I read that some where recently and thought how true this can be. Staying home with children can make the days really long and yet how often do we hear ourselves saying - "how is she having another birthday?" I had a friend of mine who is a teacher say something similar in regards to her school day and then saying "I can't believe this school year is done already, I'm going to miss those kids!"
Last night we had a chat with some of our parents and we brainstormed some ideas to help make the days go smoother, to make the most of our days and to keep out kids busy! Here are some of the ideas generated in our chat last night.
1. Make a bowl filled with activity ideas to use when you hear the words "I'm bored". Have your child draw from the I'm Bored Bowl - it could be something fun or a chore that needs to be done.
2. Use a calendar to help everyone see what the week, month, and summer will look like.
3. Rotate kids between stations - especially good for large families. Stations could include: coloring/play dough/puzzles (quiet station), one on one time with mom/dad, and outdoor time or downstairs time.
4. Use a schedule for the day to determine what the day is going to look like. An example could look like: wake up, breakfast, clean up, get dressed, out door time, snack, take a walk or run an errand, lunch, naps or quiet time, snack, outdoor time etc... Having a schedule can be helpful for both the child and parents to know what to expect.
5. Get a babysitter to help out with the kids so you have time for yourself or to spend one on one time with each of your kids.
6. Of course the most important is to buy one of our calendars to come up with ideas!
Enjoy the slowness of summer, it also comes and goes way to quickly. Make the most of the time you have with your kids and do what you can to create those memory making moments!
Talk to you next week,
Michelle
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