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.