It's easy to overbook your family during the Summer months. Camps and family vacations are a good thing and at the same time it's important to balance these activities out with free time. Here are some suggestions on creating a balanced summer with your family.
Open up your Calendar
Print out your calendar and show it to your kids. Start filling in the dates and activities that you already have planned and look for ways to balance out the scheduled activities with free time. Free time can be as simple as going to the beach or local park. Whatever you do, make sure your kids have to time to develop self- direction and self-motivation on how they would like to spend their free time versus someone organizing it for them or telling them what to do.
Develop a Family Vacation with Guidelines
Before you head off for your family adventure, find some general guidelines that will ensure your family will get the most out of the trip. Ask everyone, "What are some of the things you would like to see or do?" This will clarify what your plans will look like and everyone feels like they have will have some success. Don't forget to include down time and create a plan that works for everyone.
Take time for yourself
Planning is great and in the end, you don't want to get overwhelmed. Model for your kids that self-care is important and take some time out for yourself. A walk around the neighborhood, a hike or even a bath (by yourself).
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