Summer might be a child's favorite time of year, but for parents, it can be quite the challenge! What to do with your kids for almost three months? If your children attend camp, you might not find too much change in yours (or their) schedule. If they're home with you all day, you might need a helping hand.
(1) Projects
Encourage your kids to start something big! An art project can come from something as small as boxes from your recycling bin. A huge piece of paper can become a week-long poster project, or a backdrop for a play. What activity can entertain your child's creativity for days on end? The best projects are low cost, child-led, encourage cooperation, upcycle items around the home and consume your child's attention in the best way possible.
(2) TV is OK!
When you are faced with nonstop kid-time, don't feel bad about some TV time. A movie a day might get you through the difficult times, and spark interests in your child that weren't there before.
(3) Playgrounds
Get out and play! Kids learn so much by playing. They learn how to navigate social environments, they learn about personal safety and they learn how the world works. Step back as much as possible and allow them to lead their own play time. Supervision is important to ensure that they are playing fun and fair games, but try waiting to see if the kids can figure out their own problems before automatically stepping in.
(4) Free activities
Search the internet for ideas! Your local library might also have some great community activities for free. Take advantage of them.
(5) Play dates
Summer is a great time to facilitate playdates with your child's peers. Keeping up their social involvement is imperative to creating a successful thread between summer and the school year.
(6) Babysitting trades
Do you know someone who will take your kids for a day, in return for you taking their kids for a day? Maybe you could cover each other's date nights? This is a creative way to have your children taken care of, without the exchange of money.
(7) Time apart
Give yourselves a break from one another! Whether you're in the same house doing different things, or able to create a little more distance - absence makes the heart grow fonder.
Give yourselves a break from one another! Whether you're in the same house doing different things, or able to create a little more distance - absence makes the heart grow fonder.
(8) Establish a routine
For a lot of people, routine = sanity. Most kids on the Autism spectrum appreciate a reliable routine, allowing them to know what to expect from the days ahead.
For a lot of people, routine = sanity. Most kids on the Autism spectrum appreciate a reliable routine, allowing them to know what to expect from the days ahead.
(9) Calendar for summer
Post calendars of the months of June, July and August on a wall where the kids can see. Mark dates on the calendar, such as; vacations, summer camp dates, sleepovers, playdates and first day back to school. Talk about the calendar, use it to help keep you all sane.
Post calendars of the months of June, July and August on a wall where the kids can see. Mark dates on the calendar, such as; vacations, summer camp dates, sleepovers, playdates and first day back to school. Talk about the calendar, use it to help keep you all sane.
(10) Embrace the chaos
Summer is crazy. It's going to be crazy. Nothing will feel settled until September.
Embrace it.
Summer is crazy. It's going to be crazy. Nothing will feel settled until September.
Embrace it.
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