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by Rosemary Lee Potter, Ed.D.
Special to Tropical Breeze
With school out no doubt every child now
on vacation is at first happy just being on a less strenuous
schedule. That’s so, unless the summer schedule turns out to
be just as nerve-wracking! Still lots of places to go, things to
do, enough to keep children and parents very busy — maybe not
so much as during school daze,but still, nothing like
relaxation.
There’s an interesting finding about
kids and summer. For those first two wonderful post-school sleep-in
weeks, watching as much TV or playing as much computer world tech
as possible, kids shout hooray! Rightly! Yet, many students rather
quickly suffer a “summer slump attitude!” In one
twelve-year-old’s words, vacation is of course wonderful, but
“…then it gets really Borrring! I miss seeing all my
friends — like every day.”
While there is no complete antidote for
children as to the displeasure of summer boredom, there are
specific practical parenting ideas which can make the extended
vacation fairly tolerable, much less enhance children’s joy
in life and family!
Here are eight summer ideas shared by as
many parents, suggestions which help children enjoy family and
often make his/ her own summer fun!
Travel: Trips can be fun and also boring.
If a day trip to a special exhibit is possible, do it — that
is, if the exhibit interests children — dinosaurs, aquarium,
butterfly garden, pet show!
Longer family trips are basically about
the adults. However even if the journey does not involve the likes
of white-water rafting or roller coaster rides, if the annual
trip’s mostly to see family, planning still can have lead-ups
with children as well as a child-oriented side trip? These
mini-adventures make the trip more memorable. Also, remember to
involve the child in volunteering to help at home or as a guest
elsewhere.
Fitness: There’s nothing like summer
for a new, health plan. This might mean doses of health-promoting
foods — say, more veggies and fruits, certainly more water
— which need not be flavored — just water, and plenty
of it.
Certainly suggest getting around on foot.
Now there’s an idea whose time has come again. It’s not
too late to start a family walking program daily or at least three
times a week. The trick is finding the regular time. Some people
now think any such plan is an intrusion on the rest of their day.
Oooops!
We’ve all got to walk, swim, bike
— move around, if we want our family members of any age to
keep on going longer.
Reading: Oh, that again? Isn’t
school out? Why books? Don’t lose the momentum school has
developed. Be sure you as parent keep reading to your children and,
when possible, regularly have youngsters read to you. Yes, younger
folks need trips to the library.
And about that family trip again.Be sure
books and magazines ride along with you! Read and discuss the
reading. The neat thing is that a car is quite a private spot for
talking, that is, unless each child always wears a headset or
watches a mobile TV.
Creative Play: This experience might
involve water, sand, playing cards, cardboard boxes or board games.
Over the years, there’s been very good feedback about all of
these activities. However, it takes time — perhaps a
slow-down — to encourage time and attention in these cases.
Just watch the effect of providing a simple foam ball on
children’s imaginative play.
Rest!: Here’s one the darlings might
not particularly want — at first. We’re not talking
really napping here, but at least slowing down and/or quieting
down. Parents can model this for while, anyway, remembering not to
include cell phones — instead a hammock, couch, porch swing
or recliner. Be even a good time to flop down on a blankie and hear
granddaddy’s stories again.
Let’s Talk: Eye-to-eye talking
activity hardly ever happens. That’s why a simple chat,
giving full attention to the child speaking often brings wonderful
results in communicating what’s on and in the
youngster’s mind. Besides, frequent and comfortable chatting
often makes conversation easier when a hard time comes along. At a
difficult moment, parent and child who often talk together have an
easier time handling tough issues.
Make Stuff: Scrap-booking is a very
popular activity and one which parents can easily share with
children. Compiling photos and documents and drawings or arranging
things in a theme such as travel or school, sports, or a party can
be fun for children and parents alike — working toward a
clever scrapbook, one often shared afterward with parent and child
pride!
Besides cutting and pasting, both boys and
girls like learning to weave, to do simple sewing — to sew on
a button; tie knots, crochet and knit — embroider — say
one of those pictures where you connect the dots/holes, with yarn!
Then there is soap and woodcarving! Another area of family fun can
be making string figures and folding paper into items such as birds
or airplanes. There are many library books which demonstrate how to
create these figures as well as suggestions on games and
competitions to follow!
Photography! Something really exciting can
happen when a parent and child work together. If each has a simple
camera, there’s no telling what adventures they might share.
Say, the family goes picnicking and children and parents each take
pictures. Imagine the glee when all gather at home to see the
various views of their outing. Maybe these images belong in a
scrapbook. Such an activity definitely leads to more talking. The
best part in today’s cameras — images are so
immediate!
See? The eight ideas above can actually be
combined as valuable family experiences, as in creating enjoyable
time together to show your family matters!
© 2007 Rosemary Lee Potter. All
Rights Reserved.
Rosemary Lee Potter, Ed.D., has been a
teacher since 1960, including 21 years at Safety Harbor Middle
School, and is now a reading teacher at Carwise Middle School, Palm
Harbor. Contact her at
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
or by mail in care
of Tropical Breeze, P.O. Box 585, Safety Harbor, FL 34695.
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