Summer is a great time for making memories with the whole family. It's not a "walk in the park." It can be done by picking the "right activities." Here are a few ideas to get you started.
- What activities do all my children enjoy? Pick something everyone can do and will enjoy!
- Do you need extra support to make an outing a success? More hands make light work! It is amazing what difference an extra adult can make?
- What time of day is best? Are your children better rested in the morning or the afternoon? Do they do better with indoor or outdoor activities? Does weather or temperature cause extra difficulties?
- How does hunger or eating affect a family activity?
- How does sleep affect your child's ability to handle family activities?
- Children, especially those with learning differences, benefit from some preparation. Preparing children with schedule, photos and expectations is likely to help them (and you) have a positive experience.
I think about many things we did. They didn't go perfectly every time using these strategies. But over time, there were more and more successes. We flew on airplanes, went to national parks, science museums and traveled on trains throughout Europe a couple summers. We took our children to family camp and requested an extra counselor for our son. That extra support made such a difference in our family's experience.
Each family has to determine what activities are important to do as a family. It may take a good amount of planning to make these times successful. Believe me, there will be some that seem like a failure. But with practice and using some of the steps outlined in this post, good memories can be cultivated. I would love hearing what has worked for your family.
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