Welcome to Summer!

Children around the country are rejoicing the end of school and the beginning of their summer vacation.  When I was young, it meant little treats like being allowed out after supper (not ok during the school year), playing baseball all day long, or bigger treats like trips to the Bronx Zoo or Palisades Amusement Park.  The beginning of summer was a big deal!

Many children and adults see summer as a time for kids to break free from the structure of the school year; to a certain extent that’s fine.  No school means fewer demands means more time for fun.  I’m all for that.  But too much of a good thing can be, well, too much.  Perhaps there is still a place for limits when school’s out.

I know that some parents allow their children to sleep as late as they want during the summer.  I see a few problems with this practice.  We know that we sleep better when our sleep and wake times are regular.  Waking up much later than we do the rest of the year tampers with that balance.  Also, waking later means staying up later; in some cases parents go to bed long before their children do.  What are the children doing during that time?  With no adult supervision, it could be almost anything.  And at the end of the summer there is the struggle to get them back on schedule.  I was allowed to stay up 30 minutes later during the summer than during the school year.  The extra half-hour felt like a treat.

For some kids, summer means unlimited time to play their favorite video games or catch up on TV reruns.  The experts tell us we should limit children’s screen time, for a variety of reasons: overexposure to commercials for unhealthy foods, the lack of exercise and fresh air, and social isolation are a few.  Although it may seem cruel not to let them do what they want with their newfound leisure time, they’ll be better off with a time limit.  Two to three hours of screen time per day during the summer is probably enough.

Parents, make time to be with your kids.  This does not have to be the expensive trip to Disneyland that breaks the family bank.  There are many things you can do with your children at or close to home.  Trips to the local pool, fishing, riding bikes, playing board games – all of these and many other activities are easily accessible, inexpensive, and FUN!!  Bigger family trips can also be enjoyable, but don’t underestimate the value of the little things you can do every day.  Your children will remember them fondly when they are older.

So, this is my plug for not letting your children go hog-wild during the dog days.  With a little thought and some well-placed limits, summer can be fun for the whole family.  Enjoy!