Summer is here, and this means schools are closed, and parents might also be at home. Summer can be a challenge as many of us look forward to a more relaxing time while our children are looking for opportunities to play and burn off their energy.
What are your plans? Do you have routines in place or do you want to take the days as they come?
Image by Iqbal at Pixabay
You might wonder, “Why do I need to plan? We’ve been doing this all school year.” But the truth is, without some planning, you might return to school or work feeling exhausted.
Here are some simple and practical things you can do to manage this tension so that your child gets positive outlets for their energy and you get more of a break 🙂
1. Plan with your spouse and children the main summer activities and the daily schedule. This will save you time and energy and will involve the whole family. Children will also learn the importance of planning.
2. Make the plan visible so everyone can see it. This will help prevent arguments, especially when the kids have been involved in making the plan. They can even draw how their daily routine will look. Research shows that providing visual routines can significantly help your child feel safe and certain during times of change.
3. Plan daily outdoor activities. Since children have a lot of energy, keeping them inside all day with quieter activities can create a build-up of tension. To avoid this, plan for daily physical activity. It’s better to do this after breakfast.
4. Plan the meals for the week and prep them in advance. This way, when you return from activities, meal preparation will only take a few minutes. You could also cook large meals to last for a couple of days.
5. Allow free play for the children where you are not leading the activities; let them direct their own play.
6. Have quiet time. Everyone in the family needs time to recharge. Introduce a period when each person can do what they want without disturbing others.
7. Be flexible with your planning. Sometimes, things don’t work out as expected. Acknowledge your limitations and allow yourself lazy days. This reduces the pressure to fix things all the time. For example, a parent I coach shared that when she told her husband and kids she didn’t have the energy to go out or cook, her husband took the kids out and bought takeout. Knowing your limitations is important. She said that having these two hours to herself gave her much-needed energy.
I hope these simple practices will support you. Please share with me how did it go and if you have added other strategies. Other parents would appreciate hearing more practices.
