Are the children registered for lots of summer activities because they (or you) are afraid of being bored and having nothing to do ? Give them pen and paper, crayons or makers, left over poster board, and have them write out a Summer To Do List. Before school lets out is the best time because we all are dreaming of the simpler pleasures of summer. I ask each of my children to make a list of 50 things they can do on their own and that doesn't recquire me to drive them anywhere. I also ask that 10 items include doing something for someone else. Their lists include: sweep the garage, write a letter to Grandma, offer to walk the neighbors dog, water mom's flowers, learn a new game of solitaire, make a crossword puzzle, write a poem, read a book under the tree, etc. We post The List on the refrigerator and refer to it when needed.

When kids participate in a lot of organized and structured activities, it can be difficult for them to be satisified with unstructured time. If children have prepared a list ahead of time, it is much easier for them (and us parents) to be content with quiet time, creative play, or small little tasks to pass the time. Give it a try and let us know how it works out for you. Who knows, maybe next summer their To Do List will be so large, they may not want to sign up for any organized activities!

Posted by Susan at 6/08/2003 05:04:56 PM | Link

 
Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz, guests of the Oprah Show and authors of "The Power of Full Engagement", want to challenge the way we manage our time. What really matters, they say, is not managing our time, but our energy. They're sharing some of the best strategies, ideas and rituals for boosting your energy levels and becoming fully engaged in your life.

They say, the Nine Steps to Balancing Your Energy are: 1. Change Your Eating Habits; 2. Balance Your Recovery Time; 3. Create Rituals; 4. Be Positive; 5. Stop Multitasking; 6. Know What Matters to You; 7. Focus on What Matters to You; 8. Beat "Energy Vampires." the negative drains on your life; 9. Use Your Stress

A friend of mine alerted me about the show, and I have not read their book, so I cannot endorse what they say is good for all of us. I do think some of the things they promote can help us all feel better about each day and remind us that sometimes we only need to make small changes in our lives to find the right balance for our families.

Posted by Susan at 6/07/2003 10:54:28 AM | Link