RAISING HAPPY AND HEALTHY KIDS

             HOW TO ENTERTAIN YOUR KIDS OVER THE SUMMER

Kids usually long for a long, hot, and worry free summer. However, this year is different as we are in the middle of a pandemic. So, as parents, you may wonder how to entertain your kids through the whole summer. Working from home with (small) children may seem overwhelming. Yet, it is feasible.

Here are a few strategies to help you and your children to have a fun and relaxing summer:

1. Go old school. A lot of play is social by nature. While it is a difficulty in the pandemic, the desire for innate play remains intact and can be fed if we can supply our children with basic toys such as kites, cards, blocks, dolls, balls, paper boats, paper airplanes, a garden hose, sticks, rocks, and dirt. If children can play in a safe place, they will find a way to have fun with this rudimentary material.

2. Embrace boredom. Of course, there will be times when your child will come to you saying she is bored and whine about it. What should you do about it? Answer is simple: nothing. As parents, we believe that our children need to be busy and entertained all the time. However, this idea is relatively modern, and parents managed their children for thousand of years without daycare, schooling, or camps. So, instead of fighting boredom, welcome it and see what your children will do. Boredom will necessarily lead to creativity. So, spending one hour or so every day being idle is a good way to encourage your children to be inventive.

3. Change up your approach. When summer is ahead, most parents have a list of activities to do: outdoor theaters, museums to visit, concerts in the park, … This year, since we cannot bring our children to cultural events, then bring culture to them. Children can make up fantasy plays, write newspapers, craft costumes, stage their own circus, or act out stories. It does take effort, time, and energy, but the result is worth the preparation.

4. Organize housework. Summer can be the opportunity to either do regular house chores such as separating laundry or making breakfast or start more ambitious projects such as cleaning the attic, planting new flowers, or painting a bedroom. Remember that most young children like to help, so try to get them into the habit of doing some household chores. Discuss with them what they would like to do.
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This summer is special because of the pandemic. However, it can be a memorable one if you are open to let your children explore new ways of having fun and entertaining themselves.