Dear Parents,
Summer vacation begins soon. Are you ready? Here are a few suggestions:
Don’t let go of your routine
Just because you don’t have the schedule of a school day doesn’t mean that you can let routines slip away. Parents can create a daily routine that includes when you expect your children to be ready for the day, and morning and afternoon activities planned out. Choosing one big activity for each day of the week (library visits, swim lessons, hiking in the park) and one small activity (bedroom pick-up day, books and lemonade, video game competition, etc.) can help you establish a routine for the week. You can design a weekly routine calendar to post in your home where your children can easily check it to know what is coming up.
The daily schedule can include elements such as waking time and bedtime, chores, scheduled activities such as camps and classes, and free time, Parents should make sure children have time for active play and exercise. And they may also want to consider screen-time guidelines for use of electronic products.”
Include some academic time during the daily or weekly schedule. Your children can practice reading skills with favorite books or practice science and math by conducting their own experiments.
Plan opportunities to spend time together as a family.
It’s very easy for everyone to go their own ways during the summer. But this is a chance to spend time together without the pressures of homework, grades and behavioral expectations.
Many families find that the relaxed summer routine gives them more time to interact in positive ways. Look for activities when you can spend one-on-one time with each child.
Make a box of activity ideas.
When your child cries “I’m bored!” or runs out of ideas on what to do, he can pull out a slip of paper with an activity written on it as a starting point for what to do next. Spend time as a family to write down different ideas to add to the idea box. Some suggestions to include:
Crafts, such as scrapbooking, collecting, etc.
Sports programs, especially in noncompetitive leagues where everyone participates
Neighborhood nature walks
Reading aloud
Art projects
Bike rides
Outside science experiments
Charades and skits
Play a board or card game
Develop a “Treasure Hunt” for friends or siblings to go on
Write a coded message and challenge a friend or sibling to “crack the code”
