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Dr. Popkin's Blog
 Lazy Summer Days – Time to Reconnect |
| (Posted: on 7/21/2010) |
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With the slower pace of summer upon us, I have been thinking about how we best use this special time with our children. First, summer represents an opportunity for us to connect more fully with our children. Without the haste of sports, lessons and academic schedules, we can embrace a bit of “down time” with them. All children, all people, need moments of relaxation, no pressure. Now is the time for us to allow ourselves and our children to experience this. When both parents and children are well-rested and relaxed, we have an opportunity to engage with our children in ways that we normally do not. Reading a book together, playing a game, taking a long walk during a beach vacation or even after dinner to enjoy the summer air, all these represent opportunities for us to catch our breath and to see our children for the young adults they are growing into. Second, summer is, in some ways, like New Year’s Day. It is a time for us to evaluate what we have been doing this past school year and to set some goals for the coming school year. We might ask ourselves what worked, what didn’t work, what we would like to improve if we could. We can also ask our children what changes they would like to make for the coming school year. They experience pressure and stress just as we do, and they may have both problems and solutions that we have not identified. Maybe, we made too many commitments we couldn’t keep. Maybe, we left too little time for family. Maybe, we wasted precious time because we weren’t organized. Whatever the case, summer is a chance to objectively review what improvements can be made for the next school year and to make plans to implement them. Last, summer is a good time for us to cover ground with our children that we normally do not make time for. We can use this time to further encourage important values and priorities that may get sidelined during the school year. For example: ·We might want to re-establish a healthy lifestyle that includes more fruits and vegetables and regular exercise. As one mom told me, “summer is our time to get back on track nutritionally!” ·We might take time to remind our children why they should avoid risky behaviors, such as smoking. We may even find time to research things we have been meaning to learn about (for example, what are the risk factors regarding which kids might smoke? For ideas and answers, see “Ask Dr. Popkin” on our website message board). ·Summer also gives us time to help our children practice their skills in handling peer pressure (i.e., humor, avoidance, and role-playing. For more ideas, see “Talking Tips – Ways to Say No” on our website). Whatever your summer plans may be, take a moment to embrace this special time of year. Catch your breath, connect with your child, re-set priorities. Best of Luck, 
Dr. Michael H. Popkin |
