Mid Summer Chaos

Where did the summer go? It is almost the middle of July.
Some of you have taken a vacation and some of you are
probably going soon. What does this mean in the chaos of
summer?

Summer is supposed to place us at a slower pace, but in reality
it takes more scheduling than during the school year in most
cases. Whether you are a stay at home or working parent,
finding activities and quality care can be challenging. It seems
that even though our economy is in a difficult place,
the cost of services is still on the rise. This means we all had
to be more strategic in our planning. Perhaps we pooled time
with a neighbor or friend in helping to care for each other's
children or we were able to work out a flexible schedule
with a spouse or at your job to have someone at home in shifts.
As parents, we know that we would do anything for our children
in making sure they had the best possible care available.

Summer comes with stressors. If not the scheduling, it is more
the unscheduled child. It is all about balance. It is important
that there still be some sort of schedule during the summer.
A good plan is to divide play, electronic activity, learning and
quiet time in proportion. Since summer is ideal for sunshine and
outdoor activities, it is good to get the kids outside as much as
possible. All activities can be done outdoors when the weather
permits. Summer is a great time to reinvent those games that
require motor play and interaction with friends.

With all the new technology, it is easy for our children to fall
into the trap of electronic everything! It is time to put the timer
on these activities and get those kids in more physical play with
the main goal of motivating them to keep going on this path in
the fall, winter and spring. Summer allows you habit forming fun!

As a teacher, I see less and less of children being able to just play
and use their creativity to invent new games and have fun
being relaxed...without the intervention of some sort of technology.
We all need to teach them to play regardless of their age. Even
us adults could use more play in our lives.

So the challenge for the rest of the summer is to get outside; pick
up a ball, go for a swim, ride a bike, play a game in the park
or backyard, picnic, read under a tree, sing on the swings, race
down the street, roller skate, dance, sleep under the stars, talk
to your children about the dreams, their own concerns,
find pictures in the clouds, jump in the puddles and look for rainbows.

Whatever the stressors are in your life this summer, find the balance
and get back to basics. Technology will always grow and be available.
Children will be little once and only you can laugh with them everyday!

Have a great rest of the summer!

Time for Routine and Organization - After School

Part 3 in a 3 part series...

What happens when your kids come home from school? Do you expect homework to be completed right away? Can they have a snack? What about play time? It is important to realize each child is different and some schedules that work for one of your children may not be the best for the other.

Children do need some quiet time and down time after school. Completing homework has to be done and you will need to decide when it works for you, your after school schedule and your child(ren). Keep this a routine so that your kids will know the expectation. Also, monitor any anxiety around your after school schedule. This will help you determine what will work best. Home work should always be done in a suitable place in your home. A desk or table with a well lit area is good. Keep the outside distractions to a minimum. You should plan to supervise, encourage and praise. This is a great place to make learning creative – make sure you and your child are having fun in this process. Laughing and finding new ways to learn difficult concepts can be fun for everyone in the family. If someone is struggling with something, make a game up to play at the dinner table and have everyone participate regardless of their age. It is easier than you think to scale down an older concept or build a younger concept up. This will engage each other in this journey together.

Organization will take time and looks different each school year as your child(ren) grow. Remember that they have to start with a clean slate each year and sometimes that means parents have to be a bit more flexible in creating a new routine. Make sure that you do not over schedule your kids in after school activities. 1-2 is plenty. Let them be kids. And make sure you do not over schedule yourself in school activities and meetings. Your child(ren) need you more during the school year. And finally, everyone in the house must get a good night’s sleep so work on that night time routine and make sure that your kids are getting 8-12 hours if possible. Research shows that even through high school kids need a good night’s rest so that their brain can re-set for the next day.

In closing, remember you do not have to be super-mom or super-dad. Your child(ren) need to know that and they need to see that you have difficulties as well. This is natural and helps them understand their own feelings. It is ok to say no to your kids and to outside commitments. Keep yourself healthy, get a good night’s rest and know that if something did not get done today, there is always tomorrow.

We are building strong minds and creative imaginations. This takes a life time to achieve.

Blessings to each of you this school year!

Time for Routine and Organization

Part 2 of a 3 part series...

Now that the kids are in school think about what will happen in your day. Whether you are a stay at home mom, dad or work full time the school year changes the dynamics of any schedule. Make sure the tasks of carpools, bus schedules, after school clubs and other important dates are on a master calendar. A suggestion is to keep a master calendar in the kitchen somewhere or in a very visible spot where everyone in the family can see it. If you are talking about multiple schedules then think about color coding your kids so that they will know what they have coming. If your children are younger, try making a picture calendar to give them information at their level of understanding and this way they feel like part of the master plan as well.

Make sure that you have had the opportunity to visit the school with your child(ren). Most schools have an ice cream social or back to school night. It is important for your child to see that you are interested in their education and also let the teacher know you will be working along side of them during the school year in making sure your child is successful. If your child is new to the school, make sure you help them find places like the bathroom, the office, the lunchroom. Although, they get a tour when school starts this will help with any anxiety around the start of school. Even returning students may have nervous feelings about their new class. If your child is bigger, then empower them by having them show you around the school and where their class is located. They will feel at ease if they have a question or concern by being put in a more responsible place. How many of us have heard this statement over and over…”Mom, I know.”

It is important that you stay on top of what your child is eating for lunch and snacks throughout the day. Healthy choices begin at a young age and stay with kids throughout adolescence into adulthood. Set the example early. Find out if the school lunches being served are balanced and if your child will actually even eat them. Otherwise, send a balanced lunch. A snack should not be a sugary one and should provide enough substance to carry them through the day. A piece of fruit, a granola bar, cheese and crackers, etc. are all good examples. Always send a water bottle with your child. Most schools allow them and would rather the kids have easy access to water. This will cut down on the amount of times the children will ask to go and get a drink as well and
make more time for learning.

Part 3 ... After School