Parenting Over Summer Break
Ahhh, summer… a time to sit back, relax, and enjoy the longer days and sunshine. Kids start the countdown to summer long before it begins, and parents may feel the anxiety setting in about ways to keep their child busy and out of trouble all summer long. Summer should be a time to have fun and relax, but with all your child’s extra time comes more freedom and less structure in the day. This may lead to boredom, fights with siblings, meltdowns, defiance or laziness. To keep your child sharp, entertained and out of trouble, keep in mind three different types of activity: brain activity, physical activity and social activity.
Brain Activity – activity that keeps the mind sharp:
Your child can start a summer journal, highlighting her favorite summer events or activities.
Visit your local library and have your child enroll in their summer reading program.
Make a reading goal for the family and see who can read the most pages.
Cook with your child and encourage him to read the ingredients and use math skills with measuring.
Have your child create a scrapbook of her favorite things including sport teams, clothing, movies, music, or characters using magazines and newspaper clippings.
Plan a treasure hunt throughout your neighborhood or house.
Physical Activity – activity that keeps the body strong:
Visit your local pool for a swim during a hot summer day. Bring toys or balls to play with in the pool.
Go for a bike ride.
Take a walk through your neighborhood, a park or nature preserve. Make it fun by seeing who can count the most flowers, trees, animals, blue cars, etc.
Sign up for a family fun run.
Check out local playgrounds and rec centers.
Sign your child up for a sports team.
Engage in creative movement like dance.
Rollerblade or skateboard around your neighborhood or a park.
Social Activity – activity that keeps the connections alive:
Sign your child up for a camp (there may still be spots available at some of them!): art camp, sports camp, drama camp, outdoor adventure camp, religious camp, boy scout/girl scout camp or music camp.
Schedule play dates and outings with your child’s friends (roller skating, mini golf or a pool).
Throw a mid-summer party for the kids. Give it a theme and have fun creating decorations, thinking of activities and making creative snacks.
Take your child to a new playground and encourage him to play with some new kids there.
Find a volunteer organization related to your child’s interest and sign up for volunteer events.
Learn about and work at a community garden.
Organize a game night for your child and her friends…play hide and seek, kick the can, flashlight-tag, capture the flag, and red rover.
Remember that kids strive on consistency and structure! This can be difficult given the inherent lack of it in the summer. So, plan ahead and make an effort to create structure within your child’s day by having a consistent bedtime, meals around the same time, breaks for downtime during the day and a plan for the week’s activities. Summer means extra time with your children, and this time should be fun and enjoyable for all!
A Colorado native, and a new transplant to Park Hill, Meade works in private practice as a child and adolescent psychologist, specializing in therapy and assessment. She can be reached at the Colorado Center for Clinical Excellence, 303-547-3594 or thecoloradocenter.com.