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Okay,
many of you are really, really looking forward to your
child's summer vacation right? Long, endless days of
unhindered play-time combined with little Bobby's creative
mind, young Suzy's flair for drama, plus infinite stores
of energy is the perfect recipe for crazy stew.
They act crazy.
And you stew...
You simply simmer with
dismay, as you can't believe he broke the lamp AGAIN! And
who decided your freshly painted walls needed a "bootiful
moorul"?
But don't despair, with
a little creativity and effort you can spice up children's
summer for FREE. That's right, FREE. Forget pricey summer
camps if you're operating on a limited budget. YOU ARE THE
SUMMER PROGRAM.
Here
are a few strategies sure to save your sanity
Develop
a schedule of structured activities
Every Summer Camp does it, why shouldn't you? It works
and children actually like it. They know what to expect and
it eliminates the dreaded repetitive question..."Now
what can I do?" and it's delightful cousin… "I'm
b-o-o-o-r-e-d!"
Begin the day early (as
close to their normal school year schedule as possible). Don't
forget to serve breakfast, snacks and lunch around the same
each day. Then include activities like prayer time, craft
time, play/exercise time, story time and praise & worship.
Before you know it, the most important part of the day will
arrive-NAP TIME! Older children can use this time for quiet
activities like computer games or a movie of their choice.
Create a Theme.
Try incorporating themes like "Space Week" or "Animals"
to give your craft projects, field trips and activity time
at home some pizzazz. For instance, you can tie in a trip
to the local planetarium to view the stars with story time
on books about outer space; then craft time could be something
as simple as cutting out paper stars and hanging them from
the ceiling in their room for a little atmosphere.
Toss in a field trip.
No matter how many fun activities you plan at home, cute little
Suzy and Bobby may be ready to bounce off the walls after
a couple of hours. Children love a little variety and change
of scenery just as much as adults do. So, it's time to hit
the road. Try these mom-tested standbys:
- Visit your local
library. Most local libraries offer free story times
and/or crafts for children at least once a week. Find a
few libraries near you. Usually they each offer these sessions
on different days, so your child could attend story time
at a different library every day. Don't forget to check
out books and DvDs to use for activities at home.
- Rediscover the
local parks, zoos, museums and movie theatres. Many
of them offer free or very affordable activities, like scavenger
hunts, fun educational presentations, or nature hikes for
young children. Local movie theatres often offer free kids
movies during the summer morning hours including snacks
at reduced prices.
- Have "Art
Lessons" at the local craft or school supply store. These stores
often offer weekly craft classes for children at no charge.
- Turn your errands
into an educational experience. The Post Office, bank,
and grocery store are great places to teach your child practical
life skills such as budgeting, writing letters, manners,
et cetera. Give them envelopes, stickers, play money and
a calculator to "pretend" with along the way.You
would be surprised what conclusions children reach without
guidance. My 3-year-old son once believed the Drive-Thru-Teller
was a lollipop machine! Every time we drove through, I would
money put money in the tray and the teller would send a
lollipop back. Makes perfect sense unless someone explains
what's happening.
- Keep a Fun Bag
in your car.
Be prepared for spontaneous trips to the park, beach, pool,
you name it. Pack a tote bag or box full of items like beach
towels, sunscreen, bubbles, balloons, balls, non-perishable
snacks, swim suits, et cetera. Surprises are the spice of
life.
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