Wow, another year has come and gone and it is hard to believe that summer break is already upon us! This time of year is filled with endless opportunities to make lasting memories and allow for some special family bonding. We all know our children really do grow up quickly and, often before we realize, it is easy to have missed a few opportunities. The following are some suggestions for summer time activities that will develop social skills and family/community connections.
Talk to your child about some volunteer topics and pick something out you can do together as a family (donating pet food to an animal shelter, dropping off cards or goodies at a nursing home, gathering old toys for donations, raking leaves for a neighbor, etc.)
Make and send “thinking of you” cards to relatives who live out of town
Spend time outside (maybe go on a picnic)
Read together
Create a game/craft/movie night with snacks (the key is to participate together)
Make a photo album together of your family vacation or a local outing
Encourage other activities and help your child create their own list of “Fun Things to Do”
Of course, an important part of summer break will be having fun “doing nothing” and enjoying unorganized activities too. Please be aware of the amount of time your children spend watching television, playing video games, or engaging in social media. Two hours or less of screen time, per day, is a good goal to aim for. Here are some guidelines to consider:
Set clear ground rules about when, where, how much, and what kind of game playing/television watching/social media is allowed (monitoring content is also important)
Have clear consequences if time limits are not observed (use a timer if needed)
Consider keeping computer/devices/gaming systems in a family room where children can be more easily monitored
Article: Saving Summer: 5 Strategies to Help Reign In Family Screen Time Over Break
Benefits of Outside Time:
A great deal of evidence is showing us how spending time outdoors can provide physical and mental health benefits for folks of all ages. I’ve included an outdoor scavenger hunt that can be a super fun family activity during summer break, and some examples of how spending time outside can even encourage social skill development!
Being outside can improve memory, fight depression, and lower blood pressure & so much more — HERE
Benefits for Children: 12 benefits of outdoor play (and tips to help your child get them)
