March is spring break month and that means a week with at kids is home from school. You may have planned a getaway out of town or you may have a few things planned in and around the city you live in. Either way, this week is also a reminder that summer is right around the corner and that means the kids will be home for 3 months!
As a parent, we try to keep our kids from spending too much time in front of the TV and computer on the week-ends. That can be even harder during the summer. March is not too early to thinking about the things you want to plan for your kids when they are on summer break. Summer vacation is 5 days a week with the week-end looking no different that can be a big task, especially if you work outside the home.
Plan an event calendar
One way to make the summer schedule unique is to make everyday a theme for the summer. One day each week the kids can clean their rooms and have another room in the home that they are responsible for cleaning. This teaches the kids to take care of their things and that being part of a family means everyone pitches in. The first time or two, depending on their age, they’ll need to be shown how to clean and organize. Hopefully, after that, they’ll need supervision to get their jobs done.
Another day could outdoor adventures. Spend as much time as you can outdoors. Explore parks you haven’t visited, take hikes on trails or around lakes. Bring the crayons and sketch books and have the kids draw outside. Then visit an art gallery that shows Plein Air paintings. (Art for where the artists actually painted a scene outside while painting outside just like the kids did with their crayons). Don’t forget the picnic!
One day is Library day. Libraries are a great place to spend some time in the summer. Get the kids involved in the Summer Reading Program. Go to the library reading times. Let them choose their own books. This is a good way to make sure the kids have a value for books and not just computers!
Summer Camps to educate and entertain
There are many week-long camps for kids during the summer. Many offer a range of interests and activities, from Science to Art, Sports and Dance. Summer camps are a great way to expose your child to other areas of interest or to further their passion for something they love. Catherine’s Dance Studio in downtown Parkville is offering Summer Day Camps for girls K-4th grade from 9-3 Monday-Thursday with a family performance on Friday night! Look for themes such as Princess, story book and Hawaiian Beach Dance Party. Kids involved in the Dance Camp will explore techniques in ballet, jazz and hip hop while learning a short dance they can perform for friends and family on Friday Night. For more information about Catherine Dance Studio’s summer Camp, please visit their website.
Summer is a fun time for kids and parents! It can be a time to relax, explore and learn. Take advantage of all the opportunities your kids have in their communities from your own backyard to parks and summer camps!
We are looking forward to bringing our students and the kids in Parkville a summer camp that will teach them more about dancing and having fun at the same time!