Isn't summer fun? Sunshine, warmer weather, time with family and friends; not to mention holidays, fireworks and picnics! Kids live their greatest adventures, and parents have the opportunity to vicariously relive their childhood dreams. For work at home parents, however, summer represents a whole new set of challenges. Running a business from home can be tough enough without having to worry about keeping the kids entertained. Here are some ideas of summer activities for kids of work at home parents meant to help all of you have the best summer ever.
Let's Get Cooking!
When kids are home all day, they have a tendency to gravitate towards the kitchen anyway. So, why not take advantage of that. Plan different kid-friendly recipes like chocolate chip cookies, pancakes, rice cereal treats or pizza. Get everything set up at their level, or get a couple of stepping stools for the little ones. Then, get cooking! Kids love the "experiment-like" nature of cooking, plus getting a bit messy is always fun! An added bonus is that older kids will be able to duplicate the process, which can be a great help when you're a bit behind on work!
Go Green!
Recycle, reduce, reuse! Practice all three this summer. Schedule a trip to your local recycling plant. I know that sounds strange, but kids are so naturally curious they will love seeing this process. If you plan ahead, you can contact the recycling plant and schedule a structured tour of the facilities. Take full advantage of your efforts by partnering with other work at home parents who might want to join the adventure with their kids. The larger the number of people in the group, the better chance you have of securing a scheduled tour. After your trip to the recycling plant, why not teach your kids how to reuse some "trash." Set up a tiny lab and make some recycled paper. It's a lot easier to do than you might think, and you can find complete instructions by doing a simple Google search.
Another neat reusing project is making grocery totes out of old t-shirts. All you do is turn the shirt inside out. Then, cut off the sleeves, and make a straight cut across the chest area of the shirt. Sew or use sewing tape to seal the cut edge. Open the sleeve so they are a rectangular piece of fabric and sew it together long ways. Turn these inside out to make a straw-like piece that will become the handles. Saw each handle to either side of your tote and turn right side out. Now, your kids can go crazy decorating the totes.
Take It Outside!
Why not plant a garden? Take the bikes out to the local trail. It's always fun to go for a swim or to the park. You can also plan a family road trip. Take full advantage of the nice summer weather. If you have a beach nearby, an early trip during the week will help you avoid the crowds. Explore your town. Take the kids to historical or well-known places in your area. If you are creative and have a little extra time, you can plan a scavenger or treasure hunt. My all-time favorite outdoor activity, though, is having a cookout. Fire up that grill, invite a couple of neighbors, and you have an instant summer party!
Some Sanity Savers
Ok, now that you have a few ideas of summer activities for kids it's time to tackle the "working parents" part. Yes, it's fun and exciting to be home with the kids, but it can also be nerve wracking when you have a to-do list that's a mile long and can't get any work done. So here are some tips to help you on that department as well.
- Make a schedule - be flexible, but if you schedule your day you will invariably get more done!
- Create a network - having a support group of other work at home parents is always helpful. If they are relatively close by, you could even make arrangements to "exchange" kids during the week. One day your kids go to their house, the next day their kids come to yours. You get the idea!
- Enlist Friends and Family - there's no shame in asking for help. Most of the time relatives who have planned trips or outings would love to take your kids along, provided you ship in for the costs! Grandparents are also a great tool. They are always happy to have some time to pamper the grandkids!
- Lose the Super Hero Complex - you are not now, nor will you ever be, superhuman, so don't try to be. Recognize your limitations and don't overdo it. Delegate, prioritize, and don't be afraid to let some things go! If it is not absolutely essential, it can wait until tomorrow, or maybe even until fall!
There you have it. Take some time to plan and prioritize your summer activities. Incorporate some of the summer activities for kids listed above into your weekly schedule. Have fun and never forget that your kids are more than likely the reason you started working from home in the first place. Enjoy each other and the rest will fall into place.