Summertime: Setting Sail for Adventure or
Missing the Boat?
by Cheryl Gibson Smith

Summertime and the livin’ is easy…unless of course you are a parent trying to figure out what to do with the kids until school starts up again! The long summer break from school made perfect sense back in the day when most families lived on farms and the children were needed to help gather the crops. These days, however, children are more likely to gather moss as they sit idly in front of the television or develop nervous ticks as they get rushed from activity to activity in a whirlwind of summer frenzy. So what’s a parent to do? Somewhere between gathering moss and developing nervous ticks there must be a summer schedule with just the right balance of laid back fun and fired up activity, right?

Absolutely! And all it takes is a discerning parent who takes the time to carefully plan a summer schedule that honors the child and includes activities and programs that are carefully screened and selected. Let me be your guide through this process. I’ve had the unique advantage of being both a consumer of summer activities and programs for my own two children and a provider of summer camp services throughout my career. I have witnessed up close and personal the real deal of summer programs from the perspective of both the adults and the children involved. Here’s what I know. There are three main things to consider when planning a fabulous summer schedule:

• Who is my child?
• What are the best choices for my child?
• Is the schedule balanced?

Let’s start with “ Who is my child?” It is often tempting to look first at available options that have been highly recommended by others and then fit our children into them. The pitfall here is that, while Circus Camp was great for your neighbor’s outgoing, athletically-inclined daughter, it may not be the best choice for yours who prefers a quiet corner and a great book. Consider first your child’s age, interests, temperament, abilities and personality. If your child is under the age of six, be very careful of the age range in a group. Camp counselors tend to gear the activity level to the oldest campers and little ones can get lost in the shuffle of bigger feet. Be sure that the activities and programs you choose match your child’s interests and not the ones you would like for your child to have.

I remember a parent telling me how excited her son was about attending the Computer Camp her older son had loved the year before. I could tell by the look on her son’s face that he would rather stick hot pokers in his eyes than attend
Computer Camp, but mom remained oblivious. Have an open discussion with your child about all of the options available and be accepting of your child’s preferences. It’s fine for parents to encourage their children to try new things and step out of their comfort zones by engaging them in the investigating and planning of summer activities as long as the children feel they have a voice in the process. When my son was eleven I encouraged him to try a baseball camp at a local university. When I picked him up after the first day he said he hated it because all of the coaches were strict and made him practice things over and over. I asked him to give it a few days and he grudgingly agreed. On the third day he hit his first home run as a result of all of the hard work imposed by the coaches. He not only finished out the camp, he signed up the following summer! Make sure that the choices you make factor in your child’s personality and temperament. Options
exist for children who like action and the spotlight, children who prefer introspection and invention, and children who love to learn new things. Options exist for children who like a jam-packed schedule and those who prefer a laid-back day full of personal choices. The key is to get it right for your child. And be aware that each summer your child has changed in ways that may affect their preferences. Your preadolescent girl no longer wants to participate in sports camps and your six year old son suddenly yearns for a more social environment. Just keep checking, not assuming, and involve your child in the planning process.

What are the best choices for my child? I strongly encourage you to thoroughly investigate any program or activity you are
considering for your child. Here are some things you should absolutely know about any program your child might attend:

• What is the background and reputation of the sponsoring organization?
• Very specifically, how will your child’s day be spent?
• What are the age, education, and experience requirements for staff? How are staff screened, trained and supervised?
• How many children does each adult supervise?
• What measures are in place to address safety and health issues?
• What are the plans for inclement weather if outdoor activities are involved?
• Are parents welcome to visit at any time?

Don’t hesitate to ask any of these questions. An organization that is not willing to provide complete answers is not one that deserves your trust. Also ask other parents about their child’s past experience with particular programs. The more you know the better choices you can make.

Is the schedule balanced? Children spend the school year being told what to do by adults. Part of the joy of summertime is being able to have some down time. Time to daydream, time to dawdle, time to discover personal interests without adult intrusion. When I was an elementary school teacher I could tell the children who had been over-scheduled with adult driven activities; they did not come back to school at summer’s end with renewed energy and enthusiasm. They came back
lackluster and drained. Make sure the schedule you create for your child has ample opportunities for child-driven choices and open-ended chunks of time for creativity, rest and renewal. Happy memories of summertime will follow!

Cheryl Gibson Smith, Executive Director, The Parent Coach Company
Cheryl has dedicated her career to working with children and families. For over thirty years she has been passionate about helping parents and teachers develop the skills and knowledge to guide children toward self-reliance and joyful living. With both Bachelor and Masters degrees in education, Cheryl has taught children from infancy to middle school in Georgia, Florida and California as well as a very exciting three-year public school adventure in Brisbane, Australia.

Ms. Smith also spent two decades as a program administrator in various public, private, corporate and church-related educational settings. It was during these years that Cheryl developed her expertise and certifications as a parent educator. She has often been a featured speaker at local, state and national conferences and taught parenting classes for parents with children of all ages. She has raised two self-reliant children as a single, working mother. It was a journey filled with highs and lows, humility and pride, laughter and tears all safely wrapped in unconditional love.