Good Parenting

Summer vacation is fast approaching, and as every kid is salivating about escaping school, sleeping later and watching TV and mindless movies, moms and dads everywhere may be concerned about how to maintain a healthy balance of relaxation and productive disposal of free time so that the kids, children don’t return to school this Autumn, saying that they did “nothing” all vacation long. Blended families have the added stress of planning for summer visitation, coordinating parent schedules and ensuring that their brood have organized activities as well as a good time.

Michele Farias, an educator and school counselor for at least 25 years, addresses this compelling issue in her best-selling book, “25 Ways to Keep Your Child Safe, Healthy and Successful: Lessons from a School Counselor.”

Farias explains that she is constantly surprised at the multitude of children who report that they did nothing of substance for the ten weeks of summer. Of course, summer is a chance to relax, unwind from the strain of a demanding school workload and engage in enjoyable activities that may not be feasible the rest of the year. In any case, Ms Farias maintains that it is healthy for children to balance summer vacation time with productive activities because it prepares them for a successful school year to look forward to.

Following are some helpful pointers in a chapter exclusively geared to summer activities:

Family Time

Summer vacation offers a great chance for increasing family time. This is extremely critical for children in blended family units who may not be capable of maintaining close ties with cousins, grandparents and family friends due to moving back and forth between separate homes, or because of geographic or logistical challenges. Families can renew emotional ties by traveling together on a road or a camping trip, spending time at the beach or the park, playing board games or having fun with a sport or a pastime.

Ms Farias labels these activities ýmemory builders,ý because when people reminisce about important and significant childhood memories, they mostly involve family activities. Family vacations furnish a significant opportunity to enjoy meals together, sleep in close proximity, share experiences and strengthen family ties. There are many different ways to accomplish this without unloading a bundle of money, and Ms Farias urges parents to visit www.puttingfamilyfirst.org for interesting and reasonable ideas for affordable family activities.

A relaxed summer schedule provides an ideal opportunity to foster family mealtimes which are often impossible during the over-scheduled school year. The family dinner are often an acute challenge in blended families who have conflicting schedules, transitioning children and general shortage of time. It is well-documented that family mealtimes increase communication, cooperation and closeness, and reduce the likelihood that kids will indulge in drug and alcohol use. Plan to have meals as a family group when everyone is sitting face to face, involved with each other and not distracted by cell phones, Blackberries, TV or video games.

No need to break out the fine china or having strict manners on display. Instead, keep it simple and have all members contribute in every way, from planning the menu, buying the ingredients, preparing the meal and setting and removing the dishes from the table. Even the littlest members of the family will feel useful, and all the members will feel more connected, more valued and a vital a worthwhile part of a cohesive family unit.

Participate in Activities

Summer break offers an ideal opportunity for kids to acquire new skills and activities that they may not have a chance to investigate during every day with no TV, computer, or I Pod anywhere around. Farias strongly asserts that reading skills contribute in large measure to success in school, and notes that children who do not read well have trouble in all subject areas, even math.

She requests that parents help their children understand that reading is well-appreciated at home, and so that they may convey this important message to their offspring, Ms Farias puts forth the following: 1) read to younger children daily; 2) talk over with older kids what they are reading and encourage them to comment on plot, characters and setting; 3) take kids to the library and assist in finding appropriate books for younger kids; 4) sign up for reading clubs; and 5) consistently give kids books as gifts.