Summer Survival Strategies

In summer, parents are often at their wits’ end keeping their children active and occupied. Kayal Arivalan shares tips from experts and parents on getting through the season

- Kayal Arivalan

Children really look forward to the summer break from school. Parents not so much. As a hands-on mommy, I’m happy that my child will enjoy a well-deserved break from school and studies but find myself begging for help two days into the summer break when my son gets restless and bored. With an over-enthusiastic child at hand, and full-time jobs for some of us, school breaks are hard on parents, but there are ways to alleviate the situation.

These strategies and activities will help your child enjoy their time with you away from school and also adapt to life at home.

MAKE A SUMMER BUCKET LIST

Make a list of all the summertime activities you’d like to do with your kids, such as a trip to the zoo, a beach getaway, backyard camping, etc. Schedule these events on a large calendar, so that the kids will know precisely when to expect their activities. “I make it a point to get the kids outside on a regular basis,” shares Priska Shivnani, mother of two from Pune, who strongly recommends letting kids play outdoors. “If they agree to refrain from using any screens throughout the week, we watch a movie of their choice on Saturday. We go to parks, trampolines and play dates, just the three of us, on Saturdays, while, on Sundays, we go on picnics, boat rides, to adventure parks, and have date day with Daddy. Weekends are days that are exclusively for children to explore and enjoy,” she adds.