How to Organize a Productive Summer For Your Child

We often think of summer as the time to relax and shift gears. Certainly, it is important for parents to ensure that their children have the chance to experience a change of pace and act their age. They should not always be bound by the expectations of classroom life. Nevertheless, summer is a chance for students to learn more about themselves and develop passions that can last a lifetime. Rather than packing your sophomore away to go to that same sleep-away camp, consider thinking outside of the box about ways your child could grow during this time. Help your children to think with more choice about what their unique interests and passions might be. After completing this initial brainstorming process, further develop the ideas you settle on. There are numerous worthwhile opportunities.

If your child is interested in learning more about a specific profession, one is never too young for an internship or workplace experience. If your child loves helping animals, and wants to be a veterinarian, find a way to allow your child to experience the job firsthand. By doing so, not only will a child experience a summer that is enjoyable and interesting, but a valuable life lesson will be learning. Your child will learn that life is what you make of it and there is always an opportunity to seize the moment.

If your child has a particular skillset or passion, help turn that into the creation of a new enterprise. Start a project, develop an app, find opportunities to teach others. In doing so, your child can begin to build confidence by experiencing what distinguishes them from others and makes them unique. This self-confidence can lead to a more fulfilling academic experience in the following school year.

If your child is struggling with motivation, then spend the summer having your child develop a new hobby or pastime. Even if your child is resistant to any idea that doesn’t involve watching TV, there are still opportunities to be found. Encourage your child to learn how to be a movie or television critic, to write a screenplay, or to join a movie club. If your child loves being active and outside, encourage them to learn a new sport or go hiking. The formation of new hobbies and passions will lead to more motivation and opportunities down the road.