Framing Your Summer – Part 1
In less than a month, your children will be out of school. 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. Some moms will still be working away from home during the summer months, so your children are probably questioning what their summer schedule will bring. Talk with them about it. Above all, do not think you need to entertain your children every day nor spend money for daily enjoyment and activities.
Here are a few ideas for what to incorporate in your day:
Routine – consistency is key for snack time, lunch time, chore time, kitchen rules, and so forth.
Play time – together with siblings or friends and ALONE play time in a room or near the kitchen.
Devotional time – sing Bible songs, read Bible stories, or memorize Scripture.
Rest or nap time – or child reads quietly alone in their room.
Mealtime / snack time – closed kitchen time.
As you reference the book, “Habits of the Household” consider weaving in several of those habits into your 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, or do you tackle chores after breakfast? Teach the importance of being a family contributor instead of merely a family consumer. Little fingers can learn to snip green beans or husk corn; set and clear the table and put away folded clothes. I know you can think of more chores; jot those down. Contributing to household work instills a sense of responsibility and builds confidence in children. Never do for a child what he or she can do for himself. It says to a child that the parent thinks he or she can’t do the task.
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 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. Give boredom 15 minutes and then watch!
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, you need this down-time and so does your child. Remember, you’re in charge!
Creating space between you and your children will help you enjoy each other’s company even more! Setting a kitchen timer and leaving it in the hallway is just one idea for success. Institute this practice on the first day. And don’t give up nor give in! Instilling habits and routines takes TIME and PRACTICE.
