Ahhhh, summer! Relaxed lazy days....oh, who are we kidding?!? For most parents in the Northern hemisphere, summer is a time of stress. The kids are home from school and the parents have to somehow juggle their regular work schedule while also trying to keep their kids engaged, active and on screens for less than 12 hours a day.

Navigating summer responsibilities and expectations is a challenge for the whole family. If we can give you one piece of advice, it's this: Relax your standards. You don't have to take the kids to the pool weekly. Your kids can stay up later; strict bedtimes really aren't as important if the kids don't have to be anywhere in the morning. PJs are perfectly acceptable summer attire, at least sometimes. And no one -- seriously: no one -- is expecting a gourmet meal every night.

Focus your attention on what's important to you and your children instead. Our summer tips will help you do just that.

In this episode, Janet & Jen discuss:

Common summer challenges

Why boredom is perfectly OK (in fact, it's important!)

Balancing scheduled vs unscheduled activity

How to prevent "summer slide" (loss of academic skills)

Fun FREE activities

Summer jobs for kids (even kids younger than 16)

Summer schedules

Recording summer memories

Links we mentioned (or should have) in this episode:

Surviving Summer -- classic Building Boys post

Kids Bowl Free -- 2 free games of bowling daily for registered children at participating centers

Planet Fitness Teen Challenge -- high school teens ages 15 - 18 can work out at any of  1,800 locations throughout the United States and Canada for FREE all summer long

Free Meals -- No Kid Hungry runs a summer meals texting service. Text ‘FOOD’ to 877-877 to find free summer meals sites in your neighborhood.

On Boys Episode 117: Summer Jobs

On Boys Episode 114: Sleepovers, Camp & Separation Anxiety

On Boys Episode 118: Business Tips for a 12-Year-Old Entrepreneur

Keeping Bored Boys Occupied During the Summer Holidays -- Building Boys post

Summer Safety: Preventing Injuries -- Building Boys post

 

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