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Heading
off summer boredom
By Dr.
Caron B. Goode
www.acpi.biz
Summer
is a refreshing and wonderful time. School is out and frantic
schedules blur into unstructured free time. For a while, this
lack of routine is very relaxing. Then the relaxation gives
way to boredom, and parents start wondering what in the world
they are going to do with their kids all summer!
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When
my daughter was young, we spent the summer doing typical things.
We went on vacation and joined the summer reading program at
our local library. She invited friends over and attended several
day camps. Even with what seemed to me to be a steady flow of
activity, she would complain of being bored.
These complaints made me realize that my child
was used to structured days. Not that I had any interest in
putting her or myself on a strict summer schedule. But, having
a couple of hours everyday set aside for a particular activity
was appealing. From this idea, the After Lunch Hour was born.
The After Lunch Hour was a perfect way to
break up long summer days. Every week, I would plan five activities,
one for each day. These activities would require an hour to
an hour and a half to complete, and we would start after lunch.
It was the perfect time. This left the mornings open to sleep
in or lounge around. It also left our afternoons free for
the pool and day trips.
Some weeks, we did the same activity everyday
and others were a hodge podge. Sometimes it was just me and
my daughter. Other times we would invite school friends and
neighborhood children to join us. Other than the weekly planning
on my part, the After Lunch Hour was very relaxed and an enjoyable
way to spend a summer day. Here are some of the After Lunch
Hour projects we took on over the years.
- Families
Rock. There were several open fields in our neighborhood,
which were perfect for rock hunting. We visited the fields
and gathered interesting rocks to bring home. With these
rocks, we would make rock families. I would set the table
with doll eyes, glue, funny noses, fake hair, and paints,
all of which came from the local crafts store. The children
used these tools to bring their rock families to life. Word
of this fun activity spread, and soon every child on the
block had attended the After Lunch Hour and had a rock family
of their very own. The children then took the activity one
step farther and would put their families in baskets and
bags and go visit the other neighborhood rock families.
- How
Does Your Garden Grow. Gardening is a great activity for
children of all ages. The process fascinates them. We started
this project from the ground up. We built a raised bed along
our side fence. If you don’t have a backyard, try
container gardening. Plastic pickle barrels, available for
free from a local restaurant, are perfect. I chose seeds
that germinated quickly, such as sunflower seeds and green
beans. My daughter and I planted them, mulched them, and
watered them everyday. Soon, we saw the fruits of our labor
and enjoyed them for dinner too.
- Pet
Project. Most children love animals. My daughter repeatedly
asked for a pet. I wasn’t sure she was ready for the
responsibility, and the Pet Project was a great way to find
out. This activity was one that lasted for several days.
On the first day, I announced we were going to the library.
While there we got a book on goldfish care. We finished
out our After Lunch Hour by reading up on the subject. The
next afternoon, we visited the pet store in the mall. We
asked one of the salespeople to talk to us about what we
needed for a goldfish. We took this information home and
prepared for the next day when we brought our fish home.
We have repeated the Pet Project over the years with different
animals, including a gerbil, cat, and eventually our family
dog, Aberdeen. With each one we learned all we could about
how best to care for him. Then put our knowledge to work.
- What
a Jewel. Jewelry making was another favorite activity of
ours. It started when my daughter and her friends learned
how to make friendship bracelets. I supplied the string
and they wove it into beautiful bracelets and a love of
jewelry making. Soon they moved on to making necklaces from
bead and shells, and designing their own hoop earrings.
- Now
We’re Cooking. Like gardening, cooking is another
favorite among children. Both my husband and I love to cook
and love sharing our skills. We started the children off
with kitchen basics and safety. Then we taught them how
to slice, dice, and sauté. Next came cookies, and
before we knew it the kids were making dinner!
Whether
you are interested in broadening your child’s horizons
or encouraging an existing interest, summer is a great time
to do it. There are so many things that can be done in an
hour to break up the inevitable monotony and boredom that
surfaces every summer. Who knows, you might just discover
a passion within your child that lasts a lifetime.
Dr.
Caron B. Goode is the founder of the Academy
for Coaching Parents International, a training and certification
program for parent coaches. In addition to duties with the
academy, Goode is the founding editor of the website www.InspiredParenting.net,
and the author of ten books, the most recent of which is Nurture
Your Child’s Gift. For more information on The Academy
for Coaching Parents International or to sign up for academy
announcements, visit www.acpi.biz
See
Also: Slow
Down and Enjoy the Magic of Summertime
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