Yes, we may be rubbing our hands with glee at the thought of summer coming, but on the other hand, maybe you are in full-on panic mode. Having our children at home for the summer means that we are going to struggle to work as well as arrange suitable childcare. So, while it may be too late to prepare for this summer, what we can do right now is learn from our mistakes and get ready for the next summer, so the children are occupied in the best possible ways. Let’s give you some ideas.
Plan a Trip
Going away takes a lot of planning, so it’s better to start early than to leave it too late. This way, you’ll have something to look forward to whilst also knowing it’s all planned and all you have to do is wait for it to happen. Ask your family members where they would like to visit–the mountains, deserts or beaches. If they choose beaches, then look at the destinations that can be the most affordable and easy to travel to. Additionally, look for activities that can be taken up as a family when you are at the beach– perhaps you can go sailing. Firms like Kai Kanani are known to offer sailing tours in Maui, Hawaii. So, you can look for such firms at your vacation destination as well.
Anyway, if you can afford an all-inclusive trip, even better! All-inclusive trips save you effort and stress, making them perfect if you struggle to find the time to sit down to do the online shop let alone book a holiday. Consider a cruise to somewhere like The Galapagos Islands, or even just book a hotel by the beach with meals included. The earlier you do it, the easier it will be to book time off work too.
Put Them In Summer Camp
Maybe money is a constant issue in your home, and as such, summer camps are something you’d consider to be out of your budget. But if we start to put a little bit of money aside now, we can make sure that our children get a beneficial summer, even if we have to work. On americafinestsummercamps.com there are plenty for you to look at so you can get some inspiration. Summer camps are a great way for your children to make the most of the summer vacation. And yes, while you may not be spending time with them, if you have to work anyway, it beats them lying around the house watching TV!
Prepare Their Learning Materials
There are two sides to this debate. Maybe you think they spend a lot of time under academic pressure, and as such, they have earned some downtime. But if you think they would benefit from the next academic year, it is worth putting some things in place, not just so they are stuck in their rooms studying, but they are engaging with learning materials. As boring as a museum might be to a 13-year-old, if you can expose them to a wide variety of learning materials, from documentaries to museums, and anything in between that you can think of, perhaps it will set off a spark in their mind. After all, it’s about engaging with learning material in a way that they will benefit. It’s not just about sitting down, forcing them to read a chapter at a time.
Improving Their Life Skills
There are so many social skills that our children learn in a school environment, but once the summer comes, they may very well retreat to their rooms. But if you feel there are parts of the school curriculum that should teach more beneficial life skills, it’s down to you to do this! On selfsufficientkids.com there is a list of life skills to give you inspiration. Perhaps your children don’t know how to cook, or maybe they don’t know how to entertain themselves without their smartphone. Look at these things and see what they would benefit from to become a well-rounded individual.
In the meantime, make this summer all about having fun. You can throw a summer party on occasion, and go for walks. But if you think about this time next year, and the direction you want your children to go in, you had better start preparing right now!