Relationships August 11, 2016
It’s the time of year you’ve been secretly dreading: the kids are out of school and they are already bored. The time has been slowly creeping up on you and now it has arrived. Summer is officially here.
Sure you have the beach, backyard barbecues, pool parties and sleepovers. You might even have a family vacation to look forward to. But in the meantime, you have to find a way to constantly keep your kids occupied and out of trouble.
Fortunately, you are not alone in this endeavor. There are other men and women wondering the same thing. Here are some suggestions.
If your children haven’t learned how to swim, this is a perfect opportunity to teach them. Sign up for swim lessons with a qualified instructor in your area. The great thing about swimming lessons is that they’re entertaining and useful!
Additionally, if you have a pool in your home, you may not have to travel very far for swimming lessons. Some instructors will even come to your house so you can save time on the commute. A swim instructor can help your child feel confident in the water with the right amount of practice and dedication. You might also want to set aside time to practice in between lessons, especially if you have a pool at home or access to one nearby. The American Red Cross even offers classes for adults and children starting at six months old.
Summer is the best time to teach your children something new. Whether it’s teaching them how to ride a bike or shoot a basketball, you can’t really go wrong. Learning a new skill is even more important over the summer months when most kids tend to forget a lot of what they learned during the school year. This will keep them busy in a productive and fun way.
Picnics are a great way to get outside without the cost of a theme park ticket. Find a spot that is easy to get to and fun for the whole family. Pack a lunch or some healthy snacks and something to entertain the kids. If you’re at a park or somewhere with pavement you might want to bring a bike, roller blades, a scooter or something that gets them moving.
This is a great way to get meet people from your community. Summer movies in the park are usually free with the exception of fancier outdoor theaters that have food and reserved seating. Make sure to bring a picnic blanket or two, several fold up chairs and some snacks for the whole family. Check online for more information about movie times and locations in your area
A summer bucket list can be a great way to organize your summer activities. Sit down with your kids and write out a list of things you want to do or accomplish throughout the summer. The list can be a mixture of fun activities with some personal goals and chores mixed in. You can even set dates for when you want to do a certain activity such as go to a museum or the zoo. This will give your kids something to look forward to as a reward for completing certain tasks such as folding the laundry, taking out the trash or practicing math skills.
