Summer Activities for Kids – Setting Goals
It is so hard to believe that the school year is about to end and summer vacation is right around the corner. We all look forward to lazy days with our kids, and that is great, however summertime can be a great time to set some goals and help your child to develop in some areas that need improving. Every child should grow academically, physically, spiritually and emotionally this summer.
In order to do this you will need to have a plan! Try to think of some activities that will enhance growth in each area.
Here are some steps to help you get started:
1. You and your spouse (if you are married) should set aside some time to discuss your children and the areas that you would like to see them grow in. What activities do you think can help meet these needs? What are your child’s interests, hobbies, special abilities,etc?
2. Gather your family together and ask your children some questions: What would you like to learn more about? What are some of your favorite activities? What are your special interests?
3. You will need to know where your child is in each area and where you would like them to be by the end of the summer. (example: learn to enjoy reading, learn to help others, learn to share, etc.)
4. How will you measure progress? You can make a chart and give rewards as you see them improving in different areas. Give lots of praise when you see improvement!
Here is an example of some Summertime Developmental Objectives:
Intellectual – Improve Reading Skills
Plan – Read 5 Books this summer.
Physical – Learn to Swim
Plan – Take 2 weeks of swimming lessons
Spiritual – Learn the Joy of Helping Others
Plan – Do a Bible study of people who helped others. Visit a nursing home.
Emotional/Social – Get along better with siblings.
Plan – Determine a way your child antagonizes his/her siblings and make a plan to stop doing that one thing. Praise when you see improvement!
5. Even though it is important to have and set goals, remember that your children need to have “free time” every day! Part of the fun of summer is not having a schedule to stick to. Change the times that you do your plans each day, if possible, so that sometimes your children have their free time in the mornings so that they can sleep in, and sometimes they have it in the afternoon so that they can do other things they enjoy like playing outside with their friends!
And remember, the best way to see your your children grow in the areas that are important to you, is to pray for them!
Have a happy and safe summer!
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we ned ot work on the getting along wiht siblings this summer. that is the one thing I dread each June:)
Ha ha I’m dreading the sibling fights too! However, I am looking forward to fun things like playing outside. Thanks for the help in keeping some structure going in the summer!
i love the bible study idea and i hope to get my daughter in swimming and guitar lessons this summer!
This is going to be the first summer that my kids are not going to a summer camp! We’re going to do a lot of team building, etc…my guys are all one year apart, so heaven help me with a 7, 8 , and 9 year old!
My son enters Kindergarten and I plan to include study time into the summer days!
We have been trying to figure out a plan for summer. Lots of summer reading most definitely, hopefully some swimming, and time with friends.
My daughter is 3 years old and the main goal this summer is to get her potty trained! She starts gymnastics classes in August, and I’d really like her to be pull-up free.