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Summer SafetyProtecting and Nurturing your Child during the Summer MonthsSummer isn't only about avoiding sunburn or drowning. It is also about making time for protective factors, such as time with our kids, that create emotional safety nets.
Summer safety isn’t just about slathering the kids with sunscreen or warning them against the danger of swimming unsupervised (of course, those things are important). We can broaden our concept of summer safety to include: Appropriate Supervision:There is no shortage of activities, camps and events for the younger set but older children need constructive recreation opportunities, too. Yes, summer is the time to relax a bit and catch up with yourself but that doesn’t mean teens should spend week after week glued to cell phones, computers and televisions. Likewise, summer time is not a teen ticket to hours of unsupervised group activity while adults are working. Encourage older children to explore new hobbies and old interests during the summer season (some teens may need a firm nudge).
Other teens with entrepreneurial spirit may want to launch small businesses. Some examples include:
Relationship Building One of summer’s greatest gifts is the gift of time. Don’t squander it. Invest it in strengthening familial relationships. Few things help kids and teens feel safer than knowing that parent’s, and other important adults in their lives, have made a commitment to being there. Being there is not just about making sure our children are housed and clothed. It is also about making sure that our children are:
Being there is also about making time to be fully present and available to our kids, and summer time is the perfect time for doing just that. Creating MemoriesThink back on your fondest childhood memory. What feelings come up for you? Maybe the memory brings up feelings of warmth, safety, security or the feeling of being grounded; planted firmly in loving and attentive soil. Summer time means vacation time for many families. Even if you can’t leave town you can find creative ways to enjoy new experiences together and make memories that last. Remember, vacation isn’t about money spent, it is about memories made. Yes, summer safety is about making sure our children adhere to the usual summer safety rituals around sunscreen and swimming. But more is required of parents. Summer is also about strengthening familial relationships, making time to be available to each other and exploring new opportunities for fun and learning.
The copyright of the article Summer Safety in Parenting Methods is owned by Barbara Gibson. Permission to republish Summer Safety in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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