As schools close for summer, it’s a time for your kids to enjoy hanging out with friends, staying up late, sleeping a little longer in the morning, and just unwinding from the pressures of study, assignments, and tests. Maybe your child will be attending summer camp or enjoying group sports activities.
For parents, it means keeping them busy so they don’t get bored, arranging for their care while at work, and planning family vacations or outings that will create lasting memories.
According to Kingston these are some of the ways clutter affects you
First Things First
Before you forget
- Sit down with your kids and go through their backpacks, look at the stacks of paper that have been accumulating all year, and see what can be tossed, recycled or saved as a resource for the next school year.
- Gather grade records, awards, event programs and memorabilia and archive them in each child’s individual file folder, or special keepsake box.
- Determine whether pencil bags, folders, backpacks and other supplies are going to be reusable next year, and either trash them, donate them, or store them in a supply area where you can find them in the fall.
- Recycle old homework assignments, and put unfinished workbooks on a bookshelf to be used during the summer to keep their minds sharp.
- If your kids wear uniforms it’s a good time to clean, mend, or if outgrown, pass them on to another student who can use them.
By going through these steps, you know you’ve “closed the book” on the school year and can turn your attention to summer fun.
Keeping track of activities
Having a summer calendar can be a lifesaver. It’s helpful for parents to have one place to go to keep track of summer camps, swimming lessons, instrument practice, summer school, parties, vacations and appointments. You can color-code each child’s activities so that when they look at the calendar, they can immediately see what pertains to them. Or you can give each child their own calendar to check daily. Colorful stickers can make the process more fun. Just make sure you maintain a master calendar for yourself.
If you have kids who stay home alone during the day, it’s a real stress reliever to know you’ve planned for meals and snacks ahead of time. Stock up on fruits and veggies, and have them washed and pre-cut in the refrigerator so they’re easy to grab and eat. Have sandwiches prepared ahead or time of make a list of a few suggestions for simple meals the kids can make themselves.
If you’re planning a vacation designate a folder for all the information you need to gather. It might contain tickets, to-do lists for tasks you need to complete before you leave, a list of items that need to be purchased, travel documents if applicable, and anything else related to your trip. It will keep you organized and you’ll be less likely to forget important details.
Fun at Home
If you plan to stay in town and enjoy a “staycation” you might designate a spot near your calendar where you can keep articles, brochures, and other fun idea-generators (kid friendly recipes, craft ideas, volunteer opportunities, outings, money making projects, etc.) so when the kids start getting bored, you’ll have some great ideas at the ready.
Summer is also a great time to take care of projects you’ve been putting off, like straightening up the garage, going through clothing and other closets, or just spending time gardening, reading, or having a barbeque with friends in the back yard.
As a parent, I enjoy the summer vacation almost as much as my kids do. There’s something about the summer that brings back memories and makes me feel a little more relaxed and kid-like. I hope you feel the same.
Have a happy summer!
