School Is Out!

May 22nd, 2008

Well school is officially out and Memorial Day weekend is right around the corner. The two combined create a buzz in the air. Soon our communities will have kids roaming up, down and all around town; riding bikes, exploring hillsides with stick in hand, and baking on warm sidewalks after running through the sprinklers.

And mothers around the world are wondering…what am I going to do with these kids all summer long?! This will be my second summer dealing with my three kids home all day. I’m sure there are mothers out there with more experience. But I’ll refer you to some great information I found during my research on this subject. Keep in mind; the links I’m providing are actual links that I use:

Job Charts - Just as important as playing with your kids is working with them. Keep their lives balanced during the summer with a little responsibility and hard work. Handipoints is a great website to get you organized. And it’s free. It also helps with encouraging education and recreation time.
Educational Time - Have a specific time during the day set aside for reading, workbooks or art activities. During the hottest part of the day is advisable. Your local library will most likely have great activities and book suggestions for the summer as well.
Unstructured Play Time - Surely your child will come to you at some point during the summer and say, “I’m bored”. Don’t feel bad and don’t take the role of “camp director”. Simply nudge them in the direction of constructive activities. Experts say boredom is the springboard for creative play, which is vital for their development.
Outdoor Play - Because direct exposure to nature is essential for physical and emotional health, plan some outdoor activities. Wonderful resources for outdoor fun include your local Recreation Department or your newspaper’s summer event guide. One day a week throughout the summer Nature For Kids will be hosting an outdoor activity for kids in our local area. So keep a look out for posts including pictures and information about what we do.