{"id":4610,"date":"2018-05-14T10:33:25","date_gmt":"2018-05-14T15:33:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/kelleymathews\/?p=4610"},"modified":"2018-05-14T13:56:32","modified_gmt":"2018-05-14T18:56:32","slug":"five-strategies-to-ruin-your-kids-summer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/kelleymathews\/2018\/05\/five-strategies-to-ruin-your-kids-summer\/","title":{"rendered":"Five Strategies to Ruin Your Kids’ Summer"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

\"\"Around here, summer break looms close\u2014our kids\u2019\u00a0schools let out before Memorial Day. Will we enjoy\u2014or endure\u2014a full twelve weeks of summertime? Several factors play into the eventual outcome, and only one of them depends on the children. Of my seventeen summers of motherhood, some have been more pleasant than others. I\u2019m talking about for me, not the kids, because we all know that if mama\u2019s not happy, nobody\u2019s happy. When mom counts the summer a success, the kids likely do too. And when mom is ready to kick her children out the door on the first day of school (lifting all the hands, waving goodbye then dancing her way back to the coffee pot), chances are the kids were just as ready to escape.<\/p>\n

Learn from experience, folks. Preferably, from someone else\u2019s. Let me count the ways I have sabotaged what could have been a fabulous summer. If you too want to ruin your children\u2019s summer, try these:<\/p>\n

Ditch the Routine<\/h2>\n

Parents of little people\u2014I mean babies, toddlers, pre-schoolers\u2014understand how routine can make or break a day. Naptime is sacred, and meals run the world. Mess those up, and watch your house of cards fall. But experienced\u00a0parents can tell you that routines also regulate bigger kids as well. So go ahead, let the\u00a08-year-old watch TV for five hours, snack all day, and chill on the couch with an iPad. One day here and there\u2014no problem. Let him do that for several days in a row, and watch the meltdown happen in slo-mo. By early August, he will have gained 10 pounds of pudge and an attitude you wouldn\u2019t wish on any teacher.<\/p>\n

Pre-teens and teens are just toddlers in big, hungry bodies. They thrive on routine as well. Sleep is their best friend, but they will move their naptime to early morning, so just expect them to stay in bed later than the littles. Noon might be a reasonable wake-up call. Maybe. Unless they have jobs to go to. Then you can just crank up The Greatest Showman<\/em>\u00a0soundtrack when you wake them up\u2014no apologies. Get your lazy bum out of bed and go earn some money!<\/em><\/p>\n

By routine, I mean pattern. Don\u2019t feel you must create a strict schedule; half the fun of summer is the relaxed pace of life. But keeping a daily pattern with occasional jolts of randomness stabilizes everyone. Mom and\/or Dad likely still goes to the job site or office, and kids can see that life does go on for the rest of the world. Meal-activity-meal-rest-activity-meal-activity-bedtime\u2026 the changing activities make things fresh, while the regular routine keeps them stable. Try to stick with it on most days. Unless you enjoy chaos and crazy.<\/p>\n

Blow Your Budget<\/h2>\n

Spend all the money. Promise them all the camps, Six Flags, the water park, youth group trips, mall expeditions, movies \u2026 You gotta keep them occupied, right? This means big money, multiplied by the number of children in your home. Forget the budget\u2014those kids deserve all the fun, all the entertainment, all the spoiling.<\/p>\n

Not really. In fact, I recommend you plan ahead\u2014it\u2019s not too late to check the calendar and see what is already on the books. By this time, any camps are already paid for, and you must now decide how to fill the remaining weeks. The small children don\u2019t need much money. Keep them in diapers, Cheerios, and apple juice, and you are SuperMom. Playdates with the dog or friends, plus the occasional grocery run, will wear them out between nap times.<\/p>\n

Older kids will drain the bank account.<\/p>\n

They especially have refined the strategy of last-minute requests. But Mom, they invited me to go\u2014it\u2019s only $60 for a ticket and dinner\u2026<\/em>\u00a0Hey Dad, can I join the mission trip in August? It\u2019s only $50. <\/em>(This after already attending two camps.) Movies cost $4 or more (and go ahead, buy your snacks there too so you can really lighten your wallet). So, if your budget matters, planning ahead helps. A lot.<\/p>\n

Consider giving each child a summer allowance so they can decide how to allot their funds: a movie a week? save for a big event in July? Let them make some decisions.<\/p>\n

Show them exactly how much those camps and trips cost, so they can get a real-life picture of what you\u2019ve provided for them already. Average it out over the 12 weeks to show them what they already cost. Then discuss options for free activities.<\/a><\/p>\n

Have them earn play money by doing big chores around the house, or service projects in your area.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t forget to access your free, local area opportunities: neighborhood pool, museums<\/a>, splash pads, tourist areas.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Let Electronics Rule<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Household peace only comes through the digital babysitter, right? Turn on PBS Kids at 6:30 a.m., or even earlier\u2014especially earlier\u2014if your toddlers\u2019 body\u00a0 clocks don\u2019t adjust to summer-standard-time. Let those cartoons mesmerize their eyes until lunchtime. After their\u00a0naps, give them the iPad while you start dinner. Netflix until bedtime. Sounds extreme, I know, but you\u2019d be amazed at how quiet they stay that way. Don\u2019t mind their health or bad attitude. Those will improve when they go back to school. (Right?)<\/p>\n

But those teens . . .\u00a0 When they finally stumble out of bed, their first question relates either to food or electronics: What\u2019s for lunch? or Can I have time on the computer\/XBox\/Nintendo? If limiting their screentime matters to you, best plan ahead how you\u2019ll manage that. Every summer I\u2019ve tried something different to help regulate their electronic time. They always have to earn time. This one worked fairly well last year.<\/p>\n

Stay Inside<\/h2>\n

It\u2019s hot out there, I get it. And in Texas, where I live, some summers we root for the weatherman\u2019s daily report: will we beat the 100-degree-days-in-a-row record? Did I mention it\u2019s usually really hot during the summer? The kids really ought to stay inside 90% of the time. Unless they are in the pool for a few minutes in the morning before it gets too hot.<\/p>\n

Hmmm. That\u2019s one way to ruin your summer. Sure, the Hispanic culture is on to a winning strategy with the siesta\u2014who doesn\u2019t love a midday nap? Sleep through the hottest part of the day, do something indoors when the temps truly get outrageous. But keep kids indoors for too long at your peril. They need to run and play and get all the energy out. Either install\/dig a pool, make friends with those who have one, or move to a neighborhood with a community pool. Little kids can make do with a plastic pool in the yard, or the hose and\u00a0sprinkler. If water isn\u2019t your thing, consider waking everyone up early while the temps are cooler and go for a family bike ride or walk. Take them to the park for time on the equipment. Do yard work with the bigger kids in the cool of the morning (then reward them appropriately). Connect their favorite indoor activity (screentime, anyone?) with outdoor exercise. If this, then that\u2026<\/p>\n

Starve Their Brains<\/h2>\n

We do this already with expanded electronic use. Be sure to hide all the books and forget how to find the library. No Bible reading allowed except on Sunday at church. No special classes to teach or entertain. Summer is all about fluff and wasting time.<\/p>\n

Or, you could add weekly visits to the local library into your regular routine. Perhaps reading a certain amount of time PER DAY could act as an\u00a0incentive for other perks. What about a one-week painting class? We\u2019ve tried all of these plus others over the years. Favorite activities that stimulate their creativity and learning while not in school include:<\/p>\n

\"\"Drawing classes (3x\/week, 2hrs each)<\/p>\n

Summer reading programs from local library and Half Price Books<\/a> (prizes include $$ to buy more books)<\/p>\n

Online Bible classes: we\u2019ve used homeschooling programs among other things.<\/p>\n

Individual art lessons: our oldest son learned sand art from a local artist (friend) in seven one-on-one lessons.<\/p>\n

Host a book club: Your kids, not you! Just provide the cookies and send out the free Evite invitations.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Around here, summer break looms close\u2014our kids\u2019\u00a0schools let out before Memorial Day. Will we enjoy\u2014or endure\u2014a full twelve weeks of summertime? Several factors play into the eventual outcome, and only one of them depends on the children. Of my seventeen summers of motherhood, some have been more pleasant than others. I\u2019m talking about for me, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3129,"featured_media":4625,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[156,144],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4610","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-family","category-parenting"],"yoast_head":"\nFive Strategies to Ruin Your Kids' Summer<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Let me count the ways I have sabotaged what could have been a fabulous summer. 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