Summertime's coming: Is the living easy?

As parents plan for the summer I encourage them to take it as an opportunity for dialog and interaction with their children. Use this time to explore with your kids where they are in life, how certain goals have been met or have changed, and how to use the summer to learn and grow as well as to relax and create their own fun.

Parents who work full-time outside of the home will have to find meaningful and safe activities that accommodate their schedules, but all parents can use the process of summer planning to give their kids the opportunity to think about what they’d like to do or try. All their ideas may not be practical or in their best interest, but they can be open for discussion, consideration and even just dreaming about together.

And as you go through the process, consider the gift of time this summer – time to hang out together, time in which there’s “nothing” to do, time to learn to relax. In our overscheduled, fast-moving world, we could all benefit from learning a little more of that. And if someone disapproves, just tell them you’re advancing their behavioral and social education.

Summertime and good manners never go out of style.