18 Jun Summertime Boredom!
Summertime is here for many families around the world. You know what that means, don’t you? You are about to hear the following statement over and over again!
“I am bored! I am bored! I am bored!”
No worries! Below is a list of activities that you can do with your child this summer to prevent boredom.
When reminiscing about your childhood, you may recall summertime being a relaxing time for you because you didn’t have a set schedule. Perhaps you enjoyed getting up whenever you wanted and not having a plan. However, please remember that your child thrives off of routine. What you may find relaxing is not necessarily what your child finds relaxing. So, be sure to stick to a schedule, provide him with structure, and have an awesome summer!
Here are some activities to prevent boredom:
1. Go to the park! Let your child run around, climb, and move, move, move! Focus on his strengths. If he loves to run, help him approach another child to play chase or tag. Use a visual tool to explain expectations and rules, and review the visual before going to the park. You can even role-play ahead of time, so that your child has some strategies to interact with his peers. Foster friendships by helping your child initiate play with other children. On the way to the park, review conversation starters and discuss what your child can say to kids on the playground.
2. When you go on an outing, take tons of photos. If you notice that your child really loves one activity, in particular, be sure to take many photos. Get brochures from your outing and any other items that may trigger a memory. Create a scrapbook with your child using these photos and keepsakes. Reviewing the book will help your child with recall and it’s fun! Encourage him to share this book with others to keep the awesome memories going!
3. Go on a nature walk. Collect items from nature including leaves, grass, rocks, etc. Place the nature items in a container. Whenever you bring items from outside into your home, you are creating communication opportunities. Let your child have a “show and tell” time at dinner. If he is non-verbal, have him pick up the objects to show everyone. Remember, that even though your child may not talk, he still has lots to say!
4. Create a fun sensory area in your home. Cover a table with a sheet and make a fort. Be sure to monitor this activity to ensure that he doesn’t hit his head on the table. Place beanbags, a tunnel, flashlights, squeezy balls, and books in the fort. Get in there with your child! Sensory areas are filled with opportunities to connect with your child. You could also use a giant box to make a pretend house! Cut out a door and windows. Your child can even decorate his house with markers and stickers. Expand this activity, by inviting his friends over to play inside the fort or house. Fun! Fun! Fun!
5. Create a taste buffet! Place small samples of different food on the table and put them on fun plates in exciting shapes. You can use cookie cutters to make the shapes. Your child may be an extremely picky eater, but this activity can help him get used to new foods. If he is open to it, you can blindfold him or have him close his eyes, so he can guess what he is eating.
6. Play music games. Dance, sing, and listen to different songs with your child. You can play freeze, musical chairs, or just follow the motions of the song. Allow your child to be the DJ. Make a microphone using a stuffed sock attached to a stick! You can even make a dance video and play it for others! Encourage him to get some of his stuffed animals to dance and sing too!
7. Bake or cook something delicious. Allow your child to pour the ingredients into the bowl, mix up the food, and scoop it onto the plates. Encouraging your child to be part of the creation process, allows him to enjoy the finished product even more and takes some of the mystery out of his meals. To make this activity even better, try growing some of the food in your garden! Let him pick the fruit and veggies fresh from the ground!
8. Make an obstacle course around your home by placing pillows on the floor to jump on, providing a tunnel to climb through, having an exercise ball to bounce on, and setting up tables to climb under. Create movement activities as often as possible to help your child release some of that summer energy.
Do you have a summer activity that you would like to share with other parents? I bet they would appreciate it! Please comment below. Together, we will get you through this summer, I promise!
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Jennifer Lingle, M.Ed.
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Mariana Romanchuk
Posted at 02:40h, 25 JuneThank you,Jennifer, very useful now and in general