Practical Tips to Help Engage Children in Summer Activities

Summer holidays can be a challenging time for parents. Finding low-cost, fun, and relationship-focused activities can be daunting. This guide provides practical tips to help parents support their children during the summer, emphasising trauma-informed practice to foster strong connections and meaningful engagement.

Key Principles of Trauma-Informed Practice – the OFG Approach:

• Connect: Spend quality time with your child, helping them feel safe and supported.
• Co-Regulate: Engage in activities together to help understand and manage emotions and behaviour.
• Co-Reflect: Reflect on the activities and experiences to support self-awareness and growth.

The Importance of Leisure Time

Leisure time, when planned effectively, provides opportunities for children to explore their interests, develop skills, and
establish a sense of self-identity. This is particularly important for children who have experienced trauma, as it helps them feel secure and supported.

Focus on Constructive Use of Free Time

Engaging in purposeful and meaningful activities can prevent boredom, and promote positive interactions. Encourage activities that promote engagement, creativity, and physical activity.

Offer a Variety of Activities

Provide a diverse range of activities to cater to different interests and developmental stages. Choose these with your child, focusing
on their passions and interests! Examples include:

• Games: Board games, construction games, card games, problem-solving games.
• Music: Singing, playing musical instruments, listening to different genres.
• Nature: Forest school activities, gardening, nature walks.
• Crafts: Sewing, making friendship bracelets, mosaic, photography.
• Arts: Painting, scrapbooking, colouring, creating mood boards.
• Exercise: Yoga, gym, bike riding, dancing, trampolining.
• Sports: Football, basketball, swimming, tennis.
• Group Games: Capture the flag, scavenger hunts, charades.
• Problem Solving: Sudoku, word searches, puzzles.
• Baking & Cooking: Trying new recipes, baking, cake decorating.
• Outdoor Play: Using swings, climbing frames, park gym equipment.
• Animal Care: Spending time with pets or therapy animals.
• Chores: Helping with washing the car, vacuuming, tidying up.
• Personal Care: Braiding hair, painting nails, pamper sessions

Encourage Participation and Consistency

• Structure: Regularly schedule activities to create a routine.
• Encouragement: Support your child’s involvement and celebrate their achievements.
• Safety: Ensure activities are carried out in a safe and secure environment.
• Choice: Allow your child to make decisions and take responsibility for their activities.

Support Transitions

Transitioning from fun activities to learning or other tasks can be challenging. Offer choices and create a structured transition process to make it smoother. Use simple instructions and work step-by-step to help your child manage transitions effectively.

Emphasise Relationships

Use activities as a medium to build strong relationships with your child. Spend time together, engage in conversations, and share experiences to strengthen your bond.

Take some time for you

Remember the summer holidays can be stressful and pressured – go easy on yourself. Usually, your child is at school with a whole team around them to help one another! Ensure you prioritise your self-care with the ideas below – remember ‘you can’t pour from an empty cup’:

• Set Aside ‘Me’ Time: Schedule regular breaks for you – this might be whilst your child is watching a film, or enjoying a game
• Practice Relaxation Techniques: Engage in meditation, yoga, deep breathing – there are lots of you tube videos to guide you
• Stay Connected: Maintain social connections with friends and family to share experiences and receive support
• Healthy Lifestyle: Ensure you are eating well, exercising as regularly as you can, and getting enough sleep
• Seek Support: Don’t hesitate to ask for help from professionals or support groups if needed.

Regular Reflection

Spend time at the end of each day reflecting and making notes on – what worked well today? What was tricky? What can I do tomorrow to support the day to go better?

By ensuring you prioritise your self-care and by following these principles and incorporating a variety of activities, you can create a supportive and enriching environment for you and your child during the summer holidays. This approach not only keeps children engaged but also helps in building strong, positive relationships and supporting their overall development.