Summer Vocation

Jun 302009
 

No, it’s not a typo… you read it right….

Now that summer vacation is underway, it might be time to introduce your family to the concept of summer VO-cation.

Sleeping-in and swimming and riding bikes are all great fun but instead of focusing only on firing up the backyard barbecue you might want to think about ways to fire up your kids’ imaginations!

There are lots of ways to do this, but the more flexible schedules and attitudes that come along with summer break may provide you with the chance to introduce the kids to different kinds of job opportunities. What may seem mundane to a grown-up can be intriguing to somebody who has never really considered how this particular process or product comes to life.

Get creative. Who do you know with an unusual job or job setting? Can you take a family field trip to a farm or a dog training class? How about a boat yard or a campground? How about visiting a bakery, a golf course or a plant nursery? Notice things. Ask questions. Exposure to new people, places and can open up conversations about the different kinds of work that people do… and may open up a whole new area of interest for someone you love!

Smile, People Will Think You’re Up To Something!

Jun 172009
 

Someone just told me that June is National Smile Month.  Cool. 

What a break!  Finally, an event that is easy to celebrate.  Other than our routine dental care, there seems to be absolutely nothing to do to get ready for this one. 

Did you know that smiling is good for your health?  That it releases some of the same endorphins (the brain’s natural ‘feel good’ chemicals) as a good belly laugh? 

Smiling is also good for our social health, signaling openness and possible friendship.  (While recently hosting some international guests, I was reminded that a smile can also serve as a great substitute for language!)

As parents, there are times that a smile lets us ‘off the hook.’ What a great way to let our kiddos know that we see them – and that seeing them warms our hearts.  In addition, a smile comes in handy when you are tempted to yell and scream about some often-reminded-yet-still undone-chore (the over-flowing trashcan? the socks that were on the floor?  the family dog dancing around with her legs crossed???) 

Try showing up in the TV room with the dog’s leash in one hand, the remote in the other and a big smile on your face. 

My guess is that your kids will laugh at themselves a bit, as they get up off the couch and take care of business.

On the (Summer) Job Training — Take 2!

Jun 092009
 

With summer just around the corner, many parents are starting to think about vacation activities that will keep their kids entertained and safe… while improving skills in at least one area of their lives. 

If you are the parent of a young entrepreneur, you are probably watching your child count down the days until the end of the school year so that there is more time to devote to updating neighbors’ computers, helping with Mom or Dad’s home business or marketing their own special brand of pet-care services! 

Even if most of your plan for the summer involves everyone staying close to home, it is not unheard of for even the youngest student to contribute a little more time to the good of the household.  In fact, the process can be great learning for the whole family. 

I am a fan of a ‘blended’ approach to family chores: there are the things that we all do to keep the household running smoothly simply because we live here and care for one another.  Then, especially during the summer months, there are jobs that can be done for money.  One approach is to identify work that you might pay someone else to do and offer that opportunity to your kids first.  Let’s use ‘keeping the family car clean’ as an example. 

Making an agreement about this can provide ‘teachable moments’ in several areas.  It opens the door for discussion about:

  • what you normally spend for car care services,
  • negotiating the car-cleaning schedule,
  • the timeline and quality you expect
  • and, of course, how much you are willing to pay! 

 

Summertime is a great time for the real world lessons that will give your kids a leg up on the skills they need to succeed later in life!

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