Students from all over the country look forward to their summer break. It’s a change in their normal routine and allows them time to relax, de-stress, and have fun. As adults, sometimes it’s easy to forget about the excitement and opportunities that “no school” provides. With that in mind, here are a few ideas to help make your students have a fun, engaging, and meaningful summer.
1. Allow a few days at the beginning of summer for your students to rest. Believe it or not, school can be mentally and emotionally exhausting. Giving kids the permission to reset their bodies and brains is helpful to the overall attitude and well-being of the individual. Allowing them the first 3 or 4 days to sleep in and catch up on their rest is a good way to mentally and physically prepare them for other ideas. It could truly help set the proper tone for the entire summer.
2. Set clear expectations…but don’t overdo it! It’s a good idea for students to be active members of your household with some expectations, such a few household chores, mowing the lawn, taking the dog for a walk (I don’t know what cat owners do), and similar things. One simple job per day. However, too many expectations move a student’s stress level from one area (homework, tests, projects) to another (responsibilities for the care and maintenance of a house, taking care of younger siblings). Summer can be a great time to help kids learn how to schedule, balance their time, and manage their emotions by creating more doable, age-appropriate tasks.
3. Schedule one or two “out of the box” things for them to do each week. Introducing students to new skills and experiences helps to create well-rounded individuals who aren’t afraid to try new things and maybe discover their interests and passions. Many opportunities are free and last for a few days or a few weeks when schools are not in session. Sign up for an art class, volunteer at a charity/ministry/non-profit, start learning a foreign language, join an exercise/running group, build a bird house, etc. REMEMBER: pick things that are active, engaging, and not associated with screen time!
4. Talk to your kids ABOUT their day – EVERY day! Dinner at the table is a great time to talk about everything that happened while you were at work or taking care of other responsibilities. Create an environment for the entire family to share and learn more about one another…and that includes what you do as the adults in the house! This helps to create a more personable and confident student.
For more ideas on how to keep (or start) your students engaged over the summer, visit the “Ideas For Connection” section under the RESOURCES tab on our website: www.axiomcounseling.com.
