You love your kids, but they can sometimes be “too much of a good thing.” Now that summer is in full swing, you may be looking for ways to make the family’s summer fun-filled and relaxing for everyone. We’ve rounded up the best advice on how to survive and thrive this summer.
Structure the Days
Most people benefit from some sort of structure in their day, and your kids have this at school. Continuing their structured days by establishing and sticking to a routine will help reduce stress by clarifying what everyone can expect and when.
Structure also helps you manage your time and improves your productivity while teaching your children how to set up and keep to a schedule.
Limit Screen Time
When children are left to choose their activities, they will often choose their devices, which can be unproductive and even harmful. Getting them to give up screen time is easier said than done, but that’s where a daily schedule and alternative activities can play an invaluable role. Negotiating an appropriate amount of screen time with your kids will make them feel they have a say in the matter and will help them understand the importance of managing their time.
Look for Family-Friendly Activities
Your municipality may have free or inexpensive activities specifically for families looking for things to do with their children during the summer. Start by checking your local government’s website for information about community events, park activities, and programs suitable for children.
Here are some additional places to look for activities:
- Library websites, where you may find summer reading programs, workshops, and craft activities.
- Tourism websites which will have listings of festivals, educational events, and ideas for day trips.
- Community centers which often have classes and recreational activities.
- Museum websites, where you can find special events geared toward children.
- Social media sites such as Facebook Events and event aggregator sites like Eventbrite
Be a Tourist in Your Own Town
When you have visitors from out of town, what are the sights they’re most interested in seeing? If you haven’t been to those places yourself, or haven’t been in a long time, summer with your kids is the perfect opportunity. You can gain a new appreciation for your town, learn about its history, and teach your children about the area they are growing up in.
Rotate Play Dates
Arrange to take care of a friend’s children for a day in exchange for them taking care of yours. This will give you a break to look after yourself and complete any tasks you can’t do with your kids present, such as doctor’s appointments or job interviews.
Here are some activities you can try when it’s your turn to host:
- Scavenger or treasure hunts
- An obstacle course
- Painting rocks or tie-dyeing T-shirts
- Board games and puzzles
- A dance party
- Science experiments suitable for children
- Playing dress -up, or planning and performing a play
Planning is key to making sure the day is fun and engaging for the kids and not too stressful for you. Take an inventory of the items you have in your home for your planned activities, and supplement those with low-cost materials from dollar stores or thrift stores.
Get Out in Nature
We’re always telling ourselves to get outside more; having kids home for the summer is a great opportunity to do that. Explore nearby parks, ravines, riverbanks, and the lakeshore. Getting outside gives you and your children exercise and fresh air while enhancing everyone’s appreciation of nature.
Being in nature also offers great opportunities for learning. Here are a few educational ideas and topics you can focus on during your time outdoors:
- Plant identification: Teach your kids how to recognize different types of plants and talk about the basics of plant growth and the role that plants play in supporting life on the planet.
- Bird watching: Enjoy learning about the birds in your area, as well as about migration, nesting, and feeding. You can even listen for different bird calls and try to guess which birds you are hearing!
- Insect observation: Show your kids how to look for insects under rocks and logs and teach them about the role of insects in the ecosystem.
- Collecting items for art projects: Teach your kids which objects found in nature are okay to take home and which should be left where they are found. Gather interesting objects such as leaves, sticks, and rocks to make artworks when you’re back at home.
- Map reading and wayfinding: Put away your devices and try using a map and a compass to find your way around. This could be an excellent refresher for you, and those old-school skills might come in handy for your kids, too.
For older kids, you can get into topics such as environmental stewardship and conservation, survival skills, nature journaling, sketching landscapes, and mindfulness meditation.
Don’t discount urban environments when you’re looking for natural spaces; these spaces offer excellent opportunities to talk about how nature surrounds us, even if we don’t see it right away!
Get Active
We all know that childhood obesity is a growing problem in North America. Get your kids moving with physical activities you can participate in, too. You don’t have to get into organized sports for this or make a commitment to a camp or ongoing lessons; even things like gardening and family beach days will get all of you using muscles that may not get a lot of use while they’re in school and you’re at work. Dance parties, family fitness challenges, and even playing at a local playground can be loads of fun for children and adults alike—just be sure to let the kids have a turn on the swings!
Take Care of Yourself
Having children around all day can be exhausting and frustrating, and that can make you feel guilty, especially if you compare yourself to parents who thrive during the summer months. Overcoming those feelings can be an enormous challenge in a world where there is so much pressure on parents to be perfect.
If you need help dealing with your feelings about having your kids at home, the team at Kari Walton Counselling can help. We offer a wide range of treatment options, and we have plenty of experience helping parents just like you work through their mental health challenges in a safe and accepting environment.
Contact us today to make an appointment. Let’s work together to make this summer and future summers the best time of your family’s life.