We have always exposed our children to a variety of extracurricular activities. From city soccer teams to homeschool drama; from jump rope classes to creation clubs-I can't say we've tried it all, but we've come pretty close. Many of those activities have been a direct answer to prayer for specific needs of specific children. Some have been time wasters.

The balancing act in all of this is learning what to decline and when to add another activity. We try to evaluate the benefit of the activity before just adding another thing to our schedule. We also check our schedule to make sure we still have time for our schoolwork. Before adding an activity, you may want to ask yourself a few questions:

• Does my child have a bent for this activity already and would it benefit him further?
• Would it improve his skills or just use his skills?
• Would it be an outlet for cooped-up energy?
• Could we find a way to do the same thing at home?
• Can more than one child participate, or can the whole family participate?
• Does it incorporate ministry or evangelism? (A huge plus!)
• Does it give the child glory or God glory?
• Are parents and siblings welcome?
• Does it fit with our educational themes and goals this year, or can it wait?
• Do we really have the time/energy to make this commitment?

Because we have a large family, we try to incorporate as many children as we can in any extracurricular activity, or we focus on one or two children per year.

Whatever you choose, make sure your husband is in full agreement, as many activities take up precious and sometimes limited family time. And not only must Dad agree, we need to make sure we've prayed and asked for God's guidance and wisdom. He says He offers it freely to all who will just ask!

"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." James 1:5

~Deborah

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This is the perfect time to give my annual "take a summer vacation" plea on behalf of children all across the globe. Now you may be the type who does school year-round. You work a few weeks and then take a break for a couple of weeks. If that is your pattern and bent, that's fine . . . just be sure you're giving your kids and their mother a break.

But if you're the type who just works all the time and refuses to stop for summer vacation UNTIL the work is done . . . forget that idea and take a summer vacation, even if the work isn't done.

Nothing personal, but who cares if they don't finish all their work? Do you think for one moment that "real" schoolteachers always finish their lesson plans? They don't! And guess what? They don't feel a tinge of guilt for letting their students leave for the summer.

Besides, the first two months of next year's curriculum is mostly review. Your kids will be just fine. In fact, I would bet the farm that both you and they will be better off for taking a couple months of that relaxing elixir called summer vacation.

Dad, can I talk to you a minute? I know full well that some of our wives get a little weak in the knees and balk at doing what they KNOW to be true. That's where you need to flex your fatherly authority and say, "Honey, you've done a great job with the kids, and I'm so proud of all that you've done. I know you think you need to do more . . . but as the head of our house and school, I proclaim this school year done."

As I've said so many times to the dads around me, "You 'da dad." This is where she needs you most.

You've got about a week left (if you haven't stopped already), so enjoy the last week with your kids doing something fun and special.

You can thank me later.

Be real,

Todd

P.S. Still haven't gotten your husband the greatest Father's Day gift ever? Then check out this Familyman Father's Day Special.

P.P.S. I'll be in Fort Wayne, Indiana, this weekend at a homeschool convention. First one to my booth who can tell me what legendary person is buried near the convention site gets a free book.

IEW invites you to transform your reluctant writers into competent communicators, results guaranteed! Sharon says, "As my 15 year old was doing a writing assignment, he was actually chuckling to himself! He said, 'I can't believe this is fun!' "

Request our 2011 Magalog and receive four free downloads with your request!

Ruth Beechick, Curriculum Specialist 

and

Debbie Strayer, Homeschool Consultant 

Every family has a pace, or style, that develops over time. The best way to know what is right for your family is to be guided by peace. When you sense that peace, or absence of strife, then you will know that you have found your family's pace. This will probably look different for every household.

As a family, we loved sports. Making room in our schedule for baseball games and swim meets was a joy and delight to us all. Rather than being an interruption, it was something we all looked forward to. We would wait with eager anticipation for things like the Olympics or the World Series and watch as many games or events together as possible. These sporting activities were not a cause of stress for us, but rather a time of unity.

Though my children enjoyed time with their friends at park day, they always preferred to learn together at home. We participated in co-op classes only for enrichment such as art or drama. This gave us plenty of time at home to think, talk, rest, and connect over great literature or projects. It also released us from the academic pressure felt by so many, because there was no homework to be done for others. That was our pace, our style, and it worked well. The pressure to learn in groups often reminds me of my days of school teaching, when keeping up with all the requirements could produce great stress.

Find your pace. Look at what creates stress for you and your children and consider making changes. Don't succumb to the idea that every homeschooled child must be a part of classes outside the home, but rather find what refreshes and resupplies you and your children with grace.

Read more from Debbie at www.debbiestrayer.com.

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