Moms Talk Q & A: How Should Students Spend Their Summers?
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With spring arriving, students are casting a fond eye toward liberation from the boredom of school and further to basking in the warm summer air. So, this week, our Moms Council fielded the following question: How should students spend their summer?
Waltham mother Susan Sutherland: Getting into the summer mindset now will help you get organized and plan a fun summer for your kids. Waltham organizations offer great camps and sports programs that will keep your kids active and learn new skills. Consider signing up for programs with the Waltham Fields Community Farm where kids can learn more about agriculture. Take the kids for walks around the Lyman, Gore, or Paine estates, or bike rides along the Charles River and have a picnic lunch. Water spray parks are free and located in most neighborhoods and would provide relief on hot summer days.
Watertown mother Dianne Wheeler: Summer vacation is a time for fun as well as continued learning. Kids should spend some time over the summer just being kids by playing at the park, in the backyard and doing lots of outdoor activities. Physical activities such as bike riding, running around and climbing are important, as well as getting a daily dose of fresh air and sunshine.
A family vacation, or a vacation with another family, creates lasting memories and allows kids the opportunity to see other parts of the country and how people live, eat and work differently. This early exposure can have lasting affects on a child's career or interests later in life.
Summer camp is also a great place for learning and fun. Some shorter camps, such as one or two weeks, can give kids a great experience without putting them on a rigid schedule. They can also foster independence if they include sleeping away. Camps exist for acting, music, and all kinds of creative activities. These programs give kids a chance to be immersed in their hobby and be around like-minded kids who may become friends for life. Older teens may want to be camp counselors, earning money and valuable work experience.
Whatever your kids do over the summer, enjoy creating memories at home or on vacation, as these years will fly by in a hurry.
In This article
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Susan Sutherland
Joined Patch Tuesday, January 11, 2011 -
Lyman Estate and Greenhouses
185 Lyman St, Waltham, MA -
Gore Place Society
52 Gore St, Waltham, MA -
Stonehurst: The Robert Treat Paine Estate
100 Robert Treat Paine Dr, Waltham, MA -
Dianne Wheeler
Joined Patch Thursday, December 9, 2010
Barbara Allen
2:05 pm on Monday, March 14, 2011
I've found the hardest time is for working moms with kids who are between the ages of 14-15. They may feel they've "outgrown" camp. They are too old for a babysitter but, left alone, might spend the summer days playing video games , watching TV or spending large amounts of time unsupervised on the computer.
My solution for all three of my kids was to find a summer volunteer experience that they not only enjoyed, but would be a plus when they were actually old enough to start applying for job.
Some of their volunteer experiences have included: working with the activities department of an assisted living or nursing and rehab center, working at a nature center (both with the animals there and with gardening work), and volunteering at a shelter for cats.
Check into your workplace for volunteer opportunities that might exist there. My employer, Maristhill Nursing and Rehab, allowed my youngest son to volunteer with our activities department. It was incredibly convenient for me, as he could just tag along with me to work, not to mention the wonderful, rich experience this volunteer opportunity gave him. He liked it so much that he ended up volunteering for three summers in a row! Working with our seniors gave him the idea of starting his own business: helping elders in the community with chores and yard work. He now has a small, consistent customer base, and can set his own salary and hours.