A major family concern is the arrival of school vacations and wondering what to do with our kids during all this time.
- A major family concern is the arrival of school vacations and wondering what to do with our kids during all this time.
- There’s no need to plan more activities or feel responsible for entertaining them.
- Nowadays, most children—including babies—have too many toys and entertainment items. This is one reason they struggle to develop creativity, because we give them everything ready-made, and every time they get bored, they think it’s your job to find something to entertain them.
- It’s very important to understand—and help them understand—that boredom is also necessary. They should take a break from daily activities and change the pace from what they do during the school year.
What should I do? There are many things you can do while spending little money—you just need to use creativity and allow your kids to figure out what to do on their own, without feeling guilty for not organizing daily entertainment activities for them.
If you’re a single parent working all day, the best option—if there’s no adult at home to supervise your kids during the day—is for them to attend a summer camp to stay healthily entertained.
Once you get home, you can spend time with them and ask how their day at camp went, what activities they did, and how they felt. You can also share your own workday stories and experiences, which greatly enriches family relationships.
There’s no need to plan more activities or feel responsible for entertaining them.
They’ve had a full day of activities and can now relax at home—watch TV, read a book, help with household chores, prepare dinner, etc.
If you’re a parent who stays home while your kids are on vacation, there are plenty of things to do with them if they don’t attend camps or other daytime activities outside the house.
Before diving into possible activities, I want to mention something important that many parents struggle with: feeling responsible or guilty for thinking they must constantly entertain their kids, without realizing that children have the ability to figure out what to do and how to occupy themselves throughout the day.
Nowadays, most children—including babies—have too many toys and entertainment items. This is one reason they struggle to develop creativity, because we give them everything ready-made, and every time they get bored, they think it’s your job to find something to entertain them.
Parents can offer suggestions, but the most important thing is for you to tell them they already have the materials to entertain themselves. The key is convincing them they have the internal ability to invent and create, which will build their confidence and self-awareness.
This brings us to an important point where we find one of the first activities you can establish from now on and throughout the vacation: every week, your child must invent a game, and when you return from work, they have to teach it to you.
For example, explain that they can read a story and then act it out, making costumes from clothes they already have. You’ll be amazed at what they’re capable of creating, and you’ll see how they entertain themselves while developing their imagination, self-esteem, and confidence.
It’s very important to understand—and help them understand—that boredom is also necessary. They should take a break from daily activities and change the pace from what they do during the school year.
Nature also offers countless healthy activities. Collecting and painting rocks, sorting them by color and size, gathering different fallen leaves and gluing them onto paper to create characters and scenes—these are just a few ideas.
At home, for example, take out clothes from their closets, sort them, organize them, set aside what they no longer use—along with their toys and books—and then donate them together. This activity teaches them order, responsibility, and social awareness.
There are countless activities kids can do during vacation. Let them discover these opportunities and develop their creativity and imagination in a healthy way, reinforcing their self-esteem. Most importantly, make sure the belief and enthusiasm that they *can* do it and are capable comes from you.
Nuria Queralt. Psychotherapist.
@nuriaqueraltoficial.
For consultations: 786.3523189
Image: GuiaInfantil
