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How to Make the Most Out of Your Kids' Summer

Making a Great Summer for Your Kids

By KevinPublished 5 years ago 7 min read
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Summer is a time that just about every child looks forward to. However, kids can soon find themselves restless and bored at home. They flip through television channels, play video games, and watch their favorite YouTube videos, but that soon grows old. As a parent, you know just how precious youth is and how much of a shame it would be to let them throw their summer away. That's why you need to step in and formulate a plan to make their time off school as enriching as possible. This is how to make the most out of your kids' summer.

1. Have them learn new skills.

By no means should learning be reserved for the school year. Your kids are in some of their prime years for thinking, and you need to take advantage of that as much as possible. Learning doesn't have to be restricted to listening to lectures and reading out of textbooks. There are all kinds of useful skills they can pick up that they might not be able to learn in a classroom. For instance, you could teach them basic household repairs that aren't too dangerous. If they haven't yet learned how to ride a bike without training wheels, carve out time to teach them. Ask them about what they most want to learn. To make things even more special, you can learn alongside them. You can sign up for CPR or foreign languages classes. This can help show your kids that you're never too old to learn something new.

2. Schedule regular socializing.

Some of the best times for kids, in and out of school, are spent with friends. It's very important that your kids have a well-rounded social life. Have them get in touch with friends as often as possible for gratifying activities, not just sitting around. If your kids don't have many friends, encourage them to reach out with kids in their neighborhood. Positive socializing experiences can help them grow as individuals by letting them understand cooperation and different perspectives. Let your kids who their friends are, but be mindful of what kind of influence they have. Speak up if you feel that their spending time with people who are affecting their judgment in a negative manner. You should also try steering them towards people who will be more positive for their development.

3. Sign them up for a day camp.

Socializing and learning new things can come together in a phenomenal way at day camps. These are programs, often for week-long sessions, that are focused on different things. For instance, you might sign your kids up for a sports camp, a drama camp, or one that's centered around their faith. Great times can be had at the Jewish Community Center of Youngstown. These can also help to keep your kids in the school mindset, as they involve following instructions and staying organized. When they come home each day, ask them about what sort of things they're doing. Express as much interest as possible, as this will help them to feel far more engaged and look forward to each day.

4. Sign them up for a sleep-away camp.

When you think of the traditional definition of camp, you might picture tents and roasting marshmallows on an open fire. That traditional is still alive and well, and it could be what helps you make the most of your kids' summer. They can experience the great outdoors through hiking, going on canoe trips, and more. A positive relationship with nature can also help to drive home just how important it is to take care of our planet. Who knows, your kids could end up with a budding interest in conservation and an eventual career in natural science.

5. Reading

Your kids might already have a summer reading list assigned to them, but no matter what, they should be reading. Books can show the power of imagination to your child and keep them absorbed for days on end. Look for books that are appropriate for your kids' age and reading level. You should also consider their interests in terms of what books would grab them the most. Don't make it seem like you're giving them an assignment. You can introduce them to a great book as a bedtime story and then see if they want to read the rest. This can help them start off the new school year much sharper, thanks to an increased vocabulary and better reading comprehension.

6. Go to museums.

The idea of learning in the summer can be a turn-off for kids. It can create an image of being trapped in school when all they want to do is relax. However, you can make learning fun by going to museums. Your kids can learn all about history, art, and science through visiting museums. To make things easier to digest and more exciting, look for children's museums in your area. These places bring fun and learning together, showing your kids just how satisfying it is to grow your mind.

7. Take a trip.

The high point of many a summer vacation comes from literally going on vacation. But you shouldn't just schedule a trip to the beach and call it a day. You should find a place (it could be the beach) that will really open their minds and show them the beauty of a new environment. You can also turn this into a learning experience as you examine the history and unique qualities of wherever you're going. After the trip, ask your kids about what their favorite part was and what was the most interesting thing they learned. With a successful trip, they'll have countless things to bring up.

8. Review things for school.

One of the biggest issues with summer vacation is how kids start to lose what they learned during the school year. Then, they return for the new school year and they have to spend time reintroducing concepts. While some things don't carry over from year to year, others need to be drilled in as much as possible. Your kids should know things like multiplication tables and basic grammar rules. Get started on reviewing as soon as possible. Every few days, ask them questions pertaining to things they need to remember. This will help them have a significant leg up over their classmates when they return to school.

9. Give them consistent bedtimes.

Just because your kids are out of school, it doesn't mean that they should be allowed to do as they please no matter what. They're still under your care and need to follow your rules. You need to keep up your disciplinary skills by making sure that they're going to bed at a reasonable hour. Ideally, this should be the same as when they go to bed during the school year. You can make exceptions occasionally, but they should understand that they need to be rested. They should also avoid sleeping the day away. You need them to understand that growing up means learning to not procrastinate. By adhering to a consistent bedtime and waking-up time, your kids can become far more disciplined and ambitious.

10. Make time for them.

Your kids need your company to make their summer as great as possible. While you may have work obligations to prioritize, you should still be doing all you can to share the summer with them. When you don't have anything more important to do, spend time with them. You can go to the movies, enjoy a baseball game, or simply have a conversation on the back patio over some ice cream. Your presence in their life means more than you might realize. Be in the moment with them when sharing experiences. Turn off your phone and pay attention to them when they say something or ask your questions. Contribute questions that expand upon what they're discussing. You can create a much stronger emotional bond with your kids through focusing on them as much as possible, whether it's during summer or the school year.

Kids are full of energy and curiosity. So, why you want them to have a summer that causes them to be lethargic and let their brains turn to mush? These tips don't just keep them occupied. They also provide them with long-term satisfaction. When they return to school, they can have their minds sharpened. As they grow up, they can look back on this time with fondness, knowing that they were able to make the most of your youth. Your intervening in their summers truly can make a positive difference and help to shape them into the best possible versions of themselves.

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