Deleting boredom from your family dictionary
As the school year winds down, children, parents and teachers are counting the days until summer vacation. How will you fill your child's summer?
Every year, parents are faced with the task of planning summer activities for their children. Some leave promptly after school ends and spend two to eight weeks at summer camps across the country. Other children balance day camps with mini vacations.
For some families, the perfect summer is one of minimal planned activities where children are left to frolic in the backyard, spend days at the museums and movies and reconnect with family and their imaginations.
Every family has a unique vision of the ideal summer. Share your thoughts on how you give your children adequate down time without them complaining of boredom after week one.
- How does your family spend the summer?
- When do you start planning the summer?
- If your children are home for the summer, what are some of your favorite activities?
- At what age do you include your child in the decision-making process?
Lisa Buchman
7:47 am on Wednesday, June 15, 2011
One idea a group of moms came up with while watching their kids run around at the Katonah parade last week—having a great time with just a ball and each other, no one telling them what to do—have regular backyard get togethers this summer outside of ball leagues and homework schedules. Rotate hosts and don't plan anything. Throw kids together from different neighborhoods. Sounds pretty basic but there just doesn't seem to be time during the school year.
Ayo Hart
11:54 pm on Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Lisa, I think that's a GREAT idea! The scene I'm envisioning is reminiscent of "the good ole days" when we simply played in the neighborhood and rode our bikes up and down. I can't remember the last time I've seen that happen in our community. I was talking to a few friends today and they mentioned that they try to make it a point to get their kids to the town pool once a week. Even the ones who might have their own pool say their children enjoy just meeting up with friends at the town pool and hanging out.
With regards to day trips, I recently learned of the Pop-up-Play area at Governor's Island. It looks like an amazing idea! View it at http://www.indiegogo.com/pop-up-adventure-play
If I can't muster up the energy to get my twins down to the ferry and over to Governor's Island, I think we might create our own Pop-up-Play area here in our back yard or neighborhood.