I wonder if you were to ask my kids if they were having fun this summer, if they would say yes? I am giving them the kind of summer I had growing up, without them knowing it. I think it is important to truly relax and be "bored" during the summer. When I was a kid, no one entertained us. We did not "go" anywhere everyday. We played outside all day. We had to stay within a certain proximity to our house. Within yelling range of mom or an older sibling. We rode bikes, ran through the sprinkler, made forts in bushes, hunted for bugs, laid in the shade and read books, walked to the library or the grocery store to buy dime store candy. We had water fights and played basketball. Played hide and go seek. Sure, we had our moments of boredom but those quickly went away when mom would find us chores to do if we said, "We're bored."
So this summer, my kids are not entertained 24/7. We go to the pool 1 or 2 times a week. We check out books at the library. They play outside with friends. I allow them to watch tv and play on the internet a little bit. The rest of the time, they are using their imaginations and playing Barbies, school, running through the sprinklers, eating popsicles, and being BoReD.
During the school year it is go, go, go. They are constantly turned "ON". They have so much homework and activities to keep their brains constantly going. So, this summer, we have worked on letting our brains rest. Switching off and just relaxing. Sleeping in and staying up late. Doing things that define summer. They will appreciate it when they are older.
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