Ideas for a Fulfilling Summer Season

Everyone in your home might feel differently about summer. Notice, and talk about, what each of you enjoys and what extra supports you might need. Think about how the balance between routine and ease works for each of you. Below I’ll go over some ideas for fun, ways to keep learning, and the importance of using your trauma lens even during the summer.

Ways to Have Fun

Summer is a great time to be on the lookout for small joys. Make a habit of talking about the things that delight the people in your home during the summer–maybe one person loves to hear birdsong, another appreciates sleeping in sometimes, and a third likes having time to be creative. Sharing small, daily delights with one another can make your relationships stronger.

Make a family summer bucket list and put it where you can all see it. Each of you could choose two things you’d love to do this summer. Maybe one could be something you do at home and one could be something out in the community. This gives all of you things to look forward to and plan for.

Here are some ideas to get you started:

This site offers some (okay, a lot!) of backyard ideas that encourage movement and social connection. Some of these are things kids can do by themselves, and some are ideas for the whole family: https://growinglittlebrains.com/blog/73-backyard-activities-to-keep-kids-busy-all-summer

Here’s a calendar of national and international days to celebrate. You might want to incorporate some of these into your plans, or invent your own celebrations: https://nationaldaycalendar.com/

If you’re in the mood for a road trip close to home, here are two sites that suggest things to do in the summer that are specific to Vermont. Many of their suggestions are free:

https://www.tripsavvy.com/things-to-do-in-vermont-during-summer-4160781

https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/vermont/fun-free-things-vt/

Here are some ideas for rainy days: https://www.mykidstime.com/things-to-do/50-fun-rainy-day-activities-for-kids/

You might find that your teenagers resist some of the activities they might have enjoyed when they were younger. Here are some ideas just for teens: https://studentden.com/100-things-for-teens-to-do-this-summer/

Keep Learning

Summer is a great time for kids to learn a variety of life skills. Check out this comprehensive guide: ready, set, fly

Many of the things listed in this post are not only fun, but they will also foster social-emotional learning, help prevent summer learning loss, and help kids to increase their knowledge and skills. Also remember that, as far as reading goes, audio books, comic books and graphic novels, and even using subtitles on movies and shows are great ways to keep kids reading–sometimes without even realizing it! Here are some other great ideas: https://www.esparklearning.com/blog/tips-to-prevent-summer-learning-loss

You can keep learning over the summer, too. Check out our Vermont Child Welfare Training Partnership Website for free, online, virtual, and in-person training and coaching opportunities. Also check back on this blog and our podcast. https://vermontcwtp.org/

Learning together with the children and youth in your home can add to your summer connection: baking, swimming, making music together are just a few ideas. There are so many ways you can ALL grow your skills and deepen your relationships.

Manage Strong Emotions

Remember to use your trauma lens all summer long! Using a trauma lens means looking at behavior and emotions from a trauma-informed perspective. For example, without a trauma lens, we might think a child is acting lazy or rude. With a trauma lens, we might realize that they are fearful or overwhelmed. As how we see behavior changes, how we respond to it also changes. If you’ve taken the VT-CWTP Foundations classes, go back through your Toolbox, or back into the class, for a refresher on how to use your trauma lens. This article also offers some great guidance on how and why to use a trauma lens: https://projectbelongva.org/blog/trauma-informed-lens

Manage strong emotions–yours and the child’s. Again, if you’ve taken classes through VT-CWTP, you can look back on those materials to practice your own emotional self-regulation so that you can attune with, and support, the children and youth in your home. You can also learn the basics here: https://www.heartspringtherapy.ca/post/the-basics-of-co-regulation

What other ideas do you have for making summer great? Share your ideas in the comments!