Summer Tips of Time Well Spent

Well, it’s the beginning of the summer break from school – I won’t call it “summer vacation” because for many parents and kids, it’s not much of a “vacation” when we’re knocked off our regimented schedule and seem to have more to keep up with than we do when school’s in session.

Not to add to your endless list of daily chores, but there is a way to utilize this time of the year to get a step ahead.

1. Do yourself a favor and try to stick as close to a normal routine as possible. Yes, it’s important to deviate from the schedule from time to time (because that’s what life does), but all kids benefit from knowing what to expect. Create a summer calendar on a dry erase board and post it on the frig. Keep the marker within reach so that you and your child can cross off each day and activity as it comes to a close. When you get the same question of “What are we doing today?” you can simply point in the direction of the calendar and say, “You tell me.”

2. For parents whose kids are in camp, now could be an excellent time to think about your own health and well-being. Take a self-assessment (https://staceyhoaglund.com/are-you-living-your-best-life) and use this opportunity to discover what you’d like to change in yourself. It could be weight-loss, eating healthier, considering a new job, or extending yourself to have experiences that take you beyond your normal limits (jet-skiing, para-sailing, ice-skating, etc). Make yourself a personal summer goal! ?

3. Carve out 20-30 minutes per day of reading time. This can mean that you’re the one reading a favorite book to your child who’s not yet a reader, you and your child taking turns (you read one page and they read the next) for the one who’s beginning to read, or your child reading a book while you provide lavish praise about how they make the words on the page come to life.

4. One of the best strategies for kids who have a hard time with reading comprehension is using what’s called “cloze passages”. For those of us who are old enough to remember Mad Libs, it’s kind of like that, except that the child reads the story and fills in the blank at the same time. You can use stories about their own experiences, from books they love, or even about their favorite movies or television shows. When you have to fill in a blank, you need to pay attention to the words around that word to get it right. If they need it, give them a few options to choose from. Pinterest is a great resource.

5. If your child is transitioning to a new school in August, over the summer take them for a few campus visits. Call the office (there’s someone there all summer) and ask if you can come by to meet the office staff, walk into the main hallway, cafeteria, and media center. Most schools will be more than happy to set that up. Waiting until the week before, when EVERYONE is there, is typically not a good idea – Talk about overwhelming ☹

6. Write a “Day in the Life” of who your child is and what helps them find success. This document should be no greater than one page in length, bulleted for easy reading and understanding, and relevant to your individual child. This list should include the best place for his desk, the benefit of using written cues to redirect, need for brisk walks prior to the reading block, etc. Be sure to include your cell phone number and email address so that if your teacher has any questions or concerns, she can get in touch with you quickly. More ideas: https://staceyhoaglund.com/dayinthelife

7. Whatever you do, don’t forget to have FUN! But, remember that what you think is fun and what your child thinks is fun might be two totally different things. So, don’t be frustrated if you think that you’ve planned the most amazing day and your child keeps asking for the iPad. There are tons of things to do that take very little money, or no money at all. https://staceyhoaglund.com/10-ways-to-have-a-blasting-good-time