One of the things that I love about summer is the opportunity for my kids to have lots of unstructured time. A chance to play freely, explore their interests and aptitudes, and relax after a busy school year.
However, what I have noticed over the past few summers, is that NO structure quickly becomes a problem. So, here are my tips for a successful summer holiday.
1. Create a basic structure to each day
I like to sleep in on my holiday and sometimes that means that we don’t eat breakfast until 9 or even 10. Problem with this is that no one is hungry for lunch, so we end up eating lunch at 2 and then dinner at 7 or later, and then the kids are up until 9, creating tired kids and grown-ups who have no alone time! So, my quest for a sleep in and “unstructured” time quickly descends into chaos.
So we have decided, as tempting as it is to let everything slide, that our day needs a basic tempo to keep bellies and sleeps, and therefore moods, on track. Breakfast by 9, lunch at 12:30 or 1, and then kids dinner around 6.
This summer I also plan to include a little homework time each day at a designated time so we avoid a slide backwards in a few scholastic problem areas!
With this basic structure in place, we are hoping our days run a little more smoothly than before.
2. Stay active!
We also like to make sure that we start our day with some exercise. A jump on the trampoline, a walk, a play on the swing set, or if its raining, we sometimes try a little YouTube yoga or even a dance party!
On top of the obvious health benefits, I find my kids are a lot more manageable when they blow off some steam. Otherwise, by 10 or 11am the fights begin!!
3. Family and friend time
We do get some good quality family time over the summer, but it also helps add to the fun of summer to make plans with friends. Both parents and kids appreciate having people to play with over the summer holiday.
And in terms of family time, spend time as a group, but also try to get one on one time with each of your kids. We so rarely have the chance to do this during the school year, but with fewer commitments, the summer is a perfect time to make each of your children feel special!
4. Have a summer bucket list
Lastly, we are going to have a bucket list of things to do, so that almost every day, we do something directed together. If we end up having a lot of fun, and don’t get to the activity – fine. But one group activity should help avoid the “I’m bored!” moments.
It is critical that the list also include rainy day options. Those days are the more challenging ones. I will share mine in my next post.
I am looking forward to summer, but also worry slightly how I going to keep our family holiday happy and not chaotic. With my ideas above, I am hoping this year’s holiday is our best one yet!
