Summer Fun
This summer seems to be hotter and more humid early in the season, reminding us of the hot, hazy days of August!! It makes a body wonder what next month will be like! Weather across the globe seems to be off kilter with places normally dry, now inundated with rain. While other areas are suffering an unusual drought! It seems like a big weather shift. Many of us are finding we are hiding in our homes to find the comfort of cooler air and less humidity!
Because we adults don’t necessarily deal well with the heat, our children follow our example and find relief inside as well; instead of being outdoors riding bikes, fishing, jumping ropes, exploring the woods, or discovering other adventures. This often begs the question, ‘what are we going to do?’
There Are Options
There are options, even if you have to get a bit creative! Library reading programs might be a place to begin. In this element you have the added advantage of enjoying air conditioning while searching for the right books and other activities available there. There are also activities available at the local YMCA. Swimming facilities are always a plus, as are rock walls, group exercise, and more!
But there are other alternatives. We all need to grocery shop. Often it’s a weekly ‘chore.’ Include the kids on the journey. Let them help with the menu and then the grocery list. Allow them to find the items in the store, perhaps choose and weigh the produce or fruit. In this manner, they are learning real-life lessons without the formality found in a textbooks.
Play a board game! Pull out monopoly, a geography trivia game, scrabble or a hundred other choices! It’s a great way to learn patience, strategy and setting goals, or depending on the game, even team playing, along with how to win or lose gracefully.
Other ideas include field trips, encourage letter writing or even help with household chores. But another idea might be to volunteer somewhere as a family. When we volunteer our time to those in need we not only help them, but also deepen our maturity and builds compassion and life skills.
Customize Activities For Disabilities
While it’s great to have these ideas, they don’t always work for the child with a disability. It’s important to be careful to not throw off their normal routine dramatically. This can cause more damage than good! Predictability is often key! But children with disabilities can be offered the chance to enjoy alternatives to learning in a classroom, if done gradually, and in a place where the setting isn’t too far off normal.
Be sure to talk with your child about an upcoming ‘adventure.’ Try to stay positive. You may need to customize these ideas for your child, and their specific disability. An activity like shopping may not suit. But perhaps once home with the groceries, discuss the meals that will be made with them and let them help put the items away. Perhaps let them help prepare the meal or set the table. (And this applies to their non-disabled peers, as well!)
Learning Outside The Classroom
Our kids sit in a classroom nine months of the year. When we can spend time with them, teaching in a laid back, natural way, they are better for it. It grows relationship and often life skills which are often overlooked in the public school system.
Summer is the ideal time to spend time outdoors too, when the weather cooperates. So when the weather is good, encourage those outdoor activities mentioned at the beginning of this post. Bike riding, swimming, fishing, chasing lightening bugs, butterflies, little lizards or frogs; a gentle ride on the swing set, jumping rope, climbing a tree or playing hop scotch, are just a few options. Enjoy this season before these young ones find themselves back in a classroom. It’ll be here before you know it!
Photo Credit: https://www.pinterest.com/search/my_pins/?q=monopoly%20game&rs=typed
Photo Credit: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/459015387013739088/