Tips for Summertime Planning -
Summer is around the corner! As the school year hits April, it becomes apparent to parents that suddenly our children will be out for vacation in just a matter of weeks. Are we prepared? Probably not. But can we take some steps to make things easier for us? Absolutely.
Summer camps/classes: This, of course, is a very popular option that most parents already have counted on. CFBISD already their great Summer Enrichment classes, SAGE and Exploration Academy, open for registration. This is half-day camp and comes with many different options of topics for your child. If you are wanting to expand and look for other choices, look into arts center camps, dance schools, martial arts studios, meditation centers, libraries, performing arts groups, museums, sports centers, science centers, colleges -- there are literally hundreds of choices all over the DFW metroplex for parents to find fun opportunities for their children.
New skills: Summer is a great time for your child to try out something new with a relaxed approach. I plan on letting my oldest try out Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop this summer, just to see what she can do with it. Try out a skill or something you already do in your house -- a hobby or part of something you do at work, and just let them self-guide (within reason) and see how they do. They could learn how to edit and create videos, design a website, code, learn a new language, create a business plan, practice yoga, cook like master chef, etc. And thanks to YouTube (supervised, of course), apps, Khan academy, etc. -- you may already own some the programs or have free/inexpensive access to some of the skills they would like to practice.
House projects: Your kids can be very useful resources in whatever the adults’ summer plans are. I plan a major clean out for our house this summer and this a great time to them to practice those Marie Kondo skills of keeping what they love and letting go of the rest. We will fully have certain days where it is all about assembling furniture, or cleaning out areas of the house -- the kids need to see and engage with that too! This is what makes life run, what makes a household run -- and they can be a part of it. Don’t try to plan what needs to be done around them -- just put them in the plan too.
Boredom!: We’ve all heard that some boredom is good for children -- it helps them learn creativity and problem-solving. This may be a good time to test that theory out, if you have not done so already.
Vacation?: Your children can be part of the planning! Make these moments teachable. You can definitely incorporate academic knowledge into trips: geography, map-reading/math, etc. But, also take a moment to let them learn social skills as well. Is your young child old enough to speak well on the phone? See if they can make a restaurant reservation while you listen. Can your child plan ahead well? See if they can find and research possible family excursions. Show them that they too can do some “adulting” tasks as well, and they will be thrilled to try more.