Summer’s Here! How to Balance Structure and Play for Young Kids Over the Break
Summer is finally here. This year, perhaps more than ever, creating a summer full of fun memories is at the top of everyone’s list!
But, if you’re a parent, you might already be anticipating some of the questions and comments that come along every summer:
“I’m bored.”
“Can I watch TV?”
“There’s nothing to do.”
Alternatively, you might be used to your kids spending most of their time on their phones or tablets, not waking up until noon, and not having any sort of schedule or ‘plan’ for the day. Unfortunately, even for young children, this is becoming more of an issue.
So, what can you do to balance structure and play for your young kids? How can you make sure they have an amazing summer while keeping somewhat of a routine?
Have Daily Reading Time
There are countless benefits when it comes to encouraging your kids to read. If you have especially young children, reading with or to them can spark creativity, boost their mood, and strengthen your bond.
Reading during the summer is a great way to end each day. After long hours of fun, reading a book together is something you both can look forward to as a way to unwind. It will get your kids in the right mindset to go to bed at a decent hour, so they can wake up refreshed the next day.
Set Up a Chore Chart
One easy way to balance “work” and play is to set up a chore chart for your kids. Even little ones can do a few things around the house. Assign everyone a chore or two to complete each day.
Encouraging your kids to do chores encourages responsibility from a young age. It also helps to instill that healthy balance of work and play within them. They get to practice taking care of responsibilities, being successful with assigned tasks, and contributing to the family. If you have a child who struggles to stay focused, or who expresses a lot of resistance to completing their chore, they may need some scaffolding from you to experience success. This is also a great opportunity to get some one-on-one time with them while helping them meet your expectations.
Make a Realistic Routine
Having a daily routine is a great way to keep things structured throughout the summer. But, don’t get hung up on how strict that routine needs to be. Things like having your kids wake up and go to bed at the same time each day are good things – and they should be what you strive for.
However, it’s also okay to make exceptions for a summer evening cookout, or 4th of July fireworks when they’ll need to stay up a bit later, as long as you think your kids can handle the change and excitement.
Note to the parents with kids that struggle with later bedtimes and/or changes to the routine: I see you! It is absolutely okay to politely decline the invitations to party, or plan to leave early. You know what is best for your kids and family. Do not let anyone make you feel like you need to change how you parent, when you know your kid and their needs best.
Plan Family Events
Do your best to plan things as a family over the summer. Planning outings is a great way to actively balance structure and play, all at once.
Making memories with your children is one of the best parts of summer break. Getting away from home for a while to do that is something everyone will look forward to. Planning ahead for special outings or events will make them less stressful and will actually allow you to enjoy them, too. After the year everyone has had, that’s just as important as making sure your kids have fun.
Summer doesn’t have to be “boring” for kids or overwhelming for you. By striking that balance between structure and play, you can keep everyone happy, relaxed, and content throughout the entire season. If you’re struggling to figure out the rest of your summer, feeling overwhelmed with the day-to-day needs of your kids, parent counseling from an experienced therapist could help you sort through this- please feel free to contact me. I’m here to support you.
Photo by Elijah Hail on Unsplash