Adjustment Day

By Meg Hodson

School is out.  It's officially summer vacation for my three children.  They're excited.  I'm excited, too (really I am).  But to get to cruising altitude of summer, we must survive Adjustment Day.

I've never been to a chiropractor, but I am fully versed in what I am calling Adjustment Day. The kids are officially out of school for summer, but are acting as they have been throw into the deep end of the pool with no skill of how to swim.  In short, they are nuts.  We've stayed up way past our bedtime a few nights. Regularly scheduled school year has gone into repeats.  There is laughter, tears, fighting, and exhaustion....and that is all by the time breakfast is over.  I adore my kids, but seriously, I am about ready to run out the front door screaming.  

So what do you do? What helps ease the transition to summer vacation? How do you survive Adjustment Day?  I've assembled a few tips that I think help with summer vacation.....and on any given day that your kids might seem out of sorts and a little off center:

1.  Keep Them Well Fed.  One of the best tips I received was prior to our trip to Disneyland a few years ago.  A fellow parent friend advised to pack lots of snacks and feed my kids every 2 hours.  While it seemed excessive before going, it proved to be useful and downright necessary on our visit.  I think the same is true for summer vacation.  In general, kids are outside more and their activity level is increased.  Every other sentence out of their mouth is "I'm hungry". I have brushed off the request for food other times, but this time around, it appears that they legitimately need a bit more food.  Now, this doesn't necessarily mean food every 2 hours, but I am making a conscious effort to pack their plates a bit heavier at their three core meals and keep apple slices and carrot sticks in handy grab bags in the fridge.  

2.  Keep Them Active.  As a parent that works from home, I have to find a balance between spending time with my children and getting work done.  Easier said then done, right?  I do know that activities that are easily available to them are key.  I keep a well-stocked pile of new books from the library as they participate in a summer reading program.  Our backyard is equipped with sidewalk chalk, bubbles, toys, a trampoline, a sprinkler for hot days, and more.  I use a dry erase board each day for a small amount of chores for them to complete.  Find what they like and have those options ready and organized.  

3.  Establish A Summer Schedule.  When the school year is in full swing, adhering to a schedule is relatively easy.  That changes in summer.  But I urge you to create, even if it's loose, a summer schedule. Have set times when they are allowed to watch a t.v. show or play a video game.  Have a set time for workbooks or reading.  Serve your meals at about the same time each day.  Children thrive on a regular schedule; this will make them and you much happier.

4.  Roll With It.  As prepared as you will be, there will still be insane, crazy days.  And it's on these days that I urge you to squeeze your kids a little longer and smile.

 

Exercise For Kids In A Rainy World

I live in the Pacific Northwest.  We, of course, are known for our notorious Fall and Winter rainfall.  September and October this year were beautiful, with record breaking temperatures and historically low levels of rainfall.  We are making up for it in November.  Day after day, it's been nothing but rain.  And I am not talking the occasional sprinkle or light shower.  That cold, beating rain that comes with wind occasionally.

I have lived here most my life, except when I attended graduate school in New York City.  So, I am used to the rain.  I actually like the rain, love rain walks, and love the beautiful landscape that surrounds us in this part of the country.

But now that I have three children, the rain does present challenges when it comes to this time of year and long stretches of vacation.  Right now, we are nearing the end of a 9 day Thanksgiving break.  When vacations during the school year come around, I am well-prepared.  I keep them up on their studies, we do extra reading and workbook pages, and have extra fun activities like game night or holiday shopping.  But all of you parents out there know, the bottom line, at the end of the day, is that children need regular, everyday EXERCISE!!

We have all heard of the recommendation that children get 1 hour of play/exercise per day.  That's pretty easy to accomplish for my children while in school and with Fall activities.  They have school, do soccer, have dance class, and have crisp Fall days to ride bikes and play outside.  But then the rain and vacation comes.  Suddenly, I am struggling to get them the activity they need!

Why is it so important?  Of course, regular exercise is good for growing children's muscles, hearts, and to keep them fit.  But let us now forget their brains!  Recent studies show that exercise fosters a better attention span, better memory retention, learning, and a reduction in hyperactivity.

I think we can all agree that exercise is thus important for children.  But the trick (especially this time of year) is coming up with creative ways to get that for your children.  Below are some ways I have found to make it work:

1.  Playgrounds At School.  Most schools at least have part of their playgrounds under cover.  Often, the basketball hoops, hopscotch grids and even some playground equipment is under an awning.  After school hours and during vacation breaks, these areas are open to the public.  It's a great burn off some energy!

2.  A Walk In the Rain.  Don't underestimate the good ol' fashioned walk in the rain.  As long as your children have a good raincoat and rain boots, they are ready for a good rain walk.  They have free reign of every puddle they come across.  You can eve play games along the way:  the "Find Something Red (or color of your choice) Game" or "Find Anything That You Can Drive".  Come up with your own game.  The kids will have a blast

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3.  Breaks In the Weather.  There will be those days when the rain is just too torrential and windy and you just can't be outside.  So, stay tuned to those skies.  Even a 10 minute break in the rain can work wonders for the kids.  Quickly get outside with bikes, scooters, hula hoops, or the soccer ball and get a little energy burned off.

4. Indoor Play Areas.  Although there is a nominal cost involved, there are many indoor options for kids.  Jump gyms, children's gyms, roller skating rinks, ice skating rinks, and other similar venues can be a lifesaver for parents over Christmas vacation.

5. Dance Party.  When you are stuck at home and need exercise, my kids love a good dance party!  Click on a good dance station on Pandora and free up some space in the kitchen; dance along with your children.  You can even add exercises to the "routine" like jumping jacks, jumping on one foot, the splits, push ups, etc. to make it fun!  If you have a Wii of XBox, there are many fun dance games that you can buy or borrow from your local library.

6. Hit the Mall.  Remember, a lot of walking, even in spurts, is great exercise!  When my kids are bored and need exercise, we will often take a "field trip" to the mall.  Stores like Pottery Barn Kids, the Apple Store, or the Lego store are like going to a museum for my kids.  Malls are usually HUGE, so they get lots of walking.  Many malls these days also have indoor play areas, which add to the exercise and activity.  Best of all, unless you are actively shopping, it is FREE!