Once again school is about to dismiss for the summer and many of us will have the responsibility of occupying the minds and bodies of our children for three months. Every summer I petition the reader not to use the television as a babysitter all summer. The summer months can be very productive and educational for our children if we expend a little effort in planning. Here are some suggestions to assist you as you begin to prepare your family for the summer months.
First: Do not wait until the first week the child is home to try to think up stuff for him/her to do. Start planning now. Fayette County does not dismiss for another three weeks or so. At the very least, sketch out a rough weekly calendar for your child. Include chores, activities, play time, rest time, and educational time.
Second: Decide what chores will be required of each child and on what days those chores should be done. The summer months should not be nonstop playtime. Children of every age should contribute to the home by taking responsibility for chores. Young children (kindergarten or younger) should at least be required to clean their rooms, make their beds, and maybe one or two other small chore each day. Older children should be given reasonable chores to perform every day or two in addition to reasonable care for their bedrooms.
Third: Plan a few major activities through the summer if your time and budget allows. A trip to Whitewater, the Atlanta Zoo, a camping trip, etc. are examples of such trips and activities. You don't have to take your child someplace every week. One or two such events for the summer is reasonable.
Fourth: Have a daily routine. Routines are especially important for younger children. I recommend that chores be done after breakfast each day so they are out of the way. If television is in the schedule, plan TV time and stick to the routine. I suggest that an hour of TV or one video tape each day is plenty. If TV viewing is on a routine (e.g. every afternoon from 3-4) then it will be easier to say "no" if the child wants to watch at some other time.
Plan regular weekly or biweekly trips to the public library. Sign your child up for a summer reading program.
Have routine play time outside if the weather permits. American children are the most privileged in the world and yet they are in very poor condition relative to other poorer countries. One reason is they simply don't exercise enough. If the weather is extremely hot, make sure the child wears sunscreen and drinks plenty of water (avoid carbonated beverages). If it is raining, and there is no risk of lightening, let your child play in the rain. I guarantee your children will never forget a few minutes of playtime in the rain once or twice (especially if you join them - clothes and all). A child who exercises will maintain better health, will eat better, and sleep better.
Finally: Plan educational activities as your time and budget allow. I recommend that you do educational projects at home. If you are not creative, go to the library or bookstore and get a book on home educational/science/craft projects. If you would rather, you can plan educational trips to museums, government facilities, the airport, etc.
I encourage you to plan your summer. It would be discouraging for you and your child to reach the end of the summer and have only a string of television programs or video games as the content of a "What I Did Last Summer" essay. If you would like some other suggestions, please feel free to contact me by e-mail (gkm35@mindspring.com).
