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The National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies (NACCRRA) and Child Care Aware do not endorse nor are we responsible for the information or materials posted on any of the resource’s websites.What Should We Do Now?
August 20, 2007
It's August and, hopefully, you're looking back on all of the fun things your family has done this summer and smiling. Maybe you've been to the beach, the local fair; or even a vacation or two. Perhaps your children went to summer sports or day camps. You tried to keep active. Hopefully, it has been a great summer and you're almost ready to get back to regular fall schedules. But then it happens, out of the blue -- your child comes to you and you hear the dreaded phrase: "I'm bored!"
You can't believe your ears. With all of the fun you've had, you can't possibly imagine your child would be "bored". Despite your encouragement, you just can't seem to motivate your child to run through the sprinkler one more time, and the sidewalk chalk has lost its appeal. After many attempts, you may even start to feel like there's nothing left to do and the end of summer will never come.
Try some of these activities to add a little something different to the end of your summer:
- Have an art show or stage show: Gather your child's friends together, provide craft supplies or props from around the house, and let their imaginations run wild. When children have completed their masterpieces or written their plays, help them make invitations for their parents, friends, or neighbors. Host a show for the art or the play. The children will love to tell everyone about their creations - and share. Children can help get the event ready by decorating and preparing snacks for their guests.
- Camp in: Take a trip, without leaving home. Set up a tent in your backyard or living room and let the adventure begin. If you don't have a tent, ask a friend or neighbor to borrow one - or make one with a spare sheet and some chairs. You can enjoy all the fun of camping at home. If you have a grill or a microwave, you can make s'mores. Get ready to sing campfire songs and tell campfire stories. (Keep in mind, you can always use this as a test run when your child tells you he'd like to go camping.)
- Find/start a book club: You may be a part of a book club, so why not your child? No matter your child's age, reading is important. Get together with other parents and create a book club for kids. Children can share their favorite books and you can have a mini-party with the theme of the book they read. Make snacks that may have been in the story, pick a craft related to the book, or find music relating to the story. If you're planning a group for older children they can help plan the activities or make the snacks. You might want to check out a local library to see if they have regular story time for children. Your book club could meet at the library and share story time, too.
- Kid-friendly BBQ: Throughout the summer there have been many festivities that your children may have had to attend with you. Now invite them to something they'll want to attend. Have a kid-friendly BBQ with nothing but fun, healthy food. Try these sites for some healthy recipes: FamilyFun.com, Eating Well, and Kaboose. Keep in mind the ages of children attending your BBQ and plan outdoor games and activities that they'll enjoy - while you handle the cooking. If you don't have a BBQ at your house, local parks usually have grills that anyone can use.
By adding a twist to some activities that you may not normally give a second thought to, you may end the summer boredom blues. Remember, whatever new and exciting things you try, or whatever twist you put on an "old" activity, keep all activities age appropriate.
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