Summer is here, temps have risen, the days are longer and the kids are out of school. Whether they are in camps, or staying home with you summers are a great time to slow down and connect with your kids. Here are 5 ways I love to be a connected mom with my kiddos now that the days are longer and time moves slower. 

Embracing Mindfulness in the Summer: How to Stay Present and Connected to Your Kids During this Season.

Family Field Trips

One thing I love to do with my kids is take day trips. Specifically, hiking trips. I research easy, kid-friendly local hikes pack up the kids, snacks, and lunch, and head out. Being out in nature is exactly what kids need. And to be able to enjoy it together makes a world of difference. 

Sometimes I print out a scavenger hunt, grab clipboards and let the kids run wild looking for the items on the list. If it’s too hot or raining, we hop over to the aquarium or science center for a great learning activity that the kids absolutely love.   

 

Family game nights

Movie nights are family nights in our home. After the movie, we pick a game to play as a family. Now that school is out whenever the kids seem to need more activity or I want to connect with them in the moment, I pull out a card game or a board game and challenge them to a match. My kids are good at card games and it is definitely work to beat them. The kids love it because we are together, laughing and I love it because I get to see their smiles on their faces and listen to their cute laugh. 

In addition to our impromptu games, we’ve increased our family game nights from Saturday movie nights and now play a game together a few times a week. With mom and dad at work during the day this is a great way to come back together and connect as a family. 

 

Read a book series together

Summer means a summer reading challenge at the library! Since we have more time together why not spend some of that time snuggled up on the sofa with a good book? This summer we headed to the library and signed up for the summer reading challenge and the kids picked a chapter book each that will be read together. Find a new series to read together, or jump back into an old one. I love connecting with my kids over a good story.

 

Less Screen Time

Summer break can mean a big adjustment for you and the kids. A structured day is out the window. Kids are seeing less of their friends and spending way more time at home. Sometimes that time at home turns into more time in front of the TV, on tablets, computers, or video game systems. But what if we took away these screens and engaged more with our kids? I know for me the easy button is saying yes to screens to stop the “I’m bored” but if I take the screens away and allow the kids’ imagination to flourish it’s a beautiful sight. And if you are involved it is such a beautiful connection between you and your child. 

 

Make time for you to play

I recently read a book called Unicorn Space all about finding time for you. Not self-care, but finding time for your passions. For something you really love to do, maybe it’s writing, painting, playing an instrument, or in my case playing tennis. You might be thinking, I have no time for my passions I have young kids. But you know what, you make the time. Set up a few hours a week that is just for you, maybe your spouse/partner takes the kids. Maybe you hire a babysitter so you can focus on your passions for a few hours a week.

While the summer may feel hectic it is important to make the time for your kids, not just to fill their cup, but yours as well. Have additional ways you connect with your kids or if you found this list helpful, leave me a comment!

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