Christine Hernandez
Early childhood educator, writer, and mother. Your friendly neighborhood guide to all things parenting.
Summer break can feel a bit all over the place. Yes it's a break and kids are excited but for parents juggling work, activities, screen time and meals, it can be a bit overwhelming. The good news is that it can be balanced.
All you need is a couple of realistic expectations, summer activities and a simple routine, the season can feel calmer and fun for everyone. Take a look at Winnie's top 10 summer parting tips, that can help make your summer enjoyable for the whole family.
1. Keep Routines Flexible
Summer shouldn’t feel like school with every minute of the day planned out. Yes you want some routines and structure but it doesn’t have to be planned out intensively. Instead lean into flexibility with a mix of structure.
Things like meal times, bedtimes and wake-up times can be on schedule. But be a bit spontaneous and flexible with the rest of the time. You want it to feel like a vacation even if its a summer spent at home.
2. Boredom is Okay
Many parents pressure themselves into finding several sources of entertainment but you don’t need that. Children thrive during boredom. This is how they build independence, creativity and self-regulation. All of which are vital skills during the development phase. So no, boredom is not a sign of failure, this is where their imagination starts.
3. Sun Safety and Hydration
With the sun out and ample time to spend outside, hydration and sun safety are key. Be sure to keep water in eye sight. This way kids see it and grab it easily. For sun protection, try to build a simple sunscreen routine.
For example, every time we step outside, we put on our outside shoes and sunscreen. When we come inside, we take off our outside shoes and wash our hands. Simple yet very effective. This is especially important during summer afternoons and heatwaves.
4. Water Play Equals Fun
Water play can keep kids entertained for hours and with the sun out it's perfect. Think along the lines of kiddie pools, water balloons, splash pads or even washing the car. Not only will you have cool kids but great summer memories. The best part is that water activities don't need a schedule, only water and supervision.
5. A Summer Bucket List
A great way to come up with summer activities is by getting the kids involved. Kids often know what they want to do or at least have an idea of what they want to do. So get them involved and create a family summer bucket list.
Now your list may be filled with a few wild plans, but that's where your parents instincts kick in. For the final list include a good mix of small activities, movie nights, and big activities. This way there's something for everyone and you are still in control. The goal is to simply have a few set activities in your back pocket.
6. Build Creative Independence
No matter how old your child is, building independence is always useful. And summer break is a great time to introduce independence while having fun. Setting us creative yet independent activities can also give you a mental break from all the planning.
This can include activities like reading, building Legos, painting or puzzles. All independent and skill building activities that don’t need specific planning or location changes. So parents get to enjoy summer too.
7. Outdoor Activities
After spending days in a classroom, the outside world can look like a big adventure. Something as simple as a walk in the neighborhood, scavenger hunt in the garden or even a trip to the local park can be great fun.
Spending time outside is also a great way for kids to connect with nature and get a break from their screens, and encourages curiosity and exploration.
8. Continue Learning
Summer learning doesn’t need to feel like school. Instead keep learning light. For example, introduce things like reading together, gardening, cooking or visiting museums. All of which are great learning opportunities and even better, bonding opportunities which always makes learning fun.
9. Age-appropriate Responsibilities
Summer can be a great opportunity for age-appropriate responsibilities. Small chores around the house can help you children feel included while learning valuable skills.
To have kids enthusiastic about chores, it's important to position them as family contributions instead of punishments.
10. Recharge Your Energy
With your mind focused on giving your children the best summer, it's easy to forget about yourself. Yes, parents deserve to enjoy summer break too. Small breaks away from the family can be a great way to recharge your energy.
These can be small moments to catch up on a good book, have a cup of coffee, or simply sit in silence. After all, to give your kids a great summer, you need to feel your best.
Final Thoughts
You don’t need to feel like a wave of anxiety when summer draws closer. Instead, using Winnie’s top summer parenting tips, can help you stay on top of things and give your kids a great summer.
The goal is to create memories, family bonding and fun. All of which can be done when things feel more manageable. And whether you are in need of summer camps, childcare or parenting tips, Winnie has you covered.
