Life isn’t always a beach when it comes to summertime parenting

There are many things “they” don’t tell us about when we become parents or care providers. A great example is parenting during summertime. All those smiles, great memories and new friends are often possible thanks to a great deal of planning and coordination done by parents.

In addition to wanting to ensure our children have a fun summer, parents have many other motivations, such as the need to combat boredom, the need to keep children focused and motivated, and—for working parents—the need to find activities during the work day that replace the time normally spent in school.

From “camps” to vacations to time with family members, the level of coordination that is required can be anxiety provoking for parents and caregivers. Sometimes the task of filling the long stretch of summer until school is back in session can really feel like a chore.

Summertime anxiety and stress can impact your relationship with your child, as well as your child’s behavior. If you’re struggling to keep your stress levels low and your child’s behavior on the right track, consider the following suggestions.

Take advantage of the summertime schedule to build a more positive relationship with your child. For many, summer means a break from the busy school year, when it’s easy to forget to do the basic things that keep us close to our children. Summer can be the perfect time to slow our schedules down and spend some time connecting with children. The simplest ideas are often the best, like having an evening picnic, a late afternoon stroll or a morning visit to the park.

Family trips, even if just for a day, can be a time for having fun, strengthening bonds and building memories. Simple and inexpensive ideas could include a weekend camping trip, a day trip to a city you’ve never been to, a visit to a state park or state beach…there are many possibilities to explore something new together.

Teach your child new skills. Summer is the perfect time to encourage new skills by engaging your child in new projects and trying new things. It doesn’t have to be a big project, just an opportunity to spend time together and learn something new.

Maintain a routine. Consistency in your days and weeks will make life more predictable and easier to handle for your child and more manageable for you. These can be simple things, like going to the library every Monday, having a play-date with the same friend every Tuesday or going to the park every Wednesday.

For parents, there is some irony in the idea that schedules during summer—the time of the year typically thought of as the most fun and relaxing—are often far more complicated than the rest of the year. But with a few meaningful tweaks, stress can be minimized and making happy memories can be maximized.