Hi parents. Don’t overthink what your child will enjoy. Put activities out and see how they role with it. As an educator, activities fail and I learn to change it or get rid of it for good. Likes change overtime which is typical for everyone. Its July and you need to make it through the rest of the summer.
Let me backup. When your child got out of school a schedule should be created so you and they are consistently following a plan. This will help with change as well as help with change. What I mean is: your child expects a schedule. Schedules help with creating consistency and eliminating fear of the unknown. If you don’t have a schedule yet, create one soon. I suggest a schedule that will also pertain to returning back to school. it doesn’t matter if your child wakes up later in the summertime. Have the activities in the schedule for school be the same over the summer.
Summer Example: School Example:
9:00 wake up, 7:00 wake up
use the bathroom, use the bathroom
brush teeth brush teeth
eat breakfast get dressed
get dressed eat breakfast
eat breakfast bus/car
SCHOOL
10:00 Summer activity (reading- 15 minutes
then choice activity
11:00 Lunch
12:00 Summer Activity (outside fun)
1:00 Summer Activity (technology)
2:00 Summer Activity (bubbles, art, dancing)
3:00 Summer Activity(chores)
4:00 Summer Activity(choice activity) 4:00 home from
school, unpack,
snack, homework
5:00 Summer Activity(dinner) 5:00 (play, T.V.)
6:00 Summer Activity(outside play) 6:00 (dinner)
7:00 Summer Activity(shower/tub) 7:00 (shower/tub)
8:00 Summer Activity (inside activity, games, 8:00 calming music,
puzzles, reading, calming music) puzzles, read
9:00 Summer Activity(bed) BED
CONSISTENCY AND STRUCTURE ARE VERY IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW. THEY MAKE YOUR CHILD FEEL SAFE. AS YOUR CHILD GROWS, DEALING WITH UNEXPECTED CHANGE CAN BE INTRODUCED.
Inside Activities: books, puzzles, water play, dress up, organizing, cleaning, cooking, baking, bubbles, play doh, coloring, painting, imaginative play, find what’s missing, blocks, games, toys, patterning, writing.
Outside activities: water play, hopscotch, climbing, running, hunt for(bugs, three leaf flowers, butterflies, rocks), pretend to cut the grass, weed, rake, balls, races, bubbles, art.