| Children always look forward to summer vacation, but | | | | video games and other sedentary activities. Instead, |
| parents aren't always sure how best to cope. For | | | | find ways of getting them interested in outside |
| some parents, summer marks the beginning of | | | | activities such as sports which will provide them with |
| summer camp and other activities for their children. For | | | | some exercise and physical activity. After all, there's |
| parents that work outside the home, summer might | | | | plenty of time during the cold winter months for |
| also mean the need for extra babysitting services. | | | | television. |
| However, even stay at home parents sometimes | | | | Encourage Summer Reading |
| need some suggestions for how to help their children | | | | Reading during the summer months will help keep your |
| fill the long summer days enjoyably and productively. | | | | child's skills sharp. Additionally, encouraging a child's love |
| Provide Some Structure | | | | of reading is a gift you can give them that will serve |
| Although part of the joy of summer is the lack of a | | | | them well throughout their entire life. Many public |
| strict school schedule, you will find that your children will | | | | libraries have summer reading programs that can be a |
| actually appreciate some semblance of structure in | | | | lot of fun for children of all ages. If your child's teacher |
| their days. Setting aside certain days each week for | | | | provided them with a suggested summer reading list, |
| specific activities, such as always going to the library | | | | be sure to get these books for your child. There are |
| on Mondays or having a family picnic at the park on | | | | also online sites that provide reading resources for |
| Fridays can help. This will provide just enough structure | | | | school age children. Reading is a great activity for hot |
| to give children something to look forward to each | | | | summer days, and your child will head back to school |
| week. This method will also make planning easier for | | | | in the fall more prepared for the next school year. |
| you. | | | | Quality Family Time |
| Try Something New | | | | Don't forget to schedule some quality time together as |
| Is there a new sport or hobby that your child seems to | | | | a family during the summer. However, this doesn't |
| be interested in? Summer is a great time to expand | | | | mean you have to take an expensive vacation... you |
| their horizons and allow them to try it. Whatever their | | | | can have just as much fun hanging around the house |
| interests are, you will probably be able to find a class | | | | or visiting neighborhood destinations. In fact, it doesn't |
| or a camp that features it. Exploring their new interests | | | | even matter so much what you do, as long as you |
| can be fun as well as educational and enriching. They | | | | have fun together doing it. Even if you work outside of |
| might just find that they have a real talent that they | | | | the home, try to take some vacation time so that you |
| never knew existed. | | | | and your children can spend some time together just |
| There's More to Life than Television | | | | having fun. You'll find that this will make summer |
| Try to prevent your child from spending the whole | | | | vacation just a bit more enjoyable for everyone in |
| summer just watching television. This also applies to | | | | your family. |