Lately I’ve been nostalgic about lazy summers. I remember my childhood summers where I used to spend the day reading, watching TV or playing outside. I can only give my children a lazy summer for one week during the summer when I take a work vacation. As a working mom, I have to sign up my children for day camps where their day is highly scheduled with activities and field trips. As much as I wanted to pack in a ton of activities for my children and I to do together while I am off of work, I didn’t. We are staying home and doing nothing for seven whole days.
Lazy summers are amazing. I highly believe that children need to be bored. They need to get away from screens, overplanned days and stressed out parents. They need to walk around the house and actually see what is in their homes. My kids have a full bookshelf of books they barely read. I ordered a couple new ones last week and added them to the bookshelf. They are just hanging out, waiting to be discovered by a bored child. Children need to spark their imaginations by building puzzles, playing outside, learning a new card game and exploring the world around them.
Long sunny days are fantastic. I remember running away from my brother as he tried to wet me with the backyard hose. I remember riding my bike just a little bit further each day. I remember laying on the couch and reading a whole book in one day. I want this for my kids. I want this week to be one full of amazing memories for them. Memories they created on their own, not memories that have been pre-programmed for them. This is a lot to ask of children that are used to overplanned days so that is why there is nothing scheduled, nothing at all. I want to give them at least one week to come up with their own schedules. I expect a lot from them I know but hopefully I get to hear “I’m bored” every couple of minutes because I know the amazingness that can come from it!
See More Summer Fun and Summer Learning Ideas: HERE
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Ida Arias, Mix and Match Mami Contributor & Southeast Family and Travel Contributing Columnist
“Mix and Match Mami with Ida Arias“, is a family, parenting and travel contribution. She is also the Southeast Family and Travel Contributing Columnist. Ida offers advice, tips and resources on a range of topics from tween parenting, blended families, travel and mouth-watering recipes.
Connect with Ida on her blog at http://www.secondchancesgirl.com/
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