CARING FOR KIDS
An Accredited Organization of Parents Anonymous ® Inc.
by Imelda Tatsch
Summer vacation...
School will be out in less than two weeks. Moms everywhere are asking themselves and anyone else listening...what are we going to do with these kids all summer, and after about a week it will be when does school start back????
Knowing this is of growing concern for many families I decided to go to the source….Well the Internet of course… Here is one idea I found that sounds like a winner.
When the kids start to complain of being bored or are having a “there is nothing to do” day have them sit down with a pencil and piece of paper and make a list of everything they would like to do for daily activities. Then cut the list in to strips each with a different activity. Put the strips in a container (this could be one activity decorate the activity jar.) Oh there is a catch, .these have to be things that they can do on their own just in case they want to put "take me to Disney World" on the list.
The article I read had over 200 activities listed and here are just a few suggestions:
1) ride bikes 2) roller skate 3) play basketball / shoot baskets
4) play board games 5) make a tent out of blankets
6) squirt with hoses 7) run through the sprinkler
8) jump rope 9) read books10) blow bubbles
11) make homemade play dough 12) press flowers
14) do crafts with pressed flowers
15) write a letter to a relative, friend or pen pal
16) clean bedroom 17) vacuum living room
18) clean bathroom
19) draw, 20) color
Notice that most, if not all of these listed, are done at home with things you already have so there is no extra expense involved with doing them. I also noticed that all of these activities required the use of the mind or body -- not one required a remote control.
For activities outside the home, there are many things available at little or no cost.
Many churches in the community offer Vacation Bible School beginning as soon as summer vacation begins. The kids should have a schedule sent home on the last day of school and since many of them are planned throughout the summer the kids can attend a different one each week.
I believe the City Pool here in Winnsboro also has low rates for a day of swimming. Of course this one would require your supervision for your younger children.
If you are a stay at home mom or dad and will be with your kids all summer this is a wonderful time to spend that much needed quality time together working on something that you can each enjoy. Plant a small garden, flowers or vegetable. Plan a meal together and let them help with the shopping and preparation. It is amazing how wonderful this is for your communication, talking and learning things about each other. Teach your children about how you spent your summers. For those many grandparents raising your grand children this could really be a learning experience for your grandchildren.
Like it or not summer is here and the kids will be looking for something to do. Offer them opportunities to grow in some way to figure things out for themselves, to create, build, dig in and get dirty to get sweaty and smell like outside then fall into bed at night clean and sweet smelling again after a nice hot shower exhausted but feeling good and excited to do it all over again tomorrow.
The website for the above mentioned summertime activities is: www.anneshomeyplace.com/summertime
For a humorous look at summer vacation read Maryann Miller's blog - It's Not All Gravy
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Imelda Tatsch is the Program Director at the Northeast Texas Child Advocacy Center (NETCAC) located in Winnsboro, and her columns appear in their bi-monthly newsletter. In "Caring for Kids" she offers support, insight, and a touch of humor for parents and grandparents. She is a trained facilitator for parenting classes.
She will be happy to answer questions about parenting and family relationships. You can e-mail her with your questions.