Making the Best Out of Your Children’s Summer Break
It’s summer, and that means holiday time- for your kids! Summer is the longest break from school that the kids have all year long, and it is something they look forward to. For parents, however, the prospect of their children’s long summer holiday can be a little daunting.
If you fear that lack of homework and structured school days will lead to your children being up to no good over the summer holidays, then you need to learn some ways to make the best of their break. Read on for some ideas.
Buy a large calendar and display it in the kitchen for everyone to see. On it record all events for the summer, including family vacations, camping excursions, play dates, etc. This will allow your kids to know what to expect and when. If plans require alterations, then make note of such on the calendar.
If you plan to send your kids to summer camp, then go visit the camp ahead of time to help prepare them for what is to come. Discuss the rules and expectations with your children before the big day arrives.
Purchase a notebook for your children in order that they can record the highlights of their summer in the book. Make it their holiday project. Tell them that projects such as this can be educational and fun at the same time.
If your child is not going to camp but will have a babysitter for part of the time when you are at work, then talk this over with him or her and explain the situation. It also helps to let him or her know what you expect when you are not at home. For example, what chores your child must accomplish on given days.
Plan lots of fun activities for the summer that will engage your child’s interest. Visit the library to read books, listen to stories and watch puppet shows. Go to the park, have a picnic and visit museums and other historic landmarks. Go bike riding and go for walks. Go swimming at the local pool and/or a lake or beach.
Do your best to keep your child on a routine so that the transition back into the school year will not be so drastic. Stability during the summer break is important, especially for younger children.
Plan activities that your child can do alone and others that you can enjoy together. Your child needs both.
Hi P. Illsley
I really like you post. It brings me back to the years when I had summer holidays and no parents around. What a great time that was: no one to report to, no one to tell you off and you could do what ever you wanted. My mum wrote my brother and me a list of things she wants to have done by the end of day and just checked on us every now and then through phone call or surprise visits. And once or twice during these holidays we went to visit our grandparent where we spend great days out with kids from their neighbourhood.
It really seems that to long ago, thinking back.
Comment made by Mathias on July 15, 2009 @ 2:54 am