Rules are important to family life, but during the summer, sometimes those rules are meant to be broken. Breaking these five family rules allows kids and parents to loosen up and enjoy summer fun.
- Throw routines out the window. “Sleeping, dinnertimes, desserts, sleepovers—throw out all routines and just go with the flow,” Misty Black, Liberty mother of two, says. Bedtime is one routine that is quick to go. “Bedtime is tough during the summer simply because of activities. My sons have ballgames that may go to 9:00 and put us home around 10:00. It’s hard to stick with a consistent routine in this case,” Sally Beran, Liberty mother of three, says.
- “Normal” clothes rules do not matter. Sarah Martens, Kearney mother of three, says, “Shoes become optional. Cheap flip flops become church shoes in our house.” Not just shoes, but clothes rules can change as well. Susan Lynn, Kansas City mother of three, agrees and says, “If you are going to the pool later in the day, let them change out of pjs straight into swimming suits. Cover up with a long t-shirt. And remember, play clothes are for getting dirty!”
- Splurges are perfect in the summer. “We take the day trips. We go to the museums. We go to the zoo. My kids are only going to be with me for a short period of time, and I want to fill that time up to the max!” Amanda Jensen, mother of three, says. “The summer is when I take my kids to different types of restaurants throughout the city. Or we go and have lunch with Dad.”
- Summer spontaneity is the best. “Popsicles any time of day are allowed. Buy the sugar-free kind and let your kid have one for breakfast or right before bed. They will think you are the best parent ever,” Martens says. “Or spontaneous road trips decided the day of/day before. Make packing an overnight bag optional for even more fun!” Try something new for sleeping. “Bed is not the only place to sleep. Try tents in the living room, sleep on the deck under the stars or something more exotic,” Lynn suggests. Springing surprises on your children is great fun, too. “We do surprise pj rides at night or surprise sleepover ‘exchanges’ with friends,” Jensen said.
- Don’t be afraid to try something new. “Summer is a great time for discovering new games, ideas, crafts or recipes. The warm season is perfect for teaching children new skills, such as cooking, sewing or crafting. Try summer cleaning out of room, toys and clothes to make room for more. Teach them about donation,” Black says.
Of course, some of these ideas may not be possible, depending on family situations. If a child still has to get up early for day care, then a later bedtime might not be an option. And children have different needs—some need more structure than others. Use these ideas to adjust to your own family needs—or create your own. The key to summer is to have fun, be outside as much as possible to enjoy the sun and enjoy creating memories as a family!
Jennifer Higgins is a free-lance writer, mother and teacher from Kearney. Summer is her favorite time of the year!