The Benefits of a Summer Routine For Kids
Children thrive with routines. A gentle routine makes them feel happy and secure because they know what to expect next. The same daily routine doesn’t bother or bore children, it actually provides them with comfort. Summertime tends to be the only time of year children don’t have a more structured day – and it’s often the time that kids get bored an unhappy. Having a summer routine helps correct this.
The summer routine doesn’t need to be as stringent as the school year. It’s OK for your kids to wake up a little bit later, and to have longer periods of free play. Outside free play is especially nice during the summer!
A set routine does keep you children accountable for chores and it helps keep them out of trouble, however. Start by setting up the routine around meal times. Regular meal times will keep them happy and it lets you make sure that you’re feeding them well, rather than relying on unhealthy foods here and there.
Meal times are a natural time to schedule chores around. Learning to do chores well and be held accountable for chores is very good for kids. Make sure you check up on their chores – every time. If you don’t, the quality of their work will go down. That’s the just the way kids are!
Having to do chores such as making the bed, keeping the room clean, washing dishes, taking out the trash, etc. may seem like a burden in a happy-go-lucky childhood. But the self-discipline taught by regular chores will pay off big dividends in adulthood. Many adults struggle with even basic household tasks because they were never expected to do much as children. Don’t do this to your kids. If you haven’t had them doing chores, or if you’ve allowed their room to look like a tornado hit, summer is a great time to teach them some chores and make sure they’re doing them.
Do schedule in blocks of free time. Younger children will probably need a little bit less free time – or part of their free time should be spent playing near you. Older children can have more time.
Summer is also a good time to schedule those things you can’t fit in during the school year. Crafts, handiwork, woodworking projects, and small engine tinkering are all things children enjoy doing (at age-appropriate times). It’s often hard to teach kids how to do these activities during the busy year, so a regularly scheduled time in the summer is a huge gift.
You can also use the summer to tackle a bigger project with your child. Maybe you’ve had something you want to do with them – anything from sewing a quilt, to going through the family tree, to building a boat! If there’s a big project you’ve been waiting on, schedule a regular time for that.
You can also fill some time with reading, audio books, or storytelling. Most children really enjoy these activities, and it’s a good way to help them learn to sit still and listen, or to really enjoy a good book.
Summer is also the time of year to schedule in special adventures, and even regular adventures. Maybe you spend every evening in the summer swimming. It’s a good time to visit the zoo or other attraction. Regular library trips are featured in many family’s summer plans.
Having a nice routine in the summer helps keep your kids content and out of trouble. It prevents “Mom, I’m bored!” and it gives you the opportunity to fit in activities that you just can’t get to during the busy school year. It gives you a dependable pattern to follow to get meals and snacks on the table, and gives you the chance to teach chores and responsibility to your children. Consider a gentle routine to get the most of your child’s summer.
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