“Yipee, it’s holiday time again.” That is the chant from primary school children as they cast aside their books, bags and uniforms and get set to enjoy the long summer break.
No more classes, homework or getting up early - at least not for two months. There may even be a chance to lie on in bed longer in the morning and stay up later at night.
They are looking forward to long summer days and bright evenings with lots of opportunities to play with friends, visit interesting places and enjoy some family time away from the routine and restrictions of school.
But the initial excitement can soon start to fade and children complain of being bored and of missing their friends. Without the routine they so strongly resisted during term time they can find themselves wandering aimlessly around the house, unsure and unable to entertain themselves.
So how can parents keep them occupied during the lazy days of summer? You do not need a lot of cash to help them make the most of the weeks ahead. All that is required is a creative approach, a willingness to get involved and an ability to see the fun side of things.
It’s a good idea to start by helping children structure their day. Otherwise, one will run into the other and seem vast and endless. This applies to older children too who may be tempted to sleep late or hang about the house watching television or playing computer games.
Boredom busters
1. Keep in touch with friends. Having friends round or visiting them is a cost free and fun way of keeping your children entertained. If the weather is fine they can play outdoors or you could take them to the park and relax while they enjoy themselves.
2. Encourage them to keep a summer diary, even pre-schoolers can do this. Get them to record the things they did each day/week in a copy or journal in words or pictures? Mementos from a trip to the seaside, the zoo, a visit to relations or to the local park can be included. In years to come they will enjoy looking over this.
3. Nurture their artistic side. Stock up on inexpensive art supplies - crayons, markers, poster paints, glue, glitter, etc, so when they feel in the mood to indulge their inner Michaelangelo you will have the necessary supplies on hand.
4. Enrol your child in a summer course if you have any money to spare. This may not only broaden his/her horizons but will also provide entertainment and amusement. There are many acitivity courses available, designed to stimulate young minds, offering everything from basketball and pottery to art and nature walks run by private organisations and youth and community groups.
Children who lack self esteem or are not academically confident will benefit from discovering hidden talents which often happens during holiday activities or leisure pursuits.
They also make new friends at courses and many solid friendships develop from here. Try to get as much information as possible on the various summer courses and decide with your child which one s/he would like to attend. Some children are nervous about meeting new people and may require some gentle nudging and reassurance beforehand. If they are not keen put the idea on hold until they are a bit older and more self assured.
5. Nourish their culinary skills. Get out your cookbooks and find some simple recipes for queen cakes, for example, (rice crispy buns are a good alternative if you are short on time or patience and your assistant is impatient to eat the fruits of her labour ). Or you could try stuffed tomatoes, pancakes or spaghetti bolognaise. Try not to lose your temper, even when there is more flour on the floor than in the bowl!
6. Enjoy the great outdoors. Make a list of life’s simple, free pleasures and aim to cross off one or two from it each week. Include going for a nature walk, feeding the swans, going to the bog or making hay if you live in the country, cycling or picking blackberries.
A simple picnic in the ruins of a derelict castle or down by a stream, a visit to an old monastery or churchyard, hillclimbing with a group of small friends or beachcombing on a fresh summer’s morning require little planning but will provide much delight
7. Nurture an interest in reading. A love of books is one of the greatest pleasures and riches we can pass on to children. Enrol your child in the local library. Do not influence her choices too much, children develop at different paces and their choices vary greatly.
8. Encourage pastimes. The seeds for an interest in art, history, music, sport, stamp or coin collecting, pottery making or knitting are often sown during the summer holidays when children have more free time. Many also discover the benefits of volunteering, even on a small scale close to home. Running errants for older neighbours, collecting unwanted items or clothes for a charity shop or having a car boot sale for a local deserving cause are all great ways of using their time productively.
9. Have a family night in each week when everyone does something fun or new. Rent a DVD and snuggle up on the couch with popcorn, play games (don’t be too competitive ), cook a meal and get the children to help or get out the facepaints and let them give you a new look. It will create a lot of laughs and some memorable photographs.
10. Use everyday activities to boost their confidence. If they find school work difficult, their self-esteem may take a nosedive. Counteract this by showing them how much you value them. Praise their efforts at tidying their toys, dusting the shelves, sweeping up leaves or keeping quiet while you are on the telephone. Tell them how nice they look and how much you enjoy spending additional time with them during the school holidays.
