While it’s important that kids get a chance to decompress over the summer months, it’s crucial they don’t spend the entire time behind a screen.
Yet, since most parents don’t get summer vacations along with their kids, it can become a challenge to ensure they remain engaged.
Here are some ideas on ways to keep your kids active and involved over the summer, ideas that will have a positive impact.
Family Bonding
One of the things that kids remember most later in life is bonding time with the rest of the family, and summer is a wonderful time to maximize that.
If you love the outdoors, spend time camping and hiking. If you love playing games, why not have a regular family game night? Draw inspiration from activities everyone in the family enjoys.
If you need to, check with your employer about taking a day off here and there, or working a half day.
Now is the time to enjoy doing things together and making memories by sharing experiences all of you love.
Summer Camp
From sports and outdoor activities to science and more, there are summer camps for kids of all ages that emphasize all sorts of things.
Check your local city website for summer camp information provided by the parks and recreation department, or see if there are any sports, equestrian-related camps, or whatever other theme your child is interested in exploring.
Tutoring
If your child struggles with a particular subject in school, the summer months are an excellent time to help get them caught up.
Hire a tutor, or see if there are any reputable online courses geared towards kids that you can sign them up for that may help them catch up.
Rather than bombard your child with the subject, let them engage with the topic a few hours a week.
Therapy
If your child struggles behaviorally or emotionally, getting them into therapy during the summer is an excellent idea.
At the Relationship Therapy Center, we work with kids of all ages who face struggles in a variety of areas.
If you sense your child is having a hard time the sooner you get them into therapy, the sooner the issue can be addressed.
The young mind is quick to absorb information, and getting kids who benefit from therapy into it when they are young has a lasting positive impact. By teaching them coping skills and providing valuable insight into their feelings at a young age, they’re much more likely to self-soothe and regulate in a healthy way.
Summer is a great time for kids to be in therapy. If you think your child could benefit, give us a call or text to learn more about how we can help.
Crafts
Various artsy projects are a fun way to engage kids and let them delve into their creative side.
Be sure to encourage your child to make something. Perhaps it’s a painting, some sort of jewelry making, or fort-building.
There are tons of ideas online if you need them. However, if your child is artistically inclined, they may have ideas of their own.
Library
Your local library is another excellent summer resource. From story time to crafts, there are often all sorts of activities for kids at the library.
Also, if your children love to read, it’s an obvious place for them to stock up on books.
Play Time
The summer is perfect for scheduling playdates with friends.
Perhaps you arrange a childcare exchange with a few of their friends’ parents: you watch the kids one day a week for a few hours and the other parents watch the youngsters on other days.
They can play games, work on projects, build things… Kids have incredible imaginations, and it’s important to not go overboard and think you have to pull out all the stops entertaining them when everyone comes to your house.
Free Time
Kids need some free time over the summer to just decompress. Don’t feel as though you need to pack their schedule.
You know your child, use the summer months to help support them where they need it while also giving them space to creatively play and rest.
And remember, if they’re experiencing some challenging emotions or other behavior struggles, we’re just a phone call away.
Begin Play Therapy or Child Counseling in Roseville or Fair Oaks, CA Today!
If your child is struggling one of the best things you can do is be proactive in getting your child help from a trained play therapist. With help and support you child can overcome the things that are troubling them and move forward in their life with more confidence and peace. Our counseling practice offers specialized play therapy and child counseling services by certified play therapists at both of our locations. Your child, and your family, can get to a better place. Our child therapists are here to help.
To begin counseling in Fair Oaks, CA, Roseville, CA or online, follow these steps
- Contact the Relationship Therapy Center and schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation to learn more about in-person or online child therapy.
- Make an appointment for your teen to meet with one of our compassionate child therapists.
- Get the support your teen needs to navigate adolescent challenges with confidence!
Other Services Offered at The Relationship Therapy Center in California:
In addition to child therapy, Our Sacramento area counseling clinics located in Roseville and Fair Oaks, CA are pleased to offer a variety of mental health services. Our couples services include: Counseling after infidelity, sex therapy, co-parent counseling, family therapy, divorce counseling, intensive couples retreats, and premarital counseling. Individual therapy services include, therapy for children, teen therapy, depression treatment, and individual relationship counseling. Our therapists offer online counseling in California to treat a variety of mental health concerns. Please reach out to our Sacramento area therapy office to learn more about the many ways we can help you or your loved ones heal and grow.