Baby-Mates

Posts Tagged ‘Summer’

Summer is here and with it an overwhelming number of activities, play dates, summer camps and fun things to do. Also here are the plaintive cries of kids who say; “I’m bored, there is nothing to do.”

The best ideas, as suggested by parents in my classes, are to organize the days and weeks of summer so that the activities are spread out and manageable by parents and children. Organized kids are simply more pleasant to be around, because they know what to expect and what is expected of them.

Here are 5 tips that will help make Summer smooth sailing and fun for everyone.

Require the kids to do chores and responsibilities before television is turned on, friends come over or they go to activities. Ten minutes of work before soccer practice takes ten minutes. After the soccer game and a friend comes home to play, hunger strikes and tiredness sets in, well you can guess how many minutes or hours it will take to get the chores done.
Have regular family meetings or planning sessions where the calender is filled out with activities and commitments, goals are set and agreements are made. You will be surprised how much will get done, when your thoughts aren’t scattered and summer schedules are posted where everyone can see and remember.
Whenever possible, always give the kids a choice, even if the choice is small. For instance; do you want swimming or soccer classes this Summer? Do you want to pack your lunch before or after breakfast?  Would you rather have Tom or Evan over for lunch today?Do you want to go to the library story time or the museum make it day?
Make your child responsible for any equipment or paper that is involved in his activities. If he has gone swimming, it is his responsibility to  hang up his towel and swimsuit where he will find it tomorrow. If there are papers or forms to be signed or filled out, have one spot in the house where they belong and everyone knows about it and uses it.  Saves time, stress and sanity to count on what you need being where it is supposed to be.
Limit sleepovers.  I know, my kids loved them too. What I found, however, is that the kids stayed up too late, ate too much junk food, watched way too much television or movies and were really cranky the next day. A junior high school counselor told me one time that she would never allow her children to do sleep overs after her students told her all the dumb things they did when they were tired, under peer pressure and wanted to fit in.  Enough said.

Summer activities can be fun filled and memory laden, but they can also be stressful for both parents and children. The more organized your family is, the more relaxed you can be and the more fun you can have.

When you plan ahead, you will limit the stress and enlarge the fun.  Isn’t that what Summer is all about?

During summer time many people are able to get outside and enjoy the nice weather. Things to participate in might include outdoor sports and other fun stuff. Here you will learn some great outdoor activities that you can try.

This checklist focuses on recreational sports for people of all ages.They will give you a lot of exercise, and even improve your athletic skills, should you be looking for a fun way to train in the off season.

Tennis

Tennis might seem easier to those who have actually never played it before than it actaully is. Surprisingly the sport is actually hard. It is one of the best outdoor sports for a lot of reasons. It exercises your arm muscles by doing things like learning how to serve, returning serves, etc… However, the main exercise benefit comes from the tremendous amount of work put on your legs.

Golf

Some people view golf as not a very sporty sport. However golf is just a good a sport as any. It also one of the best outdoor activities you’ll come across. In case you are not ready for very active sports like football, golf is usually a great alternative. For the most part, golf is a low impact sport that is easier on the joints than more hard core sports. Most people who play the sport are enthusiastic about it.

On the other hand, golf can be quite frustrating as well as competitive. Hitting a golf ball straight is much harder than it seems, and does require exercise and skill.

Volleyball

Beach volleyball is one of the best engagements for summer. It has similar advantages to tennis, but it is more active. With volleyball, you are continuously sprinting to the ball, changing directions, and maneuvering around other players. It helps in building your short distance swiftness and agility. Moreover, volleyball involves a lot of jumping and diving which can add even more challenge to the sport.

Basketball

Basketball is a very popular and one of the top outdoor sports. Professional players will probably be playing indoors but playing it outside as a fun activity is also just as pleasant and great for exercise. It entails a lot of running more so if its a one on one game. If you are playing against a skilled opponent, you will have to run just as fast as him on defense, and out-move him on offense.

Basketball improves leg strength, coordination, endurance, and speed.

Swimming

Swimming is a good way to get low impact, easy on the joints workout. In fact, many athletes from other sports often take up swimming as a way to build flexibility and endurance. Because you are in the water, swimming also trains you how to better control your breathing, which can be an important advantage in endurance sports.

Swimming as a prime outdoor sport has many variations. There are even aqua aerobics classes that focus on in-place exercise and fitness. Swimming is one of the best sports on the list, because it is a non-contact sport that puts less pressure on the joints and bones.

Other Major Outdoor Sports

On top of the sports mentioned above, there are other sporting recreation that can be great for outdoor fun. Such may include these:Jogging/Running, Snowboarding, skateboarding, rollerblading, canoeing, football, soccer, baseball, softball, rock climbing and biking.

When the sun comes out, there’s lots of fun things you can do outdoors as a family. Go out and soak in some vitamin D. Remember to apply sunblock to avoid getting burned though.

#1 Family hike and picnic

Get fit and have fun at the same time. Bring the family out for a hike and picnic. That is one of our family’s favorite activities. With our sedentary lifestyle, the last thing to do on a clear day is to stay home in front of the TV. Get up early in the morning and prepare hot dogs, sandwiches, fun snacks and lemonade. Make it a picnic spread the kids will be excited about. Also bring a long a bottle of mineral water for each person who is going. They carry their own water. Don’t forget the picnic mat and raincoats just in case. You could split the picnic stuff amongst you so no one gets overloaded. Bring along wet tissues so you can ‘wash’ your hands with them before eating.

Hike up a hill, or around a lake or reservoir, or a park, or a nature reserve. Whichever captures your fancy. When you have walked enough, or found a scenic spot you want to rest in, spread out the picnic mat and have your picnic.

#2 Fun Fairs

Check the local newspapers for the activities in your area. Check out the fun fairs, food fairs, flea markets and carnivals. There should be more of these in Summer. If the circus is in town, bring the kids there. Drinks may be expensive, so you would save money if you bring your own.

#3 Kayaking

Summer is the time to indulge in water sports. Get a kayak or kayaks for the entire family. Make sure everyone wears a life jacket at all times.

Dad or another grown up can go out with the little ones. My husband and I brought our kids out kayaking one morning and they loved it completely. Everyone has fun and gets a great arm work out to boot. My younger kid loved it so much that he said that was the best morning ever.