The days are getting longer, and the temperatures are rising. Spring is here now, but summer will be here before you know it! Because no parent wants to be caught off guard when that final school bell rings, here are some tips to help you ease into the lazy days of summer.
End-of-School-Year Prep
After 10 months of tests and homework, your kids are probably ready to drop their backpacks on the floor and forget about them until September. Even so, preparing your child for the end of the academic term and finding ways to keep them intellectually stimulated over the summer can make starting a new school a little easier.
- Making a gift for their favorite teacher will help your child feel good about saying goodbye at the end of the year.
- Be sure your child returns any library books that may have been checked out.
- Speak with your child’s teacher about any summer reading plans or fun educational activities they can do over the break at home.
Get Into Summer Mode
Summer schedules for children tend to be a bit more lax – which is a good thing – but zero structure can also lead to bored kids and stressed-out parents. Research shows that children feel more confident and secure when they have a routine, so make it a fun one for summer.
Don’t try to schedule out every minute of every day but do create a flexible plan.
- Keep meal times and bedtime relatively consistent.
- Have some scheduled indoor/outdoor time each day.
- Have a scheduled quiet time for everyone to rest or simply read – usually following some higher energy activity like a trip to the playground is best.
- Work on a few household chores for each child at least a couple of times a week.
- Keep kids from getting burnt out by mixing it up with regular field trips to places like the library or a new park and activities like crafts or an impromptu water balloon fight.
Get a Head Start on Vacation Planning
There’s nothing quite like loading up the car with luggage and hitting the open road… only to get stuck in freeway traffic, find out all the hotels are booked, and pay full price for amusement park tickets because you didn’t buy them early. What a summer bummer.
A little planning can help make your summer vacation more enjoyable and probably save you some money in the long run.
According to travel experts, the best time to book domestic flights for summer is between 164 and 46 days before your departure. For international travel, it’s around 120 to 60 days. So you still have some time, but don’t wait too long.
Aside from ski resorts, summer is pretty much the busiest time of the year for every hotel. Booking at least two months in advance will get you the best deal and increase your chances of getting a room.
When it comes to theme parks, places like Six Flags Over Texas tend to have day passes that are the same price no matter what day you go. However, if your family can’t get enough of roller coasters, it may be worth it to consider a season pass. After two visits you’ve paid for the costs of your pass. Score!
There’s plenty of summer fun to be enjoyed in Dripping Springs, and if you’re looking to move into a new home this summer, reach out to our team today.
