Summer Time

My advice as a former teacher is to have a schedule of things like structured/unstructured play, regular lunch/nap times, etc. This way they know what is coming next. Look online for some simple activities and games for the certain ages. It might be hard to get out of the house with that many kids by yourself. I don't know where you live but the Semmes Library at Judson and Nacodoches has story times and a playground outside. That is free and structured and unstructured. But have things like coloring, playdoh, painting, and games that they can do as you supervise, have picnics in your backyard, go for a walk in the neighborhood to give them exercise and get outside, have quiet reading time each day (especially for the older ones). Hope this helps! Just some ideas. These are things I do with my kiddos! www.preschoolonline.com is a great website with cool ideas!

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Hi M.!
Go to the link below.
http://www.ci.new-braunfels.tx.us/parks/parkindex.html

Landa Park is a great place to take the kids for a picnic and play.

You can also schedule at home science and art projects. Paper mache is fun, too. They can use balloons and make hand puppets or pinatas.
http://familycrafts.about.com/cs/papermache/a/051500pm.htm
A pottery class may be too expensive but you might be able to buy pottery/molding clay at an art store and make bowls, etc.
There are so many at home crafts and along with play time, your day will be fun and filled.
Wal Mart is great for paints, etc.
Have fun!
D.

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I don't know how your finances are and all but I would invest in a trampoline. I have three kids which is hardly much with your six but it keeps them busy for hours on end during the day. I even put my 8 month on there with me of course and he loves it. You can use a water hose even when it is hot outside, it keeps them cool and adds a little extra fun to it while they jump.

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My advice to you is to get a Zoo family pass as low as 50 or 60 dollars. With all the kids is pays for itself the first time. We have had a membership for 4 years and it great. They have a little water hole where the kids can swimming.

The Witte (on Broadway) is free on tuesday after 3.

Kidstown on San Pedro has summer offers.

Maybe a VBS for the older kids.

The library and some restuarant have summer reading programs where they recieve free prizes/treats.

AMC theater last year had a free movie on Wednsday mornings at 9.

Hope this helps and check out the weekender and Kids Magazine @HEB or Walmart.

Have fun and be safe.
L.

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I would try your public Library. I know the one here in Wichita Falls has activities every day of the week. The best part being that they are free!! There is movie day, arts and crafts day, stroy telling day with puppet shows. There are also computers the older ones can use to play learning games. As a stay at home mom we spend a load of time at the library because it's fun but also the children are learning at the same time. Hope you find something!!

Don't forget those timeless games like Red Rover, duck duck goose, london bridges and freeze tag. Bubbles are fun for all ages to play with. All but the youngest could play with a soccer ball. Don't forget to schedule in clean up time and have them pick up thier own toys. You could also have 1 day a week where they help you bake something in the kitchen.

M.,
Hello. My name is E.. I am a mother of two, and a part time nurse, and a wife, and...and...and...
I am coordinator for our Vacation Bible School at our church. We take ages 3-12, June 4-8th, 9am-12:00 at Bob Bryant park behind Riverside Grove Subdivision in Bastrop. We usually have around 150 kids. The kids always seem to have a blast. This year, our theme is Take the Plunge, complete with water slides, water games, snacks, bible stories, presentations from overseas missionaries from around the world here on furlow, and much more. This could be fun. We divide the kids by ages. This is just one idea. I have many more.
We took a trip to Austin (the big city...) parked the car, and rode the dillo down Congress Ave. We got off on 2nd street and went to the Children's museum, then hopped back on the bus and went to the capitol. The dillo and the capital were free, but the CHildren's museum was about $6.00/person (i think.) It was a lot of fun to ride the bus, and be downtown. The dillo stops running at 7pm so make sure to be back on by then to get your car at the park and ride.
Good luck this summer. I have a few more ideas if you would like. E..

Squirt shaving cream on the table and let the kids "draw" pictures and letters in it (this also cleans your table nicely), make bubbles and blow them with different things (strings, flyswatters, etc), make playdough (there are many recipes online), paint with waterbased paint on the driveway or sidewalk (washes off with the hose), make the whole living room into a fort of pillows and blankets and let the kids play for the day, set up a tent in the living room and go "camping", make bologne men/women for lunch (bologna face, grape eyes, banana nose, cheeto's hair, etc), oh and laugh and giggle every day! :)