Can you believe that summer is almost here? It’s hard to believe the end of this school year is in
sight. My summer plans are still in flux but I’m hoping we find time for some genuine family fun
in a relaxed, slower paced environment. Recently I came across an old quote from Dr. Tim
Elmore that made me think about summer break. Dr. Elmore said, “Our lives are saturated. Kids
are overwhelmed. And they are distracted. Our brains are not built to take in all the activity of
our daily lives.”
I think he’s probably right. And that’s important when we think about the summer ahead.
Summer does not have to be a time for drill and practice, workbooks, tutoring, travel sports, or
anything that overstuffs their schedules and ours. Instead, summer is unstructured time for
children to explore, create, imagine, build, and have fun all on their own. So, what is summer
good for? How about…
- Spending a lot of time outside getting wet, dirty, or sweaty – ideally all three at the same
time! - Reading lots and lots and lots of books – everybody gets to pick what they want just for fun.
- Meeting new people – at the park, the playground, the library, or when traveling.
- Putting on a talent show with friends from the neighborhood – lip sync, dance, air guitar,
skateboarding, magic tricks, and more! - Building a fort in the living room out of cardboard and blankets and whatever else is on
hand. - Having a car wash or lemonade stand and giving the proceeds away.
- Reading the Bible and talking about it together as a family. And praying together!
Sounds like fun? Im ready! How about you?