This whole month we get to talk about behaviors that drive us nuts.  It was hard to pick just four.

We get to start out with our kids driving us crazy  during the summer. If you’ve ever felt like your kids want you to entertain them all summer, then you’ll want to check out this episode.  Laura Tesch, mom of six and Child & Family studies major, teaches us SIX tips for surviving your child’s summer break! These tips have already helped us a ton at our house.

Happy learning!

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Laura Tesch

 

I want to make it clear, that a perfect summer isn’t really attainable.  It’s better just to try to find ways to have this summer be better than the last and shoot for the same goal next summer.

But keep your expectations at the right level so you’re less likely to be disappointed.

Tip #1 Provide some structure

Research shows that kids do a lot better in an environment with structure.  Kids need to know what will be happening each day and what times during the day things will be happening.

THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT YOU NEED TO SCHEDULE EVERY MINUTE OF THE SUMMER.

In fact, I suggest not scheduling every minute.  Our kids have a really rigorous schedule during the school year and it’s nice for them to get to slow down during the summer.

Rather, I am suggesting that you decide which things need to be done each day and when they need to be done by.  

For example:

You could have a morning routine.

Wake up

Eat breakfast

Get dressed

Get dressed

Make bed

Do one chore

Read for thirty minutes

Math for ten minutes

Outside/creative time before any electronics

You could also have an evening routine.

Friends leave by 8:00 pm

Shower

Read

Bedtime

You get to decide which structure and routine works best for your kids and family.  I personally like to have the mornings pretty structured and the afternoons pretty flexible.  But you know your family and what will work for them.

Just make sure to find some structure for each day.  It will help your kids feel more at ease and behave better.

Tip #2 Read, read, read

There is SO much research on the positive effects of reading for a child that it MUST be included in each day.

Here are some of the positive effects of reading:

Reading develops language skills

Reading is exercise for your child’s brain

Reading enhances your child’s ability to concentrate

Reading make your kids thirsty for more knowledge

Reading a variety of books can expose your kids to broader horizons

Reading develops a child's imagination and creativity

Reading helps develop empathy

Reading with a child helps create a positive bond

Readers perform better in school

And so much more!

I like to have my kids read for one hour each day.  I don’t mind if they break the reading up into smaller chunks.  I also encourage my older children to read to my younger children.

I just think that reading is so beneficial, that we really make it a priority.

What about kids who don’t like to read?

I have one son that genuinely does not enjoy reading.  He’s tried a lot of different kinds of books, but still hasn’t found anything he enjoys.

However, he does enjoy AUDIO BOOKS.  Audio books are my son’s go to. He can listen while he does something with his hands or he can follow along in a printed version of the story.  Either way, he stills gets to enjoy a lot of the benefits of reading without having to do something he really doesn’t like.