![]() ![]() You may have to experiment with how much free time will be the right amount-because having too much or too little both carry problems. Build in free time to the schedule in amounts that will give your child time to slow down, relax, or accept a last minute invitation to spend time with a friend. When there is too much on a child’s plate, it will likely result in resistance and power struggles. The key point is that many parents find that it creates more stress for the whole family when kids are over-booked. Below is an example of a scheduled summer day for your teen:ĩ:00am- Out of bed, breakfast, shower, dress, etc.ġpm- Attend part-time job or volunteer positionĦ:30pm- Free time to socialize with peersĪgain, these are just examples of structured and balanced summer schedules-you will figure out what works for you. It is completely reasonable to expect that your teen ventures into the working world or volunteers his time on a part-time basis. One significant difference in a teen’s schedule will be the possible addition of employment or volunteer work. The hope is that by the time kids reach their teen years, they will be more capable of managing their time, but many will need a loose outline of daily expectations. Setting up a summer schedule for your teenager will look a bit different. However, here is an example of a scheduled summer day for a 5 to 12 year old child:ĩ:00am- Outdoor play/exercise (weather permitting) around the house or at local playgroundġ0:30am- Summer Reading Program (Schools and libraries often have these set up for parents.)Ħ:30pm- Night-time routine- bathing, tidying up, etc.ħ:30pm- Quiet activities- reading, drawing, and listening to music (whatever helps your kids wind down.) The specifics of what this will look like will depend on the age and needs of your kids. Ideally, there should be a mix of both planned activities and down time. The intention is not to be overly strict or inflexible, but rather to help teach children how to manage their time effectively. You can avoid power struggles by deferring to the schedule when your child needs help staying on-task. ![]() James Lehman’s opinion is that planning out a schedule for your child at home will help manage his behavior. At school, there are set times for different subjects and activities. But look at it this way: if the summer has begun, and your child is already bored, isn’t helping out at home and is causing trouble with siblings and friends, consider setting up a structure that is similar to what they’re used to at school. Post the schedule in a spot where family members can easily reference it. Schedule the morning, midday, and evening routine, including mealtimes, designated chore time, activities and free time. Some might involve weekly lessons and practice times, while others are more flexible. Work with your child to create a list of activities that they are interested in doing. It requires some work up front, but it can prevent many problems from arising along the way. If your children tend to act out and get into trouble if left to their own devices, then planning out a detailed summer schedule of activities might be the solution. Some kids typically do well with less structure and are able to spend their time engaging in acceptable ways, but many others don’t. ![]() Determining how much structure to put into place will depend on the individual needs of your children. Having some amount of structure in the summer is helpful for most families. Is it best to have some kind of structure in place during the summer? How do you balance it with free time? When you combine these factors-expectations and a change in schedule-with an increase in family togetherness (or claustrophobia, depending on how you look at it), it’s only a matter of time before the level of conflict rises in your home. The change in routine alone can be sufficient to throw some kids off-kilter. Your child might be imagining a summer that reality can rarely deliver, which sets them up to be let down. ![]()
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