Summer’s coming! My guest columnist, Carrie Patterson (at right, with kids after a day of fossil-hunting) has some great ideas for how to fill the parenting days with something other than television. Carrie teaches home-schooling seminars in Vancouver, Washington, and is an expert on turning free time into opportunities for edutainment.

GAME NIGHT
My Jonathan likes to host game nights in our basement. Our church has a strategy game night on the first and third Friday nights and it's open to anyone. Jonathan is usually the youngest one there, but really enjoys it. Months in which there is a fifth Friday, he hosts a game night at our house and invites a few friends. Everyone brings a snack and game to share. They usually go from 6:30–10:30 p.m.

HALF SLEEPOVER
One of my daughter, Julia's, friends did this once and we loved it! The girls all brought sleeping bags, pillows and pajamas. They made their own pizzas for dinner, then got in their PJs and rolled out the sleeping bags. They watched a movie (they chose Rogers & Hammerstein’s “Cinderella”), had popcorn and snacks. Then at 10:30 or 11:00 PM their parents came and they went home. It was as much fun as a slumber party, but everyone slept in their own beds, went to bed at a decent hour, and were not grouchy the next day.

ARTS AND CRAFTS DAY
Get craft kits at Michael's or order them through Oriental Trading Co. and have the kids make something. If one of the moms knows how to crochet or knit, they can start a project and then if they do end up watching TV, they can work on it. Also, check local craft stores (Lowe's, Home Depot, etc.) and see if they have a kids’ craft day. Would they be interested in starting/continuing a scrapbook? Sometimes scrapbook stores have kids’ classes, or families could host it once a month.

PHOTOGRAPHY
Read a little bit with kids in a beginning photography book about how to take good pictures. Get each one a disposable camera and take them to the zoo. Let them use the whole camera taking pictures, get them developed and then a week or so later, sit down and analyze them. Another idea would be to take pictures of their activities all summer and make a scrapbook for the summer of 2007.Last year we studied local history and visited local historical places,had the kids take pictures and put it together in a book. They had to find out info about the place and do a journal entry, too.

COUNTY FAIR
See if the county fair has open class categories that kids can enter. Have them each choose something to enter and work on it. (Grow flowers or tomatoes in a pot, sew an apron, decorate a T-shirt, take photos, learn to set the table, embroider, cross-stitch.) You might also check the county extension agent for materials to use. Anyone can purchase them, even if their child is not in 4-H and they are good quality, economically priced. (I have a whole library of them!)Then there is the local library reading program and the Barnes & Noble summer reading program that provide rewards for reading.

THEATER TIME
Local theaters have free movie days once a week. Check the web for information.

The possibilities are endless. Enjoy!