Now that summer is here and school is out you may be thinking about how your little ones will spend the summer; especially if you are home with them! Don't fright! This could be an overwhelming thought, especially if you have children 20 months apart or less like myself. Keeping them engaged and motivated will ease the planning. At this point parents have a pretty good grasp on what their little one favors, their learning styles, and how they interact. Keeping these pointers in mind will help make planning your day or weeks with your little ones easygoing. View the following tips on how to plan out your summer days with your little one(s).
Tip #1 - Block Out Times
You know your children! This means you are fully aware of how much time your little ones can engage in certain tasks. Try starting off with ten minutes and adding 5 minutes per week. This may help increase your child's stamina by being engaged in a particular activity for a set amount of time. My son's schedule has 15,30, or 45 minute intervals with the biggest block being two hours (just updated) of outdoor time. This outdoor time includes exercising, learning how to ride his bike, and playing at the playground with other children. It also includes walks to the grocery store or a neighborhood stroll.
Tip #2 - Start with Something They Like
Begin the day with a consistent routine. If they like to brush their teeth when they get up or read a book with their parent/guardian/caregiver, give them the space and time to do so. This will start the morning off smooth. My little ones like to start the day off by eating! -lol- When they get up they have their cup of applesauce, a smoothie, toast, or cereal. As they are eating I capitalize on this time by reviewing our today board. They say the day of the week, and today's date. I also ask them "if today is _______ then tomorrow will be __________?"
"Your child needs some consistency to her day, a predictable sequence that lets her explore the world without worry," says Victoria Manion Fleming, Ph.D.
Tip #3 - Plan
Take your little one's interest and plan them out. Start with two to three activities for 10-15 minutes and observe how it goes. Does your little one need more or less time? Should the activity be modified? Just observing your child will help you answer these questions.
Tip #4 - Execute
Put your plan into action. It's highly important to pay attention to what your little one is doing during these planned activities. Verbal and non-verbal cues will give you clues as to how your little one is responding to your plan. When transitioning from one activity to another, always provide a time stamp to when the current activity is ending and when the new one is beginning. I remind my son that he has 5 minutes left before we begin our next activity. If your child refuses to end the activity it is okay but be consistent and always provide the time stamp. Another tip is to start the next activity and encourage your little one to participate with you.
Tip #5 - Revise
Be open to change! After two days of creating my son's first schedule, I revised it. Yes, it may take some time, but the benefits outweigh the demands. In the beginning you will be an active participant in many of the activities, especially if it involves direct instruction, but you will gradually release responsibility to your little one.
To Close...
When creating a schedule keep in mind:
The amount of time your child will engage in activities, and new learning.
Start with something they like.
Plan the actual activities that will keep them engaged.
Execute the plan and reflect on what is/not working.
Revise the plan based on your reflections/noticings.
Leave a comment below sharing your experience and visit www.cuenye.com for more information.
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