5 Tips for Making the Most of Summer Break
Picture this: it is May, and you realize that your children will be home from school for the entire summer in just a few weeks. You kick yourself because you forgot to sign them up for your area's severely overpriced summer camps. Your anxiety starts to kick in when you think about your children being home, for weeks on end, with seemingly nothing to entertain them, except maybe screens. Your parent guilt creeps up because you tell yourself you should be like that parent on Instagram that has all the ideas (and energy) to keep their kids not only entertained but satisfied every single day of summer vacation. I get it, I have been there too and I am learning how to curb that itch to plan every day for my children, to make sure they are experiencing new things, keeping up with sports, and not falling victim to the dreaded “Summer Slide” and also not on their iPad for 8 hours straight. It is exhausting, but it doesn't have to be!
Summer break is the perfect time for fun, relaxation, family bonding, and maybe a little bit of self-care. With these tips for a mindful summer, you can make the most of your summer break with your kids and come back feeling refreshed and recharged for another school year. From getting enough sleep to engaging in enjoyable hobbies with your kids, I will show you how to take care of your mental health so you and your family can make the most of summer break.
I hope this list of ideas to make the most of your summer break with your children helps relieve any stress or anxiety you may be having.
Bedtimes should still exist
I get it. Bedtimes are tough because of beautiful summer nights; however, keeping to bedtime will only make your life easier and allow for better sleep for your children. According to Nemours Kids Health, school-aged children need 9-12 hours of sleep which can be achieved by sticking to a regular bedtime and giving your kids a “heads-up” at least 30 minutes before bedtime.
Stick to a Schedule (most of the time):
Whether they like to admit it, children thrive when they have predictable schedules. They have been in a structured environment all school year, so it is only natural to keep some sort of schedule during the summer. Again, I understand those days/nights that are just too busy, tiring, or crazy to keep to a schedule. A loose schedule is all I am suggesting here. For example, a summer day might look like; breakfast, playtime, lunch, an outing to the park, chill time (maybe an introduction to mindfulness), dinner, bedtime routine, and bed.
Take Time to Build Your Relationship with Your Child(ren):
Summer is a great time to reconnect with your child(ren). What do your children enjoy doing? Are they outgoing and love the park? Do they enjoy more one on one time? Narrow down the temperament of each child of yours and allow them to choose an activity that you will both partake in. When you participate with them in those activities, make sure they have your full attention. That means no technology, no phone calls, just you and them (and your other children if they are present). If you are finding any of your children struggling during these outings, you can help them calm down by utilizing these strategies from RaisingChildren.net.au.
Encourage positive mental health from birth:
Just like forming healthy physical habits, children need practice and guidance in forming positive mental health habits as well. Odds are, you are doing this without even knowing it. Nurturing and giving your children unconditional love are the main ways positive self-esteem and confidence are built. The biggest advice I give to parents of my clients is to be a model to their children, especially when they make mistakes. Telling your children about a mistake you made, how it made you feel, and how you overcame or learned from it makes them realize that all humans (even their parents) have emotions, struggles, and ultimately tools to overcome adverse situations. For more ideas on how to encourage positive mental health in your children, visit Mental Health America.
Remember to make time for yourself:
This is most definitely easier said than done; however, I cannot overstate its importance. Your mental health directly impacts your child(ren)s, so if you struggle to spend time or money on yourself try to reframe those thoughts into filling your cup so that you can fill your child(ren)s as well. I encourage mindful time for yourself once every day, even if it is 10 minutes by yourself outside with your shoes off and toes in the grass. Taking time to slow down and literally smell the roses will give you more mental capacity to deal with what you might have to tackle that day. Use this as an opportunity to model what taking a break is to your children without using avoidance habits such as cell phones or TV screens. Not sure where to start? I love utilizing the wellness wheel with my adult clients to identify potential areas of improvement when it comes to your overall wellness, find it here.
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