Have a Healthy Summer Season
Looking for tips on how to have a healthy summer season with your kids? Well, you’ve come to the right place! There’s so much you can do as a parent or guardian to encourage a healthy lifestyle, especially in the summer. Here, we’ll take a look at a couple of ideas, plus an often overlooked tip!
What To Do
So you need ideas on how to fill that summer time? We have a start for you!
First, look for ways to combine learning with physical activity. Studies show that exercise can increase brain function and memorization ability, so we can put that to work for us. With a map of the area, take a family bike ride! Learn about compass points, how magnets work, orienting a map, finding landmarks, planning a route, all while getting cardio for everyone. If your time or resources are more limited, simplify! Create a scavenger hunt for the space you have, making sure to include jumping jacks or similar exercises.
Next, you could try planting a garden! You can usually find seeds, dirt, and pots at your local dollar store, so startup is a breeze. Then, learn about the plants you’ll grow- how much sun they like, how often to water them, how long they take to grow, etc. At the end, you may find that veggies are a lot more satisfying when you’ve had a hand in their growth! However, one of the best parts about this activity is the routine it provides.
Don’t Underestimate a Healthy Summer Routine
Here’s something that gets missed all the time: consistent routine is the key to have a healthy summer season! Kids spend the school year sticking to rigorous routines. Morning routines to get everyone ready efficiently and on time. School routines, where a bell governs everything and tardiness is counted. Bedtime routines to settle in a prepare for… you guessed it… the same thing all over again! It’s hard on a brain to move from that environment into an unstructured summer.
Now, take a breath. That doesn’t mean you need to plan every second of their day! Instead, focus on building a structure that isn’t so shockingly different. Maybe summer mornings only start a half hour later than school mornings. Or, if sleeping in late is a huge help, take the first week or two to slowly push sleeping times to accommodate (just don’t forget to transition back before fall)! Additionally, mornings could include a focused activity around the time school would normally start. Gardens do love a morning watering after all!
Whatever you choose to plan for your family, just remember to put consistency in center focus, and keep things fun!