Children all over the country are excited about the end of school. Their visions of having endless free time fill their minds, while parents scramble to figure out what to do with their children during this free time. May-June can be a time of great stress to parents, but with proper organization, the transition can flow smoothly. Below are a few tips to help with this transition:
School Papers and Supplies
– When school ends, help your child decide which beautiful works of art should be saved, and which could be discarded (or sent to Grandma and Grandpa for their refrigerator). Hold up three pictures, and ask them to select one for keeping. Then repeat this process until only the best ones are left. Taking photos of school projects can help preserve the memory and save space in your home.
– If you prefer to keep important test papers, research projects, and paperwork from the year, decide where you will store them. Try to recycle as much of it as possible.
– Go through your child’s school supplies, and decide what can be reused next year and what needs to be tossed or donated. Keep the reusable supplies together, for easy access in September. There is no need to purchase duplicate supplies year after year.
Home Organization
– It’s that time of year again to sort through your child’s closet, pack away the winter clothes and pull out the summer clothes. Check for size, and pull out any clothes, shoes, etc., that are too small. Decide what to do with clothes that are too small – donate, save for another child, or find a new home. Keep some clothes out for cooler weather, just in case.
– Set up your home for summer activities, such as a drawing area, a reading nook, a place for playing games, and other activities of interest. Check the backyard for poison ivy, and clear out debris. Check the children’s sports equipment and bicycles for safety, and make any necessary repairs as soon as possible.
Summer Camp
– Keep brochures of summer camps and special programs together. Compare the dates with your family calendar, and once the decisions are made, recycle the ones which are not used.
– Gather all required camp medical forms, and mark due dates on your calendar. If your child is due for an annual checkup, schedule the appointment before the medical forms are due. Bring all medical forms to your appointment, so the pediatrician can fill out all of the forms at once. If your child does not need an appointment, send the medical forms to the pediatrician to fill out.
Communication
– Communicate with the parents of your children’s school friends, to find out what their children are doing. Perhaps you can arrange to send your child to the same day camp as his or her school friend, to reinforce the friendship.
– Collect addresses of your children’s friends. If you travel, your child can send postcards to maintain a connection.
Enjoy your time with your children. Summer vacations will not last forever, but the memories you share, will!
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