Scavenger Hunt! The clue sheets and baskets will begin right ...
Saturday, 11:30am, Faneuil Hall Marketplace 
The Salvation Army's Skatefest
Join us for SkateFest and watch athletes from The Skating Club of Boston put on a spectacular ice skating performance! ...
Saturday, 2pm, MIT Johnson Ice Rink, Cambridge 
Magpie Kids' Annual Petting Zoo
For younger kids. Bring the kids for our third annual petting zoo. What could be more fun than a store full of baby chi...
Sunday, 10am, Magpie Kids, Somerville 
Spring Bash at Google - come & support our public high school students! Celebrate Our High School Students with Friend...
Thursday 3/29, 6:30pm, Google Cambridge Campus 
8th Annual Easter EggStravaganza!
This is our eighth year hosting our fun, free, family event for kids of all ages. You and your kids are invited to join...
Saturday 3/31, 10am, Riverside Press Park 