Summer is at the doorstep. Do you have a plan? Perhaps a better word would be strategy. The lovely part about the onset of summer is that many of our schedules become less rigid.
However, bored children, scrambled child care, rushed vacations, and overbooked activities can turn that joyful schedule break into an unlovely chaotic struggle.
I love lists, so lets start there. Try making a list of all the fun things you could do this summer. Throw in outdoor things like swimming, visiting water parks, playing miniature golf, fishing, hiking, and biking. How about a list of local attractions or historical sites to visit?
Think of things for rainy days. A Scrabble tournament, unlimited video games, a pile of good books, craft projects.
Consider putting together a surprise bag. For little kids, tuck away a few of their toys that they havent been playing with. When you pull them out on a rainy day, the toys will be like new and engross the children.
Will you be taking a vacation this year? Make a few lists for that, too. Start with items to pack. I like to put together a three-ring binder with directions and attraction information. If youll have cooking facilities, plan meals and make a grocery list.
Think about entertainment on the road. DVD players have made long trips much easier, but throw in other ideas as well. We have had great fun watching for numbers on license plates. Start with one. Then find two. Keep going until you get to a given number.
Take things to keep hands busy like small games, drawing supplies, or simple crafts.
If your kids get a little unsettled while youre walking through those interesting shops, pick something for kids to count or find. Our kids had a great time counting dogs as we wandered.
Do you have plans in place for summer sports? Post a calendar, possibly color coded, to show who has a game, who has practice and all the locations. Decide transportation and pickups ahead of time.
What about child care? Have you lined up someone to watch the kids while you work? Have you arranged backup in case of illness or vacations? Would your children enjoy day camps or special outings?
Dont leave out a list of extra household jobs. Getting big projects done during the summer can prove wonderfully satisfying. Clean out closets and drawers so they are ready for new school clothes. Sort out toys that the kids have outgrown. Put up new closet organizers. Paint a room or two.
Take on a new hobby with your kids. Try model building, gardening, or photography. Whatever has caught your interest or that of your children, take the time now to explore it.
Join kids in their fun. Ride your bike around the block with them. Swing on the swings. Jump on the trampoline. Play basketball. Feed the ducks. Climb on the monkey bars.
Along with activities, allow kids time to rest, contemplate, and discover.
If your son seems to be sitting in the sun just staring into space, let him. Hes been working hard all year to fill his mind with facts and skills.
Dont push summer reading. Let it be the kids idea. Sit down and read yourself. Get giddy over going to a bookstore. My kids know I love to visit any bookstore but especially enjoy finding them when we travel. I particularly like locally owned and used book places. My enthusiasm has often led them to sit thumbing through a stack of books, too.
To gain their interest, try reading passages to your kids from your book or the newspaper, particularly if they are funny.
Walk in the woods. Visit a historical site. Just wander. Dont point everything out. Let the kids discover what is there. Let their natural curiosity lead them to read the handy explanation plaques or ask questions.
Summer gives us that wonderful opportunity to spend more time together, to relax, and to regenerate for the challenges that well face when schedules return in the fall. Put a little strategy to work to make it easy.
