This is what you need to know about parenting during summer vacations

Mansi Zaveri

School break is always a big relief for parents. It means we get to nap for 30 minutes more in the mornings, no mad rush to pack the dabbas and no school pick up and drop. But, before you rejoice, remember, you now have the added responsibility of engaging and entertaining your whiny little ones who complain of boredom all the time.

Over the years, as a mother of two, I told myself summer is not the time for me to channelise my inner Ninja mom and attack it, but embrace it and make it a perfect time to bond better with my kids. These seven ideas are what help me sail through, every year.

1. Chores for the win

Sit down with the kids, and prepare a chores list. At first, you might see some resistance or sulky faces. But trust me, once you start making it a habit and appreciate them for their efforts (be it through movie nights or a book of their choice, or even an ice cream!), they are going to love it.

2. Plan your travel

I frankly don’t remember what I cooked for dinner last Sunday, but I can tell you all about every summer holiday experience I had back as a child. It needn’t be somewhere exotic to be cherished. Even if it a small weekend getaway, a road trip, a train journey- plan one with the kids, that they will remember for a long time.

3. Money matters

I used this time to teach my girls the importance of money. From explaining how I spend it on daily groceries, to teaching how we can save from our kitty, there are a number of ways, we can teach the curious minds.

4. So, what’s cooking?

Be it kneading the dough for tonight’s roti, or adding the sprinklers on the weekend cake, or cleaning the fridge, or washing the plates after dinner—engage the kids in small chores in the kitchen. They need to know that the kitchen is a happy place, to help make happy meals.

5. Make reading a reward

Don’t go by deadlines or targets for your kids to read this summer. Find the right book for your children. Also find a creative process to make them fall in love with the art of reading and not treat it like a punishment.

6. It’s ok to be bored

Are you looking to sign up your child for every summer camp there is in town, leaving them a packed schedule for the day? Pause. That’s not what summer vacation is all about. Tell yourself, it is okay for your child to get bored, this summer. In fact, experts say that’s what helps them think creatively, and out-of-the-box. And you get only about a dozen summers to create unforgettable memories with your child!

(Zaveri is a Mumbai-based parenting expert)