Just the Right Amount of Summer Fun

Is “fun” a scary word at your house? For many families, having too much fun means kids with meltdowns, explosive behaviors, and lots of work on self-regulation. With fear and excitement sharing the same neurotransmitters in the brain, “fun” doesn’t always end up being fun for kids and families dealing with trauma.​

Here’s a list of activities and tips to help squeeze the last bits of fun out of summer break without the stress!

Tips

• Lower the pressure. Sometimes, no plan is best.
• Expect the unexpected. Leave some room in your routine.
• Follow the weather forecast to decide what time of day to schedule activities. When it’s hot outside, plan something indoors. When it’s cooler (mornings and evenings), go outside.
• Engage the Senses: Think of activities that include sensory opportunities for taste, smell, and touch. Keep a bandana or scarf near the kitchen to turn your everyday snack times into tasting and smell tests.
• Accept Good Enough: Plans won't always work out perfectly. Find the fun in the failures and celebrate the successes.

Activities

• Cook Something Together
• Have A Dance Party
• Make A Blanket Fort
• Run Through The Sprinklers
• Make Homemade Playdough
• Go on a Scavenger Hunt
• Water “Paint” The Sidewalk
• Blindfold Fruit Taste Test

*More activities can be found at https://gokidpower.org/summer-activities-kids

Don’t have too much fun… Have the right amount of Summer fun!

Sharon Bouse-Ferry, ECHOflex Director