Get more involved with your child’s summer life
I’m sure your children already have loads of plans for this summer – sports, video games, swimming or whatever, but that doesn’t mean you hit the bench and let them do whatever they want. Do just the opposite! Get more involved this summer and leave a bigger positive impact on their lives. Here are 10 ways to do just that:
1. Start by reviewing what your children learned this past year. School is an ongoing part of their lives. Show them you care about their educational well-being even during the summer months. If your children are old enough, think about taking a summer class together.
2. Plant a garden (or some garden plants in pots/hanging baskets). Call the Penn State Extension at 724-438-0111 if you want advice on what to plant and when. You’ll have fun, and this activity will blend science into your everyday life.
3. Go to a drive-in movie. We’ve got five in the area. Let your children take the lead in planning the evening. They should make a budget too. How much will it cost for admission, popcorn, drinks and candy? They’ll have a better understanding of math and money when it relates to real life. Your children could call the numbers below for showing times, directions and food costs:
n Brownsville Drive-In, 724-785-7190
n Skyview Drive-In (Car-michaels), 724-966-2364
n Comet Drive-In (Connellsville), 724-628-6160
n Malden Drive-In (Browns-ville), 724-785-5310
n Evergreen Drive-In (Mt. Pleasant), 724-547-4747
4. Attend an outdoor concert – you’ll be broadening your children’s creative horizons by exposing them to new musical genres. In Uniontown, the Storey Square Summer Concert Series will be every Thursday at 5 p.m. from July 1 through Aug. 26. In Brownsville, the Music on the Mon concert series will take place at the historic Nemacolin Castle stage on historic Front Street in Brownsville – they have two shows scheduled so far. Chris Higbee (of Poverty Neck Hillbillies fame) will perform from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday July 11 and Jill West and Blues Attack of Pittsburgh will perform at 6 p.m. on Sun., Aug. 8.
5. Plan a play date with other families at a local park. This is a way for you to watch your children interact with their friends and nature. For a listing of many local parks, go to www.dadsmatter.info, click on the “Publications” link and open our June 2010 The Dad Difference newsletter.
6. Turn the play date into a picnic. Your children can create the menu, and then you all can go shopping for what you need. Let your children help prepare the food too. There’s a lot of responsibility to be learned here.
7. Make a summer collage. While at your local park, take a walk and snap loads of pictures – then go print them out. Pick flowers and leaves and paste them with the photos on a sheet of poster board. Your children learn a lot by being creative.
8. Visit a local farm. It’s a great opportunity to learn about the food we eat. You could even stay at a farm for a day or two. Go to http://www.pafarmstay.c-om for more info about visiting farms all over Pennsylvania.
9. Take an after-dinner walk every day this week. Walking provides you and your family with good exercise and plenty of time to chat.
10. Show your children how to play your favorite childhood game – it could be marbles, checkers + kick the can – it doesn’t matter what it is if you’re having fun! Your children will love hearing about when you were young.
These are just ideas to get you started. You should have no trouble coming up with more fun things to do this summer with your children.
Well, what are you waiting for? Go have fun!
Seth W. Caton is the father of two young boys. Caton is the outreach and recruitment specialist for Dads Matter of Fayette County, a responsible fatherhood education program. Ryan Butter is the father of grade school-age boy and is a Dads Matter case manager/educator. Dads Matter is a department of the Private Industry Council of Westmoreland/Fayette, Inc. The opinions expressed and suggestions offered are based upon the professional preparation and life experiences of the author. If you should need additional support you may wish to see a licensed counselor or family psychologist.
Dads Matter services are available to all eligible persons, regardless of race, gender, age, disability, or religion. Participation is free and strictly voluntary. Funding is provided by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Grant: 90FR0075/04. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families.
Questions/Comments can be addressed to “Dads Matter” in care of the Herald Standard.