Sanity Over Spring Break

Schedule: set jobs, plans (and even their own space for periods of time) to help them decompress during this unstructured vacation time. Knowing what to anticipate can help a child organize and reduce stress.

Avoid: the temptation to overplan and instead, aim for one objective per day and see how the day proceeds. It is easier to add more plans, than to cancel!

Negotiate: reasonable guidelines for your families needs and stick to them! Don't abandon all guidelines in the name of spring break. Bedtimes, limiting junk food and monitored use of electronics are still priorities. Any changes in these should be overtly discussed and agreed upon, to maintain balance and structure. This will ease the transition back to school as well!

Inventory: what will be needed to make the following day go smoothly. Just like a school day, a vacation day requires certain tools for a child. Organizing necessary materials, wardrobe etc. the night before, can create a backdrop for the next day and avoid last minute conflicts.

Talk: about how this time will be similar to and different from, their usual routine. Remember, your child is not doing anything "to you". This is a lot for them to handle as well so, talk and hug as needed.

Yes: is your friend! With all this extra time there are bound to be a lot more requests. As much as possible, reserve the "no's" for the biggest moments. Instead, offer a "yes" with a condition of how, or when, or under what circumstances this request might be met.

For example, "Yes, you may have more time with your friend. So when we return home, lets check the calendar and see when we can plan to do that. I've answered yes, if you ask me again I might change my answer, are you sure you want to ask again?"

You are trying to help teach compromise, negotiation, delayed gratification, etc......So keep their mind open to these lessons by maintaining a neutral, supportive tone.

PLAY

Whether you are working or at home, remember to take time to play together.

Just ten minutes can create a memory for all!