How to Plan Your Children's Summer

Remember the lazy days of summer? Good. That's your goal for your kids: to create a summer plan that will leave them with the same fun, laid-back memories. Kids can use the summer months to make new friends, pursue a sport or hobby or just have fun at home and in and around the neighborhood.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Plan a a summer camp. For younger kids, you might want to go for half-day camps in two-week segments. When they get a bit older, but are still too young to be left alone at an intensive camp. For this age group, usually 10-12, plan specific day camps based on their interests, like sports or theater. For older kids, it might be a sleep-away camp in the mountains or at a lake that last a month or so. These are great ways for kids to make friends.
2. Schedule summer school. This usually is the most fun for the child, but can be helpful for working parents who might not want to incur the cost of often expensive camps. This is better for preteens and teenagers.
3. Involve the kids in summer sports or classes. Swim teams are popular summer activities.
4. Spend time at home with the child, and monitor their play outside.
5. For kids old enough to stay at home, but not yet old enough to drive, encourage them to get involved with something. Camps are an option, but they might also be able to find a job nearby to which they can walk. Do what you can to prevent too much idle time.
6. Prod older teenagers to get jobs, internships or volunteer as a local camp counselor. This is great preparation for college, encouraging responsibility before they acquire a nearly completely independent lifestyle. It will also help them save money for those years, and ease some of the day-to-day financial burden from your shoulders. Almost more importantly, it can help shape their interests. Internships might help teenagers decide what they like or don't like and can ultimately direct their field of study later on. If you can afford it, send your gets on teen tours, either across the country or abroad.