With a little planning and creativity, your family can make the most of summer without overstressing or overspending.
The start of summer signals the long-awaited end of the school year for kids – with hopes of late bedtimes, days full of fun activities, and the freedom to do whatever they want. But for parents, the start of summer can cause a lot of additional stress. You may wonder how to balance your kids’ freedom with your work schedule. You may feel the financial strain of paying for summer camps, activities, or vacations. You may worry that your kids are bored and having too much screen time or lonely without the routine and socialization of school.
To navigate this summer successfully, check out these helpful tips and resources, as well as some ideas for fun, low-cost activities.
Tips for Navigating Summer Break
- Prioritize self-care. Caring for yourself is a key part of how you care for your family. Going for a walk, taking a bath, or having coffee with a friend are all simple actions you can take to show up for yourself and keep your stress levels lower.
- Nurture connections. Losing touch with classmates during the summer can be stressful, and summer can feel isolating for both parents and kids. Make the effort to connect with other parents and families who know what you’re going through, can help in a pinch, and whom you all enjoy spending time with.
- Expect an adjustment period. Kids may have mixed emotions as they transition into summer. Depending on their age, they may struggle to adapt to less structure and may miss friends. Give them time to adjust to a new routine.
- Maintain a schedule. After a busy school year, it can be tempting to let all schedules go out the window. While it’s good to embrace a little less structure, it can still help to have a basic routine. Consider regular(ish) bedtimes and meal times, and think about weekly chores or set times for reading or outside fun. At the same time, be flexible. If there’s a special campfire at the neighbor’s, it’s OK to miss bedtime. Balancing firmness with flexibility helps kids feel secure but also enjoy the summer.
- Try not to overschedule.
Camps and structured activities can be a lot of fun and may be necessary for childcare, but they can be exhausting and expensive too. Plan for downtime and remember, you don’t have to entertain your kids 24/7. Allow them to experience boredom to stimulate creativity, imagination, and independence. - Use simple stress-relieving techniques. When the stress starts to get to you, take a few minutes to do some deep breathing, step outside and get some fresh air, or do a 10-minute yoga or Tai Chi video. Here are some ideas to have on hand.
- Avoid comparisons. If you scroll through social media long enough, you’ll see images of perfect vacations and happy, sun-kissed families, which can make you feel more stressed and depressed. Remember that much of what you see on social media doesn’t reflect “real life.” A lot of times, the stress we feel is created by our own unrealistic expectations of what summer should look like, not by what’s actually going on. Your kids may be happily playing in the backyard, but if you’re worried that you’re not on some big vacation snapping pictures, the stress is going to get to you.
- Establish ground rules for screen time. Put rules in place for how you’ll manage screentime, so you don’t end up fighting every day. Set some basic rules about when it’ll take place, how long they’ll have, and what they’re allowed to do. At the same time, encourage hobbies, reading, social interaction, and outdoor play when possible.
- Set up for success. Some children can handle unlimited freedom, but for a lot of children, including those with emotional or developmental issues, it may be challenging without a set routine. Many kids thrive on predictability, so if that means maintaining a schedule each day, do it.
Ideas for Low-Cost Activities
- Visit local splash pads or create your own water play. A lot of communities have free splash pads you can visit during the summer. In addition, create your own water fun with water balloons, sprinklers, and squirt guns.
- Check out your local library. Most libraries have free summer reading programs, craft-making events, story times, and more. You can also sign up for the Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) Summer Reading Series, which offers both local and virtual youth programs.
- Develop a realistic summer bucket list. Create a summer bucket list with your kids that’s reasonable to achieve. Maybe it includes one big outing and several smaller activities, like getting ice cream, camping in the backyard, or hosting a sleepover.
- Camp in the backyard
or inside in the living room. Camping is fun, no matter where you do it. Add a tent, sleeping bags, flashlights, and s’mores, and you can have just as much fun as a trip to a campground. - Explore a local park or nature area. Find somewhere local you’ve never been to explore. Maybe there’s a new trail or playground to explore. Apps like AllTrails can help you find kid-friendly hikes, stroller-friendly paths, or challenging trails.
- Try a small family garden. Get your kids to pick out some vegetable seeds or flower seeds and see what happens. Growing a garden can be a fun way to get outside, spend time together, and create a daily “chore” for watering and weeding.
- Search for a good deal. Look around for free events to attend and use the discounted tickets for military members and families noted below. If you do go on vacation, plan ways to make it less expensive. Pack snacks and lunches, and consider places within driving distance.
- Host some outdoor fun. If you have the space, plan a fun potluck with neighbors and friends. Create an obstacle course for the kids, set up some easy games, and enjoy the company.
Resources
Military families can take advantage of several resources to help take the stress out of the summer.
- Summer camps – The National Military Family Association offers the Operation Purple program, which provides free summer camps and family retreats for military children. In addition, the YMCA has Operation Camp, a full-day camp that includes field trips, fitness activities, crafts, and more.
- National parks and museums – Military members can access the America the Beautiful pass for free entry to all National Parks. In addition, the Blue Star Museums Program offers free admission to over 2,000 participating museums.
- Morale, Welfare, and Recreation Program – Your MWR program offers a wide range of activities, including sports, outdoor activities, entertainment, and more. In addition, your Information, Tickets, and Travel office has heavily discounted tickets to amusement parks and local attractions. Vet Tix also offers free or deeply discounted tickets to many events.
- Youth and teen programs – Military children can access several youth and teen programs throughout the summer. Youth centers often offer supervised sports, music and game rooms, field trips, and more. For additional information, check with your local youth center.
With a little planning and creativity, your family can make the most of summer without overstressing or overspending.