Written by Amanda Baskin
For many kids, summer starts with a bang
There’s the excitement of school ending and all the possibilities of how the newly gained free time can be used. Hopes of sleeping in, spending time with friends, and playing at the pool seem to be the only focus as summer starts. But quickly the excitement turns into “I’m booooored!” and “There’s nothing to do!”. And as most parents know, it’s not just hearing this once; it can start to feel like the only thing your child knows how to say.
If you’re wanting to help prevent the “I’m bored”-isms from taking over, you’ll want to do some planning. Not just planning on your own, but getting your child involved in coming up with ideas. By working together, you can create a plan that prepares for both full days and spare moments in which your child might need reminders of all the possibilities available to them.
You’ll want to make a Summer Bucket List.
You’ve probably heard of a bucket list before. It’s a list of items you want to complete before a certain time. In this case, a Summer Bucket list includes a list of things your child wants to complete or goals to achieve before summer ends and they return to school. When creating a list, there are going to be several factors you want to consider, most of these being based on your child’s age and developmental needs. Your child will need time for socializing, activities, and taking care of their bodies. By keeping your child involved in the planning, you give them the opportunity to become invested in the plan. This also helps you prepare them and talk through new activities they may be participating in.
Preschool: Ages 3-5
At this life stage, your child needs significant supervision. Most of the activities planned will involve you or another trusted adult watching them and potentially helping your child. Cognitively, children in this age group are beginning to understand how they can interact with and control the world around them. This is done through play. Activities that involve sensations (touch, sight, hearing, sight, smell) help your child take in how their actions can create an impact and how the world responds. For example, a sand or water table might have items that your child can use to pour into or from, different ways to build, and various tools to use. If your child is pouring water from one container to another, they are processing how water reacts, how it fills differently shaped containers, and what doesn’t work out the way they expect it to.
Similarly, letting your child play with blocks, stackable toys, or train/marble tracks helps them to take control and learn how objects can work together. Being outside provides many natural resources for children to be able to explore in similar ways- mixing water and dirt to make mud, building with sticks and stones, learning how to make shadows in the sun. While your child is exploring and learning, it is important to be close by to help them make safe choices and to assist them if they have questions.
At this age you can also begin to introduce game play that involves basic rules. Games such as Mother May I, Simon Says, and Freeze Dance can be played with minimal supplies. Your child will be learning how to follow basic instructions and how to regulate their emotions even if things don’t go their way.
Activities for your Preschool Bucket List:
- Water/Sand table
- Nature Scavenger Hunt
- Blowing bubbles
- Basic board games
- Movement games
- Cooking simple recipes together
- Reading
- Visiting Touch Tanks at Aquariums
- Playing in the park
Elementary School:
As children enter elementary school, we begin to see their independence increasing at exponential rates. It is in this age group that children begin further understanding cause and effect, different perspectives, and having better spatial abilities. While these children still need ample time for play and exploration, the type of outlets they benefit from change from their preschool days. Children in this age group are rapidly developing more in-depth conversation skills. Having the ability to play with dolls, action figures, and stuffed animals allows them to practice conversation and social skills in a setting that they are in control of. They also benefit from having plenty of physical play: running, playing sports, dancing, climbing trees, etc. As they play, they are increasing the control they have over their bodies by practicing new skills. Your child will also learn how movement impacts their body and growth.
When thinking of plans, keep in mind the state laws around supervision for children. In the state of Georgia, children under 8 should never be left home alone. For children ages 9-13, they can only be left alone for brief periods of time (never more than two hours). Talk through with your children what activities they can do on their own and what you need to be with them for.
Activities for your Elementary Age Bucket List:
- Playing with friends
- Playing board games and card games together
- Imaginary play using toys or acting it out
- Playing sports
- Arts and crafts
- Reading
Middle School:
Once in middle school, your child will be more independent than their younger selves and have more of an interest in independence. They make up the tricky stage between young childhood and adolescence. Kids in this age group need a balance of social engagement, playing, and independence. Try to help your kid come up with some activities that they can do on their own, without expecting them to be fully independent. Remember, they still need to be a kid!
Activities for your Middle School Bucket List:
- Camps
- Making crafts (bracelets, painting, air-dry clay pots)
- Playing outside
- Board games
- Going to neighborhood pool
High School:
Once they enter the later teenage years, your child is going to be focused on creating their own life. This consists of outlets that support moral growth, socializing with peers, and increased independence from their middle school days. With this age group, it is great to have your teen put in a majority of the effort in creating how they want to spend their time. This way they can feel responsible for their activities and be more invested. They may need some guidance on boundaries (such as how long they can be out or a balance of rest vs activity) and reminders about taking care of themselves. Many teens would be happy laying in bed watching TikTok for half the day, but (whether they realize it or not) they need more than that. Have your teen identify ways they can take care of their physical health, from exercise, maintaining hygiene, eating a balanced diet, and making sure they are getting a healthy amount of sleep. They also need time to be social, including time with friends and in the community.
Activities for your High School Bucket List:
- Spending time with friends
- Volunteering
- Outdoor activities (boost that vitamin D!)
- Independent time such as completing a project at home or even running errands
- Connecting with community groups like church youth groups or youth organizations, and Exercising.
As you work with your child to create their Summer Bucket List, remember that there will be times both of you are being flexible and changing from the original plan. Make the list something that can be added to or adapted when needed. There may be days that you all need more rest or more stimulation than expected. Modeling flexibility helps your child learn how to adapt and create better plans for themself as they move forward.
Start Receiving Support From Therapists in Savannah, GA
Summer is a great time to relax and unwind, but it is still important to continue caring for your mental health. You can connect with a professional counselor at Waters Edge Counseling to help support your mental health. Our team would be honored to offer support from our Savannah, GA-based practice. You can start your therapy journey by giving us a call at 912.319.5552 or emailing us at [email protected].
Other Services Offered With Waters Edge Counseling
We understand that you may experience issues with more than one mental health concern at a time. This is why we are happy to offer support with a variety of mental health services. Our team is happy to offer support with multiple mental health services including online counseling, clinical supervision, coping after a cancer diagnosis, and SCAD student counseling. We are also happy to offer therapy for anxiety, depression, eating disorders, substance abuse, teen substance abuse, and counseling for men. In addition, we also offer counseling for teens, child counseling, family counseling, Christian counseling, grief counseling, and marriage counseling.