Our Family Series: Making the Summer Break Rock

Articles by Chris Hamrick
May 12, 2022
Family Concerns

Summer break is just around the corner, and many parents are already exploring ideas for making the most out of the months the kids are home from school. There’s more to a great summer vacation than watching cartoons at home (though that can be part of it). If you want to plan for a fun, rewarding summer with your family, take a look at the tips below.

Structure Your Days

Structuring your summer days should not suggest that you need to have a concrete plan for every day of the summer. However, having some plans set up for a great time with your family is a good idea. Planning and structuring your summertime helps you and your family prepare for events ahead of time and ensure you’ve got all the ideas you need to create a happy summer.

Don’t Abandon Household Rules

It’s okay to go easy on your kids during the summer, for example, letting them stay up later than normal. However, it’s a good idea to keep up with your household’s rules for the most part. Let them stay up late on some nights or for a certain duration rather than having no limit on how long they can stay up.

Balance Work and Play

While summer break is meant to be a time your children can have some reprieve from the demands of school, it should not be an “anything goes” kind of break. If you want your children to have a fun, yet productive summer, balance work and play.

Let the kids have time to relax and take part in the things they want to do at home, but implement reading, helping out with household chores, and other hands-on projects. This way, they get a blend of relaxation and healthy activity during their summer break.

Spend Time Outside

During summer vacation, it’s a great idea to stick to some of the outdoor classics. You don’t have to go far to take part in fun, outdoor activities. Take a day trip to a national park, visit a lake for swimming or fishing, go camping, or take a moderate hike.

Family vacations, even short and simple ones, encourage families to enjoy each other’s company and work together as a group. They’re a good way to get your children to spend some of their summer vacation with one another.

Finally, do your best to take it easy. It’s understandable that you want to have positive experiences with your family, but it’s also important to let some summer days serve as time to relax. If you don’t have a plan for every day or week of the summer, you can still make the most of it by simply spending time with the people who matter most to you.