One day it’s 6 am alarms, matching(ish) socks, and lunch box art with gluten-free treats. Next, it’s noon wake-up calls, PJs all day, and breakfast that looks suspiciously like Nutella. School and summer break routines for kids are like night and day- if night involved math prep and day involved water gun battles. But even tho it seems like all that changes, some things (whining about putting actual clothes on) stick around no matter the season.
Why Routines Are Needed in Every Season
Seasoned parents will tell you that setting a routine early on will allow things to flow smoothly in the daily hassles of life. Experts at Kids First Services have laid out many reasons why routines matter. However, with the multitude of unknowns and activities that summer can bring, a less rigid routine needs to be implemented. As a mother myself, the first week after school lets out, I can assure you, I’m letting them sleep in not just for their own need but for some a little peace before running to all the activities, sports, and gigantic loads of snacks I will be buying up at our local stores.
How to Help Your Child During Summer Break
Like adults, many children can have anxiety about going from one activity to another at a fast pace. As parents, we think they should just listen and go with it. Well, that is not always the case! As parents were to help them along. Gina M. Marini, MA, LICSW, is a licensed independent clinical social worker at Bradley Hospital’s Verrecchia Clinic for Children with Autism and Developmental Disabilities. They have outlined how to help over at Brown University Health.
” If your child is still struggling with stress or anxiety even after implementing a summer routine, there are more things you can do.
- Talk with your child.
- Normalize his/her stress and anxiety.
- Promote open communication about all feelings in the home.
- Model ways to adaptively manage stress and anxiety.
- Consider building relaxation breaks into your child’s summer routine to support his or her mental health. “
Real Talk To All You Moms and Dads
As a mother of 3, all different ages and stages, its not easy! Since our oldest was little, he is now 16 and has his own independence, I accepted that my plans will not always happen. Its about learning what battles you are willing to put your energy into. When I pile on the activities on them, I am the one who will be driving, planning and needing that extra glass of wine to de-stress.
Also, we all need rest; kids typically need more sleep than we do. Cleveland Clinic breaks down how much each kid needs for their age. So, if you have a 6-year-old, they may only need 9 hours of sleep, whereas they may also need up to 12 hours. Summer, yes, is a fun time! The ball field is where we typically are. Long days, BUT they are worth it all. The memories are priceless.
Kids get just as overstimulated as we do; they throw tantrums because they don’t know how else to say, “MOM/DAD, enough of all this, I just want to go to the park and not do 15 other activities.” They do what they can to communicate. They have just as bad days as we do! So the saying, less is more is a great guide for all of us. Understanding that summer is also a time for them to escape the classroom and the routine of going and learning from a book.
Learning from each other and talking is the best way to learn without the books and the rules and the useless information that most of us will forget by 20! Yes, we know the mitochondria are the powerhouse of the cell, but how will that help us find who we are and put that to use as an artist? Let them lead, show them things that you are OK with them doing; soccer, that art camp, or even adventure camp! Let them have a voice with their break as well!
It was never easy for me to make things fun, but by the time our two teens were 6 and 8, I had learned that by making it an adventure, they got behind that idea! Making it fun is indeed half the battle. Going on a walk can turn into a pirate hunt for treasure, as they get older, it would morph. Now with our 6-year-old, it’s always an adventure and learning to make even the most mundane event fun.
Families Learning to Unwind Together
Unwinding as a family has so many benefits; not only does it help stress levels drop remarkably fast, but it also creates a tighter bond for the family unit. Lexi Walter Wright outlines some amazing ideas over at Understood. There are, of course, the normal ways of talking about the day. The highs and the lows, what the takeaways were, and the big spotlight moments. Then cooking! I know some of us moms and dads just want to get it done and served, BUT what if we could create a core memory for all of us?
Reading is always a sure way to connect, reading promotes language-building, creativity, and imagination. This is an oldie but a goody! Laughing at a silly story, making the voices real for them to hear, and expanding their outlook on the world around them. But don’t let it stop there, you can create a playlist to set the tone of their favorite books and movies! What a great way to start a new tradition of a family bust-a-move event.
5 Ways to Have Fun, Stress-Free!
Each child is unique, as is each family. By keeping in mind that we all need to rest, recharge, and refuel, we can understand that we all get overwhelmed, especially little humans. Don’t stress yourselves out, parents, by trying to heap on the fun, because the little ones get stressed out just like you. Put down the electronics, go outside, and be in nature. That is a surefire way to unwind and recharge.
- Go outside and lie in the grass, looking up at the clouds and giggling over whether that cloud looks like a cat or a bird
- Take a walk, this helps digestion and gives you time to reconnect with them.
- Parks are FREE, and they will help tire your little ones out fast!
- Splash pads! Google the closest one to you!
- Let them explore! It is ok if they want to build a fort with sticks. It’s not our job to be the engineer of their imagination.
Summer is Only a Small Snippet
Yes, it seems like this break is full of endless snacks, consent going, and trying to fill in all the days with fun. Remember, you only have so many summers with your little ones. They won’t always be little or want to hang out with you, or be ok with being seen with you in public. Yes, those are all stages too, but as caregivers, we have to remember this time blazes by in a hurry. Even though we try to keep up with the chaos, we need to slow down and be present and be in the moment with them. For the days are long, but the years are short.
