Get the scoop on how to create a summer holiday season that you actually can enjoy! - Keynote speaker on children's development and behaviour shares the secret

Kids screaming & fighting with each other? Days dragging on too long? Summer drinks on the patio being interrupted by the child's demands? If your summer plans are not going quite as you had hoped, it's okay, there is still time to turn things around. Here are some ideas to consider that may help the rest of the summer go a little more smoothly!
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• Encourage children to make a 'bucket list' of events/activities through out the summer that include being with others and on their own, having a cost and ones for free, being indoors and outdoors. Let them dream about anything and everything they want but also make it very clear that not everything will be approved. Get creative by adding in some art/craft supplies and designing them in a way to enhance the activity.

• Create a daily schedule that includes activities where each child and/or family member is on their own. This could be in separate spaces within the home or out in the community. It's important for kids to have 'alone time' so they can extend their focus on activities that interest them and it helps keep them less distracted by outside distractors. Strategically place it between meals, activities, get-togethers, playdates and other important appointments. Some children enjoy an easy-going morning where others may benefit from slowing things down before bedtime. Ensure they are still safe and looked after.

• Talk to the kids about scheduling time for doing 'nothing' on their own. They may resist at first because most children are on the go and in so many activities but this doesn't have to be the only option. Discuss the benefits of relaxing, breathing and other ways to decompress. Start with small stints of time and work up to more. Also, let them know that this is a positive thing and not a punishment or consequence. It's like charging your battery so you feel restored.

• Let them know when they get YOU! Most kids really like interacting with their parents but it can be exhausting having to constantly 'entertain them'. Try scheduling some one-on-one time with your child during the day or week where it's just you and them - no distractions, no one else and letting them take the lead. Start with 5-10 minutes and then work your way up to more if you can. Investing time with them this way and 'topping up' their tank, can allow for them to feel satisfied with the interactive experience and then move on to something else with out having to rely on you as much for entertaining them.

Want to know more about our one-on-one parent coaching program? contact us for a complimentary initial phone consultation.

Contact or learn more about Julie Romanowski - Mother, Coach, Leader, Educator, Author, Speaker & founder of Miss Behaviour: parenting coach & consultant services.

www.missbehaviour.ca
778-996-6535