5 End of the School Year Tips for Parents
Photo by Jose Hernandez-Uribe on Unsplash
As I’m writing this, it’s the May long weekend, which, in my household, is pretty much the unofficial start to the summer. This time of year was filled with so much magic when my daughters were young, kicking off the official countdown to summer vacation. We would dream of everything from the adventures we’d go on, the activities we’d do, and the cottage nights we’d have. But while this time can be so exciting for the kids, I also understand that it can be really tough on parents.
Also read: 5 Ways To Use Your Longer Days
Let’s just say it like it is, when kids are excited, it can be increasingly difficult to get them to focus or listen - which is understandable. They become so enamoured with what’s to come that it’s hard to stay interested in what’s happening in the moment. Constantly redirecting kids to the task at hand can be really tiring on busy parents, and I know that the chaos can make the day feel never-ending. When I was in this stage with my daughters, there were a couple of things that worked well for us, so today, I wanted to offer up some tips for making it through the end of year excitement.
5 End of the School Year Tips for Parents
1. MAINTAIN A SENSE OF STRUCTURE AND ROUTINE
Regardless if you are young or old, I truly believe structure and routines benefit everyone. Having a routine helps our brains understand and predict what’s to come next, which can help us stay on top of our daily tasks. For my family, this included things such as eating dinner at the same time, typically doing homework in the same place, and having a firm bedtime when they were young. It helped my kids understand what was going to happen, and it also helped me take the planning out of our evening. So whenever life feels extra busy and overwhelming, one of the first thing I recommend to folks is to focus on your routines and structures.
2. FIND WAYS TO BURN OFF ENERGY OUTSIDE
Whether it’s dance class, a sports team, or just running around with the neighbourhood kids, getting outside and moving helps to burn off energy, improve sleep, and is the perfect way to enjoy the warmer weather. Not only does it get everyone out of the house, but it can also give you a break too - something you are very deserving of.
3. MOVE REGULAR ACTIVITIES OUTSIDE
There’s something really exciting about the warmer weather for folks of all ages - see if there are areas of your routine that you can move outside. This could include having dinner outside, doing homework under a tree, or even going to the park to get a little extra vitamin D!
4. TALK ABOUT ALL THE SUMMERTIME EXCITEMENT
I know whenever I’m excited about something, I love talking about it and dreaming of it - kids are the same. Spend dinnertime talking about all of the exciting things coming up, the silly things happening in their classrooms, or the things they want to see in the next couple of weeks. It’s not only fun, but it’s also a great way to connect and channel their excitement.
5. MAKE TIME FOR YOURSELF
This is a busy time of year. There are a ton of school events, the energy is high, and it may feel nonstop. Find something for you to do in your day that isn’t work or child related. When my kids were young, that involved going to the gym first thing in the morning with my friend, but it could be really anything that works for you. Just make sure that it's something you truly enjoy.