{"id":27,"date":"2016-05-30T00:32:32","date_gmt":"2016-05-30T00:32:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/classicaldifference.com\/?p=27"},"modified":"2018-11-25T22:46:16","modified_gmt":"2018-11-25T22:46:16","slug":"brainwaves","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/classicaldifference.com\/brainwaves\/","title":{"rendered":"Brainwaves"},"content":{"rendered":"

5 Challenges<\/strong><\/span><\/a> | Fun and Function<\/strong><\/span><\/a> | Mom’s To-do List<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Reading Lists<\/strong><\/span><\/a> | Recipes<\/strong><\/span><\/a> | Bookmaking<\/strong><\/span><\/a> | Pinterest Grab Bag<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

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5 Challenges<\/h2>\n

Reading Race<\/a> | Dinner Date<\/a> | Music on the Mind<\/a> | Mastering Mastery<\/a> | Day Camps with a Purpose<\/a><\/p>\n

Look up “summer activities” on the web and you’ll quickly find a century’s worth of great ideas. We’ve narrowed it down to five challenges that will keep your kids entertained, active, and engaged this summer.<\/p>\n

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\n\"star1\"Reading Race<\/span><\/p>\n

\"bookrace_sm\"Match your child page for page in a friendly reading competition. You might want to set limits on picture sizes in your high-schooler\u2019s book choices.<\/p>\n

If your child wins, they get to stay up late. If you win, you get to go to bed early! Cash prizes and trips to the zoo work, too.<\/p>\n

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You can include books that are required summer reading for your kids, but make sure to have plenty of titles that are just for fun. See our Reading Lists<\/a>.<\/span><\/div>\n

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\n\"star2\"Dinner Date<\/span><\/p>\n

\"kidchef_sm\"Have your kids plan and make meals on their own. For older kids, choose a different ethnic food each week.<\/p>\n

The internet abounds with children\u2019s recipes, but here are our favorites to start with:<\/p>\n

Breakfast: Dutch pancakes
\nLunch: BLT (Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato Sandwich)
\nDinner: Pizza<\/p>\n

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Recipes<\/span><\/p>\n

Print Recipes<\/a><\/span>Dutch Pancakes<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ingredients:
\n1\/2 c. milk
\n1\/2 c. all-purpose flour
\n2 large eggs
\n1\/4 t. salt (optional)
\n1\/4 t. vanilla extract (optional)
\n2 T. butter<\/p>\n

Optional toppings:
\nButter
\nLemon Juice
\nPowdered (Confectioners) Sugar
\nMaple Syrup
\nJam\/Jelly\/Preserves<\/p>\n

Directions:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).<\/li>\n
  2. Blend all ingredients, except butter, until batter is smooth.<\/li>\n
  3. Melt butter in a 12-14″ cast-iron or other oven-safe skillet (put it in the oven as it preheats); pour batter into the center of the skillet.<\/li>\n
  4. Bake in the preheated oven until puffed and golden, 20 to 25 minutes.<\/li>\n
  5. Brush with 1 tablespoon butter, and add other toppings as desired.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    BLT<\/strong><\/p>\n

    The sandwich might be self explanatory, but here’s a bacon<\/strong> tip: bake it in the oven!<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Place the bacon on a cookie sheet with 1″ sides. Do not overlap the bacon, but you can squish it together.<\/li>\n
    2. Put the cookie sheet in the oven and then set the oven to 400 degrees (no preheating).<\/li>\n
    3. Cook for 15-25 minutes.<\/li>\n
    4. Remove bacon to paper towels to absorb excess grease.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Tip:<\/strong> For easier cleanup, line the cookie sheet completely and over the sides with foil.<\/em><\/p>\n

      Pizza<\/strong><\/p>\n

      For younger kids, we suggest buying pre-made pizza dough, shredded cheese, and bottled marinara (tomato) sauce, such as Prego. For a healthy alternative, Trader Joe’s has excellent pre-made pizza dough and sauce in their refrigerated section.<\/p>\n

      To make a pizza, simply press homemade or purchased dough into a circle on a greased pizza pan, add the sauce and cheese (and other toppings), and follow cooking instructions for the dough.<\/p>\n

      Naan bread also makes a great crust. Just add the toppings and place the pizza in the oven on the “toast” cycle or at 400 degrees for 5-7 minutes.<\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

      You might choose a day of the week or month that belongs to your child, and alternate between breakfast, lunch, and dinner so that when school starts, they\u2019ll be ready to cook any meal you might need.<\/span><\/div>\n

       <\/p>\n

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      \"star3\"Music on the Mind<\/span><\/p>\n

      \"musicalnotes_sm\"There\u2019s no doubt music is good for both the mind and soul. Do you know an older student at your school who loves music, could use some extra cash, and can drive to your house? Hire them to pass their knowledge and love of music onto your child.<\/p>\n

      Try a new instrument or a new twist on an old one by learning to fiddle, play jazz, or improvise. Remember, a good teacher for beginners doesn’t necessarily have to be a professional. High school and college students might have the necessary knowledge while being more flexible and less expensive.<\/span><\/div>\n

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      \"star4\"Mastering Mastery<\/span><\/p>\n

      \"quill_sm\"Create a book of poetry, but don\u2019t do it alone. Find meaningful poems from Longfellow, Eliot, Wordsworth, or any of the great poets, and have your child copy them on the left side of their notebook or journal. Then have your child emulate (not copy) them on the right. Ideas, thoughts, and experiences flow easier under the guidance of a master, and you might be surprised at the results. Create illustrations or take photos to go along with the works of original poetry.<\/p>\n

      At the end of the summer, make it into a book<\/a>. If you have grandparents, save it for that special Christmas present! And send a copy<\/a> of the best to us! (Include both sides\u2014master and copy.)<\/span><\/div>\n

       <\/p>\n

      <\/a><\/p>\n

      \"star5\"Day Camps with a Purpose<\/span><\/p>\n

      Summer Day Camps abound. This year, choose to be involved in an excellent artistic workshop run by a professional arts organization that \u201cmoonlights\u201d with summer day camps.<\/p>\n

      For example, two of the most valuable camps we experience here:
      \n\u25a0 THE IDAHO SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL drama camp, run by our region\u2019s award-winning Shakespeare company. The instructors are generally professional actors in the company.
      \n\u25a0 THE SUN VALLEY SUMMER SYMPHONY week-long \u201cmusic workshops,\u201d aligned with a professional symphony in Sun Valley, Idaho. The instructors and guest instructors are generally professional musicians. Often, similar camps are run by college music departments.<\/p>\n

      Both are run by professionals passionate about their craft. And in each case the hours of daily work culminate in improved skills, excellent productions for the audiences, and the most fond memories of the entire summer.<\/p>\n

      You can probably find them in your state, too!<\/span><\/div>\n

       <\/p>\n

      \n

      <\/a>
      \n\"pinterestP_sm\"<\/p>\n

      Pinterest Grab Bag<\/h2>\n

      More than just a catalog of ideas, this Pinterest board sent to us from a busy mom is an online \u201cgrab bag.\u201d It\u2019s a way to let kids choose their favorite activities from mom\u2019s preselected list.<\/p>\n

      \u201cI usually let each of my kids pick a few activities at the beginning of the summer and then get the supplies to have on hand.\u201d For more flexibility, each week let one of the kids pick that week\u2019s activity. They enjoy browsing through the options before their big day!<\/p>\n

      tinyurl.com\/cdsummerfun<\/a><\/p>\n

      \u2014Pinterest board by Jordan Douglas, The Ambrose School, Meridian, ID<\/p>\n

      \n

      <\/a><\/p>\n

      Fun and Function<\/h2>\n

      The Classical Kids Suggested Summer Activities<\/span><\/p>\n

      Along with our 5 Challenges, here are some activities that are both practical and purposeful.<\/p>\n