Welcome Summer!
We have been into summer only a couple of weeks and it already feels a bit crazy. We have added six baby chicks to our family in the past month and it has been exciting to watch them grow. We have taken a trip to Blackfoot to see our son and our daughter came here for a visit. Our Pathway mission is keeping us busy and we love it. Our son Cory and his little family are living with us for a time and that has been such a blessing. Life is great!
My son Tyler, whom we visited in Blackfoot has five wonderful little children. It was interesting to see how they are already "bored" with the summer vacation. They are wondering what to do. I am sure that some of you are experiencing the same situation. I wanted to share a few thoughts about summer and how to make it fun for the children as well as mom!
Just a couple of weeks ago the children were in school and all their time was scheduled for them. They went to school and were told what to do. They find security in knowing what is expected each day. Now with order is gone, they are a bit lost. To help your summer run better I would suggest you sit down in a family home evening and make a schedule. This should include a schedule for daily routine as well as when a summer vacation may be or when some in-city fun activities can be planned. Children will be happier if they still go to bed at a reasonable time, get up early and get into the plan for the day.
When my children were young I tried to keep the morning pretty structured and the afternoon became their free time. We would plan a once a week outing that may be to the park, the library, the discovery center, a hike or bike ride on the green belt. I also tried to have time to teach them things that may turn into hobbies for them. Computer time, TV time, any type of electronic time needs to be limited and is an earned privilege for good behavior and attitude, not a "right" that comes just because it is summer.
It seems that during the school year, our lives are so busy that we often do not have time for real family bonding. Summer can be a great time for family projects. Not all free time should be spent with friends.
An idea of a summer schedule could be:
7:30 Get up
8:00 Come to scriptures dressed
Scriptures and family prayer
Breakfast
Exercise time (just in home aerobic fun)
Jobs
Lunch
Quiet time--reading
Activity time
Free time
Dinner
After dinner activities
Family prayer
Bed
The schedule is to guide your day, it is not to rule your day. Once a week I would schedule a "field trip" experience in the afternoon. Look at your goals for the summer. Think about what you want to teach your children this summer. This is such precious time to teach them things you do not have time to teach during the school year.
Next week I will post ideas of what to have them do during job time. This needs to be more than a 15 minute pick up of a bedroom. This needs to be a time to teach them to do hard things.
I loved the summer time with my children. I loved having them with me so I could influence them for good. I loved having them around me so I could help them know I loved them. These are such precious moments. Hope you have fun planning!
Post in the comments what your summer schedule looks like for your family. Also.....What is your biggest struggle during the summer?
Sister Tanner
