How We’re Making Summer Outings Easier as a Family
By: Jeanette Bellinger, Expansion Speech Therapy Parent
Navigating summertime activities can be challenging, especially with multiple children. I am starting new systems with my kids to stay on time. Some days go better than others, but reaching our destination feels like a win for parents.
I’m beginning to let the children choose from places we can go. Giving them more input makes them more excited to leave and reduces resistance when heading out.
The night before, the children lay out two outfits they want to wear. I explain the weather to them and give a few ideas of things they can put together. Even if I don’t agree with their choice, I still let them wear it.
I also try to do the snack packing at night, so I gather all the snacks, the water cooler, and whatever else we need to take. This ensures those little tasks are handled in advance. When timing is tight due to morning travel, I place a sandwich or hoagie order at my local market for pickup, which saves me the time of making sandwiches. Don’t forget the first-aid kit, sunscreen, and face and hand wipes.
On the morning of our outing, I plan a quick, fun breakfast, such as a Dunkin’ Donuts or cereal. The kids are excited by the treat, and it helps us finish breakfast quickly. It also saves time with clean-up.
When it’s time for everyone to get dressed, I set a big timer on the living room TV and make sure it’s loud enough for all to hear. When the timer goes off, each child knows to be ready: shoes on, hair brushed, and with their assigned book bag or activity. For example, if one older child is responsible for grabbing the basketball, they know to have everything ready at the door.
Sensory concerns are always on my radar, especially in new places where I’m unsure how the children will react. I make sure each of them has at least one sensory item to play with. I also look for opportunities in these places to get them involved, such as creating our own activity or doing a small group activity as a family.
I also research the places to see if sensory rooms or activities are available for the day. I also try to look up the day’s schedule, let the kids know, and we work together to plan how we will spend our day.
Quick things to remember when planning: look at the available bathrooms to ensure there are enough in between to reduce walking during bathroom emergencies. Look for lunch areas to help plan which types of lunches to pack. Research whether the place offers family rates that include meals. Look for a schedule or special programming to help plan the timeline for when to leave for everyone to make the show.
Here is a fun tip: I know car games are great for the kids; however, I like to think of our car drive as countdown time until the madness starts. I play my playlist in my ears, have my coffee, and relax until we get there.
