Time, Cookies and Barney, or Wishbone If You Prefer!

As you drive along, you hear squeaking from the back, "How much time left?"

"A half hour more."

Ten minutes later, "Is it a half hour yet?"

Young children and comprehension of time don’t go together very well. But time, cookies and Barney do.

Barney, yes, that purple dinosaur show, was a favorite of my children, as well as Wishbone. Each show was one half hour long and watching a few a week, the kids knew the feeling of about how long it took to watch one show - one half hour. So instead of answering "a half hour," we’d say "a half hour - one Barney or Wishbone long." Much easier to understand and relate to!

So where are the cookies in this? Another way to judge time segments! If the trip takes 60 minutes, the trip is broken up into 6 cookies.

20 minutes into the ride, when the question of "How much time left?" The answer is "The trip takes 6 cookies, you’ve eaten 2, how many cookies are left?" Throw a bit of school in there!

Cookies are what my just-turned 11 year old still uses. Yes, she could use minutes, but cookies are just more fun!

Organizing Clothes -- Awana Themes at Camp

A few days ago I posted Clothes and Vacations - Staying Organized. Today this tip came in handy.

My youngest, Gina is 11 today and tomorrow she goes off to camp for the first time - Awana Scholarship Camp.

She is so excited about going. I just about went crazy, tho!!!

Awana has theme days - and she doesn't have a Hawaiian shirt, a college logo shirt, ....

We spent the evening scrounging at home for anything to make the theme with. And even, shhhhhh, borrowing her oldest's sister's shirt. Shhhhhhh.

As to organizing - the bags helped SO much.

- Hawaiian day -

Label bag "Tuesday - Hawaiian,"
Put in Hawaiian shirt, shorts, undies, socks, toss in suitcase.
Check off of list.
Done.
Next?

Come Hawaiian Day she doesn’t have to dig around in her suitcase trying to remember what she picked out to wear - she just looks for the bag. Done. Easy.

It was a pain trying to find things that would fit her and fit the theme without going shopping, but it’s going to be so easy for her at camp.

She’s all packed and has her themes all under control!

Hotel Rooms for Large Families

I like this comment I received on my duplicate blog at The Old Schoolhouse - I wanted to share it with you.

We just got back from vacation and found a great hotel at a great price. We have nine in our family and would normally have to book two rooms, but Quality Inn & Suites offers two room suites (we got one for 87.00 a night- better than the 70 dollars each for two rooms which was 140.00 per night) The two room suites have two doubles, a queen and a sofabed and a mini kitchen area. You can also ask for a crib. They come with free continental breakfast and usually have a heated pool, sauna, jacuzzi and exercise room. They are not five star hotels, but they certainly work great for our large family who like to stay together.

Deborah Wuehler - The Old Schoolhouse Enews Editor