For me, school days are quite stressful. Especially because I have to wake up at 0600 hours. Even when I was in school, my mom would wake me up at this time. I’m still not used to it. I just cannot seem to wake up at 6 am. So, I look forward to the summer holidays when I don’t have to yell and wake my kids in the early hours of the morning. I don’t have my alarm ringing in my head and can wake up as and when I wish.
I’m not against summer camps for kids. They are a blessing for working parents. But, I have never, to date, registered my kids anywhere during the holidays. I dread waking, rushing, dropping, picking and being on a schedule even during summer. Honestly, I just want to erase the morning chaos for a while because I am not a morning person.
My mother once told me that she never had the opportunity to spend the summer holidays with us. I loved that she used the word ‘opportunity’ and being an opportunist myself, I vowed to be with my kids, for her sake too, as much as I could. Plus, tomorrow, when my children are older and have their own lives, I don’t want to regret the times that I could have spent with them and did not. So, as I do not have a full-time job, here are 10 simple activities to create memories and bond with kids, and also keep them busy, excited and routine-free, during the summer holidays.
Back in the Gulf, as the summer holidays were in the middle of the academic year, we had plenty of homework to get done before we got back to school. Here, in India, I follow a little of that. Just so that the kids don’t forget their basics and to help them develop good handwriting, I make them do a page of English cursive writing, besides an activity page or worksheet per day. Now, that they are older, I’m concentrating on their learning of languages.
Tiring them with a sports activity is a must; for their body as well as their sleep cycle. If they are small, two hours in a play park is good. We encourage the kids to play outdoors with their friends, too. But, we can join our kids while swimming, cycling, playing tennis, badminton, etc.
Reading is important because it develops our thoughts and gives us endless knowledge while keeping our minds active. Teaching young children to read helps them to learn and listen. I love reading too so I save some time for story time which can also turn into an interactive session with toddlers. Now, the kids and I sit together while each of us reads our own choice of books.
Game time can be any time, from the time the kids wake up until the time they have to go to bed. Many moms go out of their way to prepare organic games for their kids. That is awesome but I’m not one of them. So, I resort to store-bought games like Uno, Scrabble, Chess, Dobble, Pictionary, Cluedo, etc. Also, I don’t let my kids win just because they are ‘small’. According to me, they need to learn how to handle defeat, too.
Mostly, my kids are left to play with each other. Sometimes, if the younger one takes a nap, my daughter and I paint. This brings out our creative skills. I also try and create some gorgeous hairstyles for her. When our toddler is awake, all three of us spend an hour dancing to various genres of music or, when I’m exhausted, playing ‘Simple Simon’. It helps to let them do a few house chores like hanging clothes to dry, or making sandwiches, etc.
I agree that watching the ‘idiot box’ for a long time is not good for the eyes but now-a-days I think it is way better than the mobile or the tablet. There are loads of interactive and educative cartoons that can help kids improve their language skills, try experiments (though these have to be supervised) and learn a thing or two. For example, Dora the Explorer has taught my child Spanish numbers and ideas on how to follow a path. Baby TV has educated my children in many ways, so, screen time (limited) has proven to be beneficial for us.
Get Happinetz to manage screen time for kids.
Nothing is more memorable than the leisure walks with our parents, so, why not make those memories with our children, too? Besides, walking outdoors improves our overall health, strengthens our muscles and gives us time to listen to their stories. I try to go for a stroll with my kids as much as possible.
Whenever possible, I drive the kids to a mall or a play zone close by. I try and avoid going on weekends because it is overcrowded. We enjoy going to malls on weekdays so we can enjoy the play zone facilities, don’t have to worry about losing our children in the chaos and have plenty of space to walk freely while shopping. Also, if we want to escape the outdoor heat, this is a good option to walk around with our kids.
There are several learning activity kits in the market today. Intellikit, Flintobox, Smartivity Science Kits are just some of them. They are colourful, interesting and they teach kids about various things like counting numbers, letters with words, identifying time, science, etc.
Travelling with our children during the holidays is beneficial because they become smarter, feel happier and get a different kind of exposure. I read somewhere that there can be improvements in a child’s attention and concentration levels even if they spend 20 minutes with nature. Try and do a day trip, if not an international one, so that they are exposed to different places and food. Take them to a beach. A family trip to the beach enhances collaboration between children, calms us all down and induces some fun into our world. Read about our trip to THAILAND with the kids!
I know, everyone has their own way of handling their kids, homes and time. Everyone has their own views on how they should bring up children and how much time they should spend with them. Perhaps my theories work with younger kids before the teenage years hit. So, moms like me could benefit from this blog.
I mean it is way easier to play and dance with younger children than it could be with older ones unless you have built that kind of rapport with them. I hope I do. I hope my kids can dance with me until they are living with me. But, I have tried and tested the above activities and have succeeded in bonding with my kids, especially during the holidays. If you know someone who would benefit from this blog, do share it with them. Or, if you have some more activities that you do to bond with your kids, do let us know in the comments below! Cheers and have a happy holiday!
Photo by Ketut Subiyanto
#LetsBlogwithPri is a Blog Train hosted by Prisha Lalwani, Author at Mummasaurus. I wholeheartedly thank Shreya Gautam, Author at Four Tiny Feet, for introducing me in her blog about how we can get vacation-ready. Also, I would like to introduce Gayatri Deshmukh, Author at MotherlyMess. Do read her blog on how to get your kids to sleep.
Hosted By :Prisha Lalwani Mummasaurus.com IG: @mummasaurus1 FB: /mummasaurus1
30 Comments
With the current scenario of lockdown these tips are going to prove really helpful for parents.
This is great! It is a great time to bond and there is so much to do… You have covered all the interesting activities
Activities and doing some household work is what we prefer and my nephew loves doing at home
such nice tips you have mentioned. Right now we are bonding over cooking and puzzles!!! And I am also running out of ideas!!
These are some really good ideas. I think we as a family engage in almost all the ideas, playing, dancing, gardening together. I haven’t enrolled my son yet in any summer camp though.
Loved the post Cindy, very heartfelt and equally enriching buddy
What a lovely captures of your family in the pictures. Yes bond gets stronger when we play with our kids, I too dance with kids that is so much fun.
Some great tips to let the little ones enjoy themselves and learn too.It all depends on whether we can lead by example too.
Keeping them as entertained as possible staying at home. Kids are also cooperating.
We tarvel a lot for summer, but once back home I try to fit in atleast one meaningful activity in the week. It could be visit to the aquarium, grwoing a green patch or similar! Loved your tips, esp using the intellekit box! Definately somethinh I want to explore
It’s important to balance the playing and learning activities especially during holidays. These tips gives Proper approach in dealing with it
In my childhood, I never miss attending a summer camp and now I always make sure my kids attend too, so that they learn something new and interesting.
I don’t believe in planning activities for vacations. It’s a new day and a new thing everyday. Indoor or outdoor, time spent with kids just for fun is the best.
Your suggestions are on point, Cindy! Also, great pics as usual. Another helpful post.
great list and I agree being creative is best way to spend time with kids. I do crafting with my girls and we three always had a great time together while doing this.
Hey such cool activities to do together with your kids. Craft, art or even Sharing screen time together. Awaiting the Summer Holidays now.
We began with the summer holidays on 6th March this year due to covid19. Where do you live?
Good time to reshare your post because we find ourselves in the midst of finding ways to keep our kids engaged at home. I am trying to engage my older one in books, given him household chores and encouraging him to write some stories 🙂
I like to keep summer break a combination of fun and studies. Kids work hard year round and they follow a certain routine. Summer break is the time for them and us to relax.
We do baking, spend time at the library events, park picnics etc.
[…] course, there are other ways you can bond with your kids during normal holidays but I thought one or two hours a day for screen time, during these covid19 days, should not be […]
My little one loves Dora too, loved reading this post. I agree spending quality time with kids is really important and like you mentioned there are so many options we can choose from. Beautiful pictures 🙂
Thanks dear!
That’s amazing cindy.. I think you have covered everything extensively..
Thanks Shreya!
It iS’nt enough that we tell our children that we love them. We need to put our love into action every day to for them to feel it. Great ideas cindy. 👍👍
Very infor.ative post cindy. Just what was needed for planning their vacay. Like you, i too believe in keeping it slow during the summer holidays. No alarms, no racing to catch up on things. When it comes to summer camps, i prefer keeping the kids at home than taking them out for summer camps in this scorching heat. They need to rest too and enjoy the day, which they cant during the school days.
Glad we think alike! High five!
I too love spending time with my kids crafting or painting together. More bonding and fun.
Very true!
What you said about summer camps is so true.. I am glad I am not the only one who thinks like that.. They are more of a punishment for me.. Apart from that, you have covered interesting activities… Good luck!!