Summer Break Ideas: Boredom Busters and More
Summer’s here! It’s hot outside, and the last day of school has come and gone. Parents and kids are relieved and catching up on sleep. Schedules are more relaxed and everybody’s under less pressure.
Boredom Summer
Then boredom starts to set in. Different stressors pop up. Some parents are working and putting together day camp schedules, others are trying to keep kids occupied at home during what can feel like really long days.
Summer Break Survival Guide for Parents
But there are easy ways to make the most of summer while keeping kids off screens and not losing your patience in the process. Here are our top seven tips for making the most of summer and minimizing the stress.
1.Summer Break Ideas: Make a List
First, have some ideas of what’s important to you. Is it learning activities? Camps? Skills building? Have your priorities in mind, then ask the family what they want. Build a list together. Even if school’s out, it’s not too late to get a bucket list together.
Summer Tips for Parents
Remember to prioritize the things that feel manageable to you and your children. Even though summer can feel like an unlimited expanse of time to do everything, there are still limits. Leave some space for unscheduled time and let boredom build (more on that below!).
2.Summer Routine for Kids
Establish a routine
Resist the temptation to abandon all schedules. Bedtimes and wakeups can be later if your obligations will allow, but predictability can help kids’ behavior. And they still need enough sleep, or the next day will probably not be their best. Keep in mind what your child’s sleep needs are when you’re making your schedule. Tweens and teens are going to start needing more sleep as their brains develop. Strike a balance between their desires to stay up late and the need for the family to get going the next day when they’d like to sleep in for hours.
Even if you’re on vacation, try to keep in mind the things that your family needs to be its happiest. Snacks, naps, bedtime routines? Be sure you’re allowing time for them, and you’ll all have a better time.
Include time for chores, self-care tasks, and down time when children have the chance to get bored.
3. Kids Summer Calendar
Don’t keep your schedule and routines a secret
Keep your children in the loop on what’s going on. Starting a new day camp next week? Let them know about it. Describe how it will go and what they can expect. Keep a family calendar, post your schedules, come up with a routine for your kids to follow. We as parents get busy and can forget to let our kids know what’s coming for them. This can lead to anxiety, resistance, and in the end, unhappy family moments.
4.Summer Chores for Kids
Form some basic expectations for chores and self-care tasks.
Even though we view summer as time off for kids, it’s great for them to have some work to do. Chores and other tasks give them the opportunity to practice and improve their self-help and family help skills. Kids love being given real tasks. They might not do them perfectly, but they can learn. If your family has a slower pace in the summer, this makes it an even better time to really give them some responsibilities and expect them to handle them. You won’t be in such a rush, and your child will learn that you genuinely believe in their abilities.
Summer Chores Chart
Have reasonable expectations, with age-appropriate chores and enough time to complete them. Following a routine that includes chores and self-care tasks can set them up to form habits that will serve them well their whole lives. If you’re having trouble coming up with ideas, we have a free Boredom Busters download to help you create a Boredom Busters jar, and it includes some chores along with other ideas.
Household Chores for Kids
Look at chores as an opportunity for children, not as an obligation or punishment (which they might try to say they are, so we have some ideas for handling tantrums about chores). A lot of kids love doing things parents consider menial or taxing, especially if parents are with them at the time.
5. Boredom Summer
Leave time for boredom
Summer can mean a time of enrichment and entertainment for families, a way to give their kids experiences they don’t have room for during the school year. But unscheduled time, when kids are responsible for entertaining themselves, can give rise to some of their best growth and fun. It’s wonderful to let them use their imaginations.
Boredom Busters for Kids
Have ideas ready for times when chores are done and screens are off. Set up a boredom busters jar, with ideas for things that are easy for you. Our free download has some DOs and DON’Ts along with a print and clip list to get you started. Set up the things your kids will need, maybe a plastic bin of art supplies, a tote bag with outdoor toys, or a basket where you put the books you’ve checked out from the library so they’re easy to find. That way, when it’s time for them to find a thing to do, you don’t have to run errands or grab stuff from all over the house to make it happen. Include little fun surprises they love like new stickers with the art, bubbles for outside, and a cozy pillow with the books. Add replenishing your boredom buster kits to your summer routines & calendar, so they’re good to go on a regular basis. Kids can help with this, too!
6.Screen Time Recommendations for Kids
Limit screen time
You may loosen your limitations on video games or videos on the ipad when kids aren’t having to finish school assignments and get to bed early. But don’t let them disappear into the screens available to them. Let them read, draw, create--even if they say they’re bored (see tip 5 above).
Experts vary on the amount of screen time they recommend for children but they do tend to agree that a variety of experiences are best for growing brains and bodies.
7.Boredom Games for Kids
Best Summer Toys for Kids: You!!
Set up a special play time
Parents hear about lots of special things to do and buy for their children, so they can learn and develop to be their best. But the truth is that parents’ and caregivers’ undivided attention is the most powerful way to invest in a child’s development. This doesn't have to take a long time–just 30 minutes a week can absolutely make a huge difference in your child’s life. And they get to be in charge, so you don’t even have to make a plan or a kit!
Just set aside some time with your child when they can be in charge of what you’re going to do. This can be one time a week, for about 30 minutes, and is not the same as one-on-one time for something you plan (like going on an outing or for a meal with you). Play what they want to play (ideally not video games), don’t ask questions, let them make the rules, don’t allow any interruptions, and really pay attention to them. It can change your relationship with them. For real. This is one of the ways play therapists make a difference in kids’ lives, and we teach parents how to use those skills. Our online class makes it easy to fit learning into your schedule. Check it out here.
Summer can be a great time, and it can also be tricky. Having some ideas about ways to maximize the time off can really set you up for success. Happy Summer!! You deserve it. If you feel like you could use some more support, we are here to help. We offer individual and family play therapy, parent coaching, and our parent classes. Find out more on our website, or call us at (713) 936-0633. We’re here, all year round!