Across the nation, many children are coming to the end of what has been the strangest school year ever. Children and parents alike are looking forward to virtual school being a thing of the past. But, as we approach the end of the school year, we start to consider what the summer will look like, and how to keep our kids busy, social and learning. 

The summer can be a great time to take family vacations, bond with your kids at home, or try new activities. But sometimes with the removal of daily structure, and common school expectation we see a change in kids’ behavior too.

Here are a few antecedent strategies to prepare ahead of time for the summer break.

• Plan ahead.

As we start wrapping up the school year, some kids ending in May, many others ending in June, we want to think about what summer will look like. If your family is one that loves being involved in daily structured activities, summer camps may be a great choice. If you family tends to take it easy during the summer, finding 1-2 activities your kids can do independently or as a family will help shape the days and give them something to look forward to. Try including the kids in the decision-making process regarding what activities they will do, and add them to a calendar, they can refer to easily, such as a calendar on the refrigerator.

Another area that may require a bit of planning is mealtimes. It certainly seems like kids eat more and more each day when they are out of school. Keeping breakfast simple, lunch planned, and dinner as a planned family engagement time, can take a lot of stress out of meal planning for the summer. Another way to support your growing little ones, it to pre plan and pre portion snacks. Whether you choose to do veggies and dip, or a pack of fruit snacks, having those pre portioned and set aside for your child can keep them energized throughout the day, and take the guess work out of it for you!

• Set aside time for peer engagement. 

Summer is a great time for kids to work on their social skills, maintaining their existing friendships, and making new friends. The neighborhood parks, or indoor amusements will be climbing with kids all summer. Try coordinating some play dates or hang outs before school ends. This way, parents can exchange contact information and the kids can keep regular contact with their friends. This is also a bonus if your child happens to have a summer birthday and you want to celebrate with friends. 

Summer is also a great time for your child to try new things and meet new friends. Meeting new people doesn’t have to be serious or awkward, explore strategies with your child to encourage them introducing themselves, and starting conversations with peers. Parents, this is also a great time for you to make connections with other parents and help your child navigate social situations, by being friendly with other parents. 

Check with your local library, or your kids’ school for Summer social program for other fun ways to keep kids engaged and social.

• Share Household chores where possible

Consider things that can be delegated to other family members throughout the household. Folding towels, sorting socks, watering the plants, or feeding the dog are a few ideas of tasks that children can often help with. This can teach shared responsibility, and a sense of pride in contributing to the household in a meaningful way. Another alternative here is to make the daily household chores a family affair. This means everyone come and clean the kitchen together or contribute to cleaning out the shed on a Sunday afternoon.

• Set summer goals

Preparing your child for the next grade level and making sure they don’t lose the skills acquired from the previous school year can be challenging. This may mean setting some time aside each day to work on those skills. Consider a summer curriculum or a comprehensive workbook that covers the core subjects. Check with your local library for suggested reading lists organized by age groups or grade levels. This is often helpful by saving parents time researching appropriate reading material, especially for multiple kids all at different age levels. It’s also okay to spend a little extra time on their preferred subjects to keep those areas sharp, while encouraging them in the areas that aren’t their preferred subjects.

Family goals are also something to consider. What barriers are you finding in your daily family routines, and what ways you would like to see your family grow? Setting a goal as a family is a great way to connect in a new way and encourage your children as you meet your family goals together. 

• Keep some things on a schedule

Keeping a bit of routine will set expectation for your children and make it easier to transition back to a full schedule at the end of summer. Staying up late during the summer break, often means sleeping in during the day. For younger kids, consider keeping a bedtime in place, and a wake time. Sleep is a vital component to their little developing minds. Consider limiting how late older kids can stay up, and how late they can sleep in each day. Setting aside 1 to 2 hours each morning or afternoon to focus on academics, and family goals is another area that can be planned into the daily routine and provide a bit of structure.

• Take it easy and have fun!

Summer is a time to take a break and mix things up. Try not to sweat the small stuff! Spend a little time outside each day. Family walks and bike rides are a great way to incorporate a family time, exercise, and a little time soaking in the sun.

 For kids, summer break flies by, for parents it can drag along. As parents, we can make it easier on ourselves by incorporating a bit of a schedule, with fun daily activities that set your child up for a successful upcoming school year in the academic, and social department. Take some time before the school year ends, to identify your child’s preferred playmates in their class or at their school. Exchange contact information with those playmates’ parents. Take time to understand your child’s current academic goals, and what they should be learning in preparation for next school year. Your child’s current teacher may have some suggestions or recommendations on resources to bridge grade levels. If you are interested in enrolling your child in group activities like summer sports or lessons, start exploring soon before registration for those fill’s up. Lastly, start exploring new ways to connect with your child or connect as a family. 

Author

Brianna Leveston, MA, BCBA, LBA

BCBA Clinician

AdBAnce – Behavioral Health