It’s almost the end of July and many parents are starting to get ready for the beginning of the school year. Many are also experiencing what I like to call “middle of summer” blues. It’s that time when the fact that there’s no homework, papers to write or assignments to turn in is not longer a novelty and we start hearing the proverbial “Mom, I am soooo bored”.
You have planned your days and filled some of them with great activities, play dates and trips to the park. Yet, your kids complaining meter is on an all-time high!
Here are 5 suggestions to ensure that the summer is one full of good memories for the kids and for you!
- Be prepared.
I don’t mean signing them up for more and different activities but getting yourself prepared for what you know is coming. You know your kids better than anyone, so you know if they are easily entertained or if they are singing the perennial “I am bored” chorus. Be prepared with a standard answer that conveys your decision to allow them to get creative and find ways to have fun without your intervention at every step. You can say something like “Wow.. That stinks that you are bored.. I wonder what you can do about it”. Or “You know the beauty of it is that being bored is a choice”. Or “I have total confidence that a girl as smart as you can always find ways to have fun”.
2. Keep calm and cool
It’s hard not to get frustrated after you have spent hours driving them around to play dates, swim lessons or play times at the park. Refuse to get into the “lecture” mode and try to convince them how grateful they need to be about the toys, activities you have prepared for them. Engaging in pointless arguments will only frustrate you and guarantee a lot of unnecessary power struggles.
3. Be ready to spend some quality time each day with them
It’s an understatement that our kids need our “presence” not our “presents”. Make sure that you spend some one-on-one time with your kids, even if that means doing the dishes or putting clothes away together. They count on their special time with you and by being proactive, even with 10 minutes will help you avoid some major melt-downs later.
4. Allow for some quiet, doing nothing time
The pressure to have our children signed up and involved in every activity our schedule and budget allows, implies that our kids can’t or shouldn’t learn to enjoy the benefits of quiet, slow time. For example, what a great opportunity to invite them to participate in activities that allow for their reading skills to prepare them for the upcoming school year. Playing simple games like Jax or Pick-up sticks, although not technological in nature, are great games to develop dexterity and hand-eye coordination, all while enjoying some quiet, down-time
5. Remember: It’s your summer too.
Create memories by making sure your kids have something to do but that you ALSO have fun. Find things that you all enjoy doing, not just the stuff that your kids like. By showing them how you take care of yourself and choosing time to do things that nourish your heart, you model a great example of self-care that they will carry their whole life.
Summer is all about creating memories. Make sure that yours and your children are great memories that will last a life time!
Sandra Huber is the “soul” and parent coach behind the Soulful Parent. Sandra’s mission is to empower moms of tweens ages 7 to 11 years old, to find their own parenting voice, recognizing that they are their child’s best expert. Having worked in Early Intervention and Special Needs, she understands that your kids, your family and your life are as individual as your fingerprints. Through seminars, blog articles, her own radio show and speaking engagements, Sandra brings humor and hope to moms all across the country, with practical solutions to solve issues ranging from defiance and disrespect, to tweens body issues. To learn more about her work with busy moms check out her website www.thesoulfulparent.com and her Facebook Fan Page at www.facebook.com/thesoulfulparent
