As the school year winds down, and the delightful chaos of summer vacation peeks just around the corner, we know many parents are bracing for the bittersweet arrival of those long, unstructured days. While “summer boredom” might initially sound like a problem, last week’s article explored how these slower moments can spark creativity and growth in our children. With that encouragement, today, I want to give you more of a detailed Summer Survival Guide.
Building on the idea of embracing “nothing time,” the following offers some practical “training wheels” – a simple acronym – to help families navigate those open summer hours in a way that encourages imagination, activity, and even kindness. This is one of my favorite tools of motherhood. It got my children through many school breaks over the years. And I credit this routine for encouraging each of my children to become self-starters, creative thinkers, and unique individuals.
Our rule was, “You cannot come to mom for entertainment, and no screens can come on until everyone has been B.O.R.E.D.”
B: Be Creative
I asked Ms. Oldziey, our art teacher, to provide some ideas for our students to practice over the summer. These are skills they have been working on this year. Some consistent practice over the summer will keep these skills fresh while also providing a loose framework that provides plenty of room for creativity.
PreK & Kindergarten
Our littlest friends might have some fun drawing shapes, coloring them in, cutting them out, and gluing them onto paper in any configuration pleasing to them. Any opportunity for the children to improve and enhance their cutting skills over the summer should be taken. This is such an important, yet often overlooked skill. The educational toy company, Melissa and Doug, has some fun scissor skills books which you may wish to check out. There are also lots of freebies available on the internet.
You might also encourage your child to draw pictures from any stories you may read to them. Or perhaps, they might enjoy drawing objects they see around the house. Any drawing improves their technical skills, but most of all, their observational skills.
1st & 2nd Grades
These little scholars should also work on their cutting skills by drawing animals, cutting them out, and then gluing them onto a larger piece of paper. They can find ‘recyclable’ objects and papers (i.e., ribbons, gift wrap, fabric, etc.), and make pictures from these objects. The goal is to encourage the use of their imaginations and be creative.
3rd & 4th Grades
Older kiddos might enjoy drawing portraits of family members. The 2nd graders drew their self-portraits this year, which was great fun. This could be extended by having them draw family portraits.
5th through 8th Grades
And for our oldest students, they have gained so many wonderful skills over their time at CSA, Ms. Oldziey says…
Anything, anytime, anywhere . . . just draw!
O: Outside Play
Summer beckons children outdoors, offering a wealth of opportunities that significantly contribute to their holistic development. Physically, the extended daylight and warmer temperatures encourage active play, fostering the development of crucial gross and fine motor skills, enhancing cardiovascular health, and strengthening muscles and bones. Sunlight exposure aids in vital vitamin D production, bolstering their immune systems and contributing to overall physical well-being, while increased activity levels help maintain a healthy weight.
Beyond the physical, outdoor play during summer profoundly impacts children’s mental and emotional states. The natural environment has a calming effect, reducing stress and anxiety while elevating mood. Unstructured outdoor time fuels creativity and imagination through invented games and exploration, simultaneously boosting cognitive skills like observation and critical thinking. Furthermore, exposure to natural light and physical activity contributes to improved focus, attention spans, and better sleep patterns, fostering a greater sense of confidence and independence. Moreover, direct engagement with nature cultivates an appreciation for the environment and enhances sensory exploration, rounding out the comprehensive benefits of summertime outdoor play for children. So, it’s easy to understand why Charlotte Mason said, “Never be within doors when you can rightly be out.”
Being outside is good for moms, too!
R: Read a Book
As a classical school, we have been reading lots of books throughout the school year. And just as we increase our prayer time in Lent and Advent, with the intention of relaxing that time a little outside of those seasons, so too with our reading habits. We only want to relax our reading, not stop it altogether.
We have a future blog post coming on this soon. So, for now, I’m just going to share our recommended reading list for the summer.
PreK & Kindergarten
- Grasshopper on the Road by Arnold Lobel
- Curious George by E.K. Rey
- Uncle Wiggly by Howard R. Garis
1st & 2nd Grades
- A Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond
- Floss by Kim Lewis
- The Borrowers by Mary Norton
- The Railway Children by E. Nesbit
3rd through 5th Grades
- The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall
- From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg
- Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi
6th through 8th Grades
And for our oldest students, who have been working so hard on challenging material, don’t forget to be kids! Enjoy the delights of:
- The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery
- The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain
- The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Here’s an extra challenge for you, parents. Consider reading the books your children are reading this summer, and using some of the tips from our recent blog post – Cultivating Creativity at Home and School with Classical Education – to add some extra delight to your whole family’s summer!
E: Exercise for 20 minutes
While this could end up duplicating the Outside Play earlier in our acronym, the intention is a little different. This time can still be child-directed. It just needs to be more active.
Playing outside can involve a wide range of activities like running, jumping, climbing, building forts, playing tag, or simply exploring nature. But the primary motivation is enjoyment, and the physical activity is often a byproduct of the play itself. It fosters creativity, imagination, social skills, problem-solving, and a connection with nature, alongside physical benefits.
Whereas, exercising has a specific goal of improving physical fitness components like cardiovascular health, strength, endurance, or flexibility. Examples include running laps, doing jumping jacks, following a fitness video, or practicing specific sports drills. While it can be fun, the primary focus is on physical exertion and achieving fitness goals.
Both are valuable, but they offer different experiences and emphasize different outcomes. For children, both unstructured outdoor play and some form of structured exercise contribute significantly to their healthy development.
For a fun and simple exercise idea with kids, check out this article that explains how to use a regular deck of cards for a guided full-body workout!
D: Do something helpful
This part of the acronym produced some of the sweetest moments in our family. Think of it as your own household’s random acts of kindness. It is so important for our children to learn how to observe their environment and the people around them. Then, to ask themselves, what can I do that might make this day better?
This might be something like seeing some toys that need to be put away, or a full trash can that needs to be emptied. My favorites were little notes of thanks or encouragement placed on my pillow by one of my children. An older sibling might entertain a younger one. The sky is the limit.
Chores the child is already responsible for completing do not count here. While it is helpful for everyone to do their part, this is an opportunity to build compassion rather than responsibility. The child must identify the opportunity himself or herself. It is equally important that the recipient acknowledges the effort with gratitude.
There will be times when the well-intentioned efforts of another miss the mark and don’t meet an actual felt need. But our homes are life’s laboratories where our children must be free to practice these important skills they will take out into the world. And they will be imperfect in the beginning. But, as with many other skills, practice makes perfect.
Christopher Robin Reads a Sustaining Book to Pooh Bear by E.H. Shepard (1973)
As you can see, working through this acronym can fill half a day without even trying! Our summer schedule often involved waking up at a reasonable time, completing our morning routines, and then getting B.O.R.E.D. Oftentimes, the kids were just wrapping up as lunch was making its way to the table. A well-planned afternoon activity or playdate, and we successfully passed another summer day void of whining and conflict! But more than that, our days remained productive, meaningful, and refreshing.
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