Framing Your Summer – Part 1
If you are looking forward to a more relaxed, summer routine yet wondering about the minutes and
hours of each day, you are not alone. The ages of your children will have an influence on your weekly routine: nonetheless, all homes of young preschool and school-aged children will contain some similarities. Just as a photo frame has similar elements; likewise, the elements that frame your summer might reflect some of the same routines and rhythms as I have listed below:
1. Routine – consistency is key for snack-time, lunch time, chore time, kitchen rules, and so forth,
2. Play time – together with siblings or friends and ALONE play time,
3. Devotional time – sing Bible songs, read Bible stories, and memorize Scripture,
4. Rest or nap time - or read quietly alone in child’s room.
Routine - Before your children are dismissed for the summer, begin to think, and plan. Children do well with routine. Daily routines and rhythms provide consistency and structure for children; they love the dependability it provides. Talk to your children about your routines. If you have a summer vacation planned, make a ‘count-down’ paper chain, removing one of the links each day until you leave home. Locate your destination on a map or globe; check out books from the library. Make predictions about what you might do and see once you are at your destination. Talk about what types of clothes to pack. Pull your child into the planning as much as age appropriate. An older child can jot down lists of things.
Chore Time - Before exiting the bedroom, is the bed made and room tidied? Having green beans for
dinner is an excellent choice because little fingers can learn to snip. Husking the corn is another great chore for older ones! How about setting and clearing the table and putting away folded clothes? Contributing to family work instills a sense of responsibility and builds confidence in children.
Play time – I am a big proponent of children learning to play by themselves and learning to wander
through books alone. Train your children to ENJOY doing this. Even sitting at a child-sized table or desk with craft items galore is a good use of alone time. Do NOT feel like you must entertain your child every minute of every day. You will rob your child of important skills – learning to self-occupy and to be responsible for him or herself. Creative play is usually birthed from boredom – oh, that word! Contrary to popular belief, boredom is not a bad word. Unstructured time that brings about boredom is the channel through which creativity can flow.
Devotional time – including early morning Bible reading, Bible stories and/or Scripture memory is a good routine. Coloring pages to go along with the Bible story is an idea to occupy little hands while you read!
Rest/naptime – I believe requiring children to rest, nap or look at books quietly in the afternoon is a
must. Moms need this down-time and so do children. Remember who is in charge here! Creating space between you and your children will help you enjoy each other’s company even more once this afternoon siesta time is over! Set a kitchen timer and leave it in the hallway is just one idea for success. Institute this practice on the first day. And don’t give up!
Make sure to read part 2 next week!
If you would like to reach out to Jeannie, you may email her at jbrostrand@redeemerdayschool.org.