ANXIOUS ABOUT THE SCHOOL BREAK? TRY THESE 5 TIPS TO KEEP KIDS HAPPY, KEEP THE PEACE, AND KEEP THE SANITY!
1. Make a {flexible} plan
Create a proactive plan for your child and family to get the most out of your summer together time. Don’t forget to consider changes in meal times, sleeping arrangements (hotels and Grandma’s can be fun AND stressful), camp or park activities, changes in social settings, and all of the unstructured day to day fun that can happen over the summer holiday. Be especially mindful of travel stress, and discuss with your whole family how to support your child, and what you will do if they become stressed or frustrated.
2. Communicate with family and friends about some of the things that your child does or doesn’t do (talking, eating, socializing)
Before you arrive, or upon arrival, talk with your loved ones about who your child is - their strengths, what they love, what they hate, and some things to note (maybe about their communication, behavior, and adaptive skills).
3. Talk about your plans
Tell your loved ones you are going to be making some plans ahead of time of how to react and how to make your child feel more comfortable. It may not look like your way of parenting, but you have a plan for a reason!
4. Stay on schedule
This can be much easier said than done, but try and keep your child's supportive schedule as much as possible. Don't stress too much if things get out of whack, just try to keep it going when you can, and get right back on track when things settle down again.
5. Ask for a break when you need one!
