Still catching up on blog posts. This summer was our first time to do Tate's Super Summer Challenge. The benefit of having friends with older kids is getting to duplicate some great ideas, and this is one of them. The premise of the challenge is to acquire points for rewards by learning new skills and practicing good habits. I think by the end of the summer (and it took all summer to get to 100 points), Tate had checked off 95% of them.
What was great is that in the four categories (Physical, Spiritual, Mental, & Caring/Sharing), there were some that I knew would be really easy for him and some that would be a true challenge. It helped to have a mixture, so he could stay motivated and encouraged. And along the way were some rewards.
Tate's 2011 Super Summer Challenge Accomplishments:
(2) Bible memory verses
Fruits of the Spirit memorized
Go to Summer Spectacular (VBS)
Saying respectful prayers
5 bites of new food (lasagna!!!!)
Eat a cheeseburger
Eating dinner with a happy heart
Watch TV with no thumb
Swim lessons
Hit pitched ball
Underwater for 5 seconds
Learn address & phone #
Preschool worksheets
Art projects
Playing pbskids.org by yourself
Write A-Z & 1-10
Clean bathroom sink
Feed Macy
Pick up playroom
Water flowers
Help Mommy & Daddy
Share toys with friends
Make a card for a family member
It was really fun for all of us to have these goals. And it made things much less of a battle at times. I don't have many pictures of the actual SSC activities...will need to do that part better next year.
But here he is doing a worksheet. This was a good way to keep the handwriting going over the summer.
And the most memorable (and with highest point value) was Tate's first time to eat a cheeseburger. This one took LOTS of talking it up before the big day he decided he was ready. And I have to give him credit that he ate about 2/3 of one...it's a life skill (or at least trying foods you think you don't like)!!! :)
At 10 points, the first reward was a Campout/Movie Night with just Daddy & Tate. The tent was set up in the playroom, popcorn, and a movie. Fun, fun!
And at 25 points, Tate was beyond excited to do the "bungee jump" at the local mall. I was shocked by how not nervous he was.
And then at 50 points, I took him to ride the TRE train to downtown Fort Worth (lots of fun for CHEAP). Clearly I'm not a big city girl and kind of messed up the timing of the return train, so we got to hang out at the downtown train station for an hour when it was 108 degrees outside. :)
For 75 points, he got a surprise toy. And then right at the end of August (I was getting nervous), he hit the big 1-0-0! An extra benefit was that it was also a good way to practice counting numbers up to 100 as he would X off each number when he got points.
So the big prize for hitting 100 was a trip to the new "mini" Legoland at a local mall. (Sidenote...going on a weeknight after 5:00 pm will save you almost half the price and no crowds.)
It actually started a little strange. We were rushing through traffic to get there before they closed the entrance. We finally arrive with just a few minutes to spare and before I know it, we are being ushered into a room. Just me & Tate. Doors close. Lights off. This mad scientist lady turns on her microphone (for a room with just me & Tate in it) and starts loudly giving her high-energy Welcome to Legoland schpeel. Freaked us both out. Tate was clinging to my hand looking at me like I had taken him to a crazy Fun House. Very odd.
We fought through it and then pleasantly enjoyed the rest of the evening surrounded by legos everywhere. DIRK!
Go Cowboys!
Downtown Grapevine
But Tate's favorite part was BY FAR the area you build cars and race them down a ramp. He really would've been happy staying there the entire night.
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It was a super fun way to celebrate all of his hard work with the Super Summer Challenge. I was really proud of this guy for trying so hard all summer long at learning so many new things. Can't wait until next year!
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