Spending Your Day offWith the Kids
BY CAROLE ARGO
Children 101Sometimes, raising kids can feel like a full-time
job. It’s made a bit more hectic if you, like many
mothers do, are also working an actual full-time
job on top of it.
So, on more than one or two occasions,
parenting can be tumultuous and stressful, but
in the end, it’s an incredibly rewarding and
beautiful experience I wouldn’t give up for the
world.
If your kids are home for a few days, consider
planning an activity rather than letting them
run around the house endlessly bored and in
search of snacks and entertainment.
Quick Tips:
Plan something according to how
long you and your kids have off (a
day? a weekend? a summer?)
Choose activities that you'll BOTH
enjoy!
Choose something that allows you to
bond with your kids instead of sitting
them in front of the TV.
1. A PicnicThere are few things that children enjoy more than eating their
favorite foods--so take those foods and bring them with you on a
picnic.
Lay out a blanket to a park and pour a few glasses of iced tea on a
nice warm summer afternoon and let the kids run around, eat and
enjoy themselves.
2. Play a Game of Their ChoiceChildren typically do not like adult games, just as adult games aren’t
typically overwhelmingly enjoyed by playing Chutes and Ladders.
But if you’ve got time to spend with your children, it’s important
that they enjoy time spent with mom or dad. If it’s a rainy afternoon
or a picnic isn’t in the mix, let your kids pick out a game to play and
sit down and enjoy yourself.
3. Take a TripThe duration and distance of the trip can vary depending on how
much time you have off. If it’s a day, plan a trip somewhere an hour
or less away, whether it’s a park, outdoor theater or to a nice
restaurant. If you’ve got a weekend, consider a trip to the beach or a
camping weekend with the kids.
4. Take a WalkUnwinding with a walk as the sun begins to set is a great after-
dinner activity with your kids that will let them get out some of their
pent-up energy. Going for a walk is calming and allows you to have a
chance to talk to your kids, learn more about them and what’s going
on in their lives (if they’re older) or talk to them about yours (if
they’re younger) and remind them how much you love them (any
age).
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