HOW YOUR CHILD CAN HAVE A SUCCESSFUL SUMMER VACATION

When summer break is finally there, children are thrilled to be able to enjoy their free time away from school. While it is good to have no plans at times, having no summer plans at all is the worst as children need structure. Over summer, it is essential to have your child engaged and to keep challenging her.

Here are a few tips for your child to have a successful summer vacation:

1. Engage the entire family in planning. If, as a family, you plan your vacation together, then your child will be more enthusiastic to go. Encourage your child to research vacation spots and give them a voice in the planning. The more she will participate in the planning of the vacation, the more she will feel respected and eager to travel. You will be rewarded with a good attitude.

2. Increase creativity and reduce technology. In the 21st century, we all need and use technology. However, taking a break from it allows the development of creativity. Reading a book alone or with someone, enrolling in an art class, or participating in a sport summer camp are activities that promote your child’s leadership and group skills.

3. Balancing activities with down time. Running around all summer without a moment to rest leads to exhaustion. So, make sure that your child has a balanced schedule between exciting and quiet activities. Reading or playing an instrument have a rejuvenating effect. Too much excitement may cause meltdowns, tantrums, and fatigue.

4. Spending time together. What matters the most is the quality of time you spend together with your child. It is not necessary to go on a complicated family vacation. If your child is on vacation and you are not, think about a special time you may want to spend every day with your child. Maybe, you have a walk in the evening in your neighborhood, play a board game, or create funny stories together. If you do something special, your child will have wonderful memories of her childhood vacation.

                SHOWING UNCONDITIONAL LOVE TO YOUR CHILD
 
When your child behaves as you expect, you love her unconditionally, but when she starts to drive you crazy, it might be more challenging to keep loving her unconditionally. However, your child needs this type of love at all times and in all circumstances. She needs to know she is lovable exactly as she is, that she is not expected to be perfect, and that being sad, angry, frustrated, or disappointed is what makes us human.

Here are a few ideas to show your child unconditional love:

1. Accept her feelings and put limits on her behavior. Demonstrating empathy toward your child makes her feel understood and accepted for who she is. For instance, say: “She knocked over your tower and you worked so hard on it, you are mad!” Remember that empathizing with your child does not mean you endorse her behavior. Reinforce the limits and offer other solutions. For example, say: “You know hitting hurts, so no hitting. So, what can you do instead? Let’s practice.”

2. Understand your child’s perspective. There is a reason behind your child’s misbehavior. It could be an unmet need or an upset feeling. If you address the underlying reason, there will be a change in your child. Maybe your child is worried to lose his special place in your heart since her little brother was born or maybe she needs help to learn some better strategies to keep track of things so she does not lose them. When you start putting yourself into your child’s shoes, then suddenly her misbehavior seems comprehensible and forgivable.

3. Love the child you have instead of trying to make her into someone else. Your job is to nurture your child so that she can blossom in her environment. Every child needs to be appreciated for who she is. Your daily support is one of the most essential factors in her development. If you find it hard, then take time to process the grief over the child you wanted and did not get. You are allowed to have these feelings, but you need to take responsibility to work them through and not let them impact your child negatively. When you see your child positively, only then can she see herself positively as well.

4. Use connection and repair rather than punishment. Every time a child is punished, she does not feel loved. Research shows that children who are disciplined with love withdrawal techniques, misbehave more. Your child does not need punishments, instead she needs to have limits set by her parents. When something gets broken, object or relationship, then you work with her using empathy, reconnection, and repair. Over time, your child will develop higher levels of emotional intelligence and sense of morality.

“Accept the children the way we accept trees—with gratitude, because they are a blessing—but do not have expectations or desires. You don’t expect trees to change, you love them as they are.”
― Isabel Allende