Harmful Advice for Parents: How Not to Ruin Summer Vacation 0 14

Every year, when the school year ends, a 3-month break from school worries begins. Parents start to think about how to keep their child occupied during the holidays. How can you give your child a chance to relax after the school year while also filling their life with new experiences?

Head of the adolescent development programs, Anastasia Kovalenko, shares common mistakes that parents make when planning summer leisure for their children.

Resting Means Not Working

Some parents worry that during the long break, their child will forget everything they learned in school and will “over-relax.” This is a misconception. The schedule of holidays and school days is specifically designed so that students can cover everything without overworking themselves.

Depriving children of summer rest is like depriving adults of vacation. 90 days is a long time for “doing nothing,” but let your child enjoy it in moderation.

Not Asking the Child's Opinion

Moms and dads often think they know their child's desires better than the child does. When planning leisure, try asking your child what they want more: to go to the countryside to visit grandma or to stay in the city, to go to summer camp or to sign up for courses.

Perhaps the child is tired and wants to spend time with a book or, on the contrary, is eager for communication and games? It is extremely important to know the opinion of the person for whom all this brainstorming is being done.

Not Planning Anything

The first month of summer usually passes spontaneously and leisurely, with children resting and playing. But by July and August, this pace may become boring, and that’s when your ideas, written in a planner or notes on your phone, come to the rescue.

Think about what activities might interest your child. Trips to the theater? Excursions? Joint trips out of town? Walks? Amusement parks? Write down all the ideas in a calendar and note approximate dates. This will simplify the choice of activities throughout the holidays.

“Courses Are Not Serious”

Modern children are interested in programming, design, English, and blogging, but during the school year, there is often neither the strength nor the desire for this. Summer is the perfect time to try something new.

You can enroll your child in English classes, summer marathons, or educational courses. There are many options available online and offline, both paid and free. Even if the interest does not become a lifelong pursuit, these skills will definitely come in handy.

Choosing the First Camp That Comes Along

Camp is one of the most popular options for summer leisure. There are many types of camps: urban, educational, sports. Children are supervised, and parents are at ease knowing their child is occupied. However, choosing a camp requires careful consideration.

When choosing a place, pay attention to several factors:

Legality

Check if everything is in order with the institution's documents and whether it can carry out such activities.

Conditions of Stay

Find out if safety requirements are met and whether the child will be comfortable at the camp.

Availability of a Program

Study the recreational, sports, and cultural program of activities.

Location

If it is important for the child to be easily accessible by transport, choose camps nearby.

Pedagogical Skills of Counselors

Clarify whether the counselors and educators have the appropriate education and qualifications.

Not Allowing the Child to Work

Summer is a great opportunity for a teenager to earn money for their “wants” and spend time productively. Many schoolchildren want to find a part-time job, and working at a young age develops independence.

Remember that summer is a little life. A child should not be occupied every minute of their free time. For a schoolchild, vacation is associated with three months of freedom and new experiences.

Allow your child to get the most out of this time. Ask about their desires, look for compromises, and find interesting activities. Children, like adults, need emotional recharge and the ability to make choices. Parents can help organize their child's leisure and make their vacation happy.