Five Fundamental Summer Tasks With Kids
Summer is a great
time to kick back and experience those coveted quality moments with our kids.
This season is also provides helpful opportunities to accomplish tasks with our
kids that we can be tempted to put off during other times of the year.
Keep a Schedule
In order to make the
most of summer, it’s important to keep a schedule. This may seem
counterintuitive, but a summer schedule can keep your kids from restlessly
wandering the house or claiming to be “bored.”
It doesn’t have to be
a strict schedule – it can be as general or specific as your family needs – but
a daily routine helps your kids to know roughly what’s going to be happening.
Sit down with your kids and chart out the important issues; for us, these
include meal and snack times, piano practice, and chores. Don’t forget to
outline specific times each day for summer reading, TV, video games, and
running around outside with friends.
Local Reading Programs
Practicing reading
helps your kids stay academically challenged during the summer months.
Fortunately, local and national companies have instituted summer reading
programs that offer rewards for completed calendars of minutes read each day.
Research these
companies with your kids - including Chuck E. Cheese, Borders, and Barnes and
Noble – and print out the reading calendars for each. Head to your local
library and have your kids sign up with the summer reading program, which often
provides valuable coupons to businesses in your area along with a free book!
Important Appointments
Regular appointments
can be tough to fit in during a busy school and activities schedule. I like to
take my kids for their regular appointments during the summer months, since
many places will schedule our family members during one block of time. This
helps save both gas and time.
Two important
appointments to make for your kids include the dentist and the pediatrician.
Routine dental exams and cleanings should occur every six months for children
and adults, while appointments to the pediatrician depend on the needs of your
child. It may be time for routine vaccinations or a physical, and the best way
to know for sure is to call your pediatrician’s office before too much time
goes by!
School Supplies and More!
Preparing for school
to start involves shopping and buying school supplies, but more could be required depending on the age of your
children. If your kids are transitioning into a new school – for example, from
preschool to kindergarten or from junior high to high school – it’s important
to keep track of any transitional activities. Communicate with the schools as
needed to keep informed of any orientation meetings for parents or kids, along
with registration dates and required paperwork. If your child is nervous about
the transition, take a short fieldtrip to the campus and walk around, pointing
out the main office, cafeteria, library, bathrooms, and classrooms. All of this
preparation will help when school starts in the fall.
Family Fun Time
Tasks don’t have to
be all business, especially in the summer time. Plan specifically for family
fun, using those special coupons or offers from local businesses through summer
reading programs. Grab local ads that come in your newspaper or the mail for
special deals on your local children’s museum, movie theaters, family fun
centers or skating rink. Put these activities on your calendar throughout the
summer so it won’t pass you by without having some fun!
Kelly Wilson is a
busy mom, former elementary school teacher, and freelance writer. For more
information about teaching kids to take the best care of their teeth, visit Dr. Lusch, www.luschsmile.com Dentist in
Portland, Oregon at Gateway Portland Dentistry.
Labels: Summer
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