For many Muslim families, summer can be a time of great connection and adventure. It’s often a time of long road trips, exotic vacations, and jam-packed camps and events.
However, for other families, summer can also be a very stressful time. With children and parents in tight quarters, it can lead to arguments and hair-pulling.
It can also be difficult for single parents and low-income parents to arrange childcare and expensive activities for young children while they work to make ends meet.
No matter what your situation, it’s important for all families to make a plan.
Children’s development, especially in the summer months, can be fueled by scheduled activities and outings that break the mold of academic rigour.
But summer is also a time for activities that allow for a safe (and sane) blend of low-cost boredom plus healthy indoor and outdoor activities. These can keep everyone of all ages entertained and active.
Schools out!
For a child, one of the best parts of summer vacation is the freedom and lack of structure that these long days bring. For parents, on the other hand, throwing routine to the wind can be a difficult thing to do.
Fortunately, more parents are understanding that a big part of a healthy childhood and parenting involves letting go of the need for packed schedules. It’s okay to let children just be bored at times. In fact, studies show it’s actually healthy for them.
This is not to say that you should forgo all planned activities to keep kids active and engaged. However, there is mounting evidence that the creativity nurtured from the “boredom” of summer can give an academic boost in the fall.
Arrange new experiences
Summertime is a great time to skip the strict and rigorous academic training. Instead, nurture your children’s other senses and help them learn new skills.
And when it comes to learning a new skills, there are a few types of activities you may not have considered.
You may have already taken stock of available summer camps, or checked out local programmes recommended by family and friends. However, there’s one Muslim instructor shaking it up in the summer camp space.
Jordan Richter, a pro skateboarder, educator, convert to Islam, and founder of the Jordan Richter Skateboard Academy, is an athlete putting his skills and experience to amazing use. His academy teaches the skills and mindset of skateboarding to young children.
He also offers summer skateboarding camps, skateboard create-a-skate camps, and private lessons all around the San Francisco Bay Area.
For children who struggle with team sports, summer can be a great time to try a completely new individual activity – like skateboarding – to see if it’s a good fit.
The sport teaches determination, skate park camaraderie, and positive attitudes towards skill mastery. These are all traits that will serve a young rider well in other academic pursuits.
Summer is also a great time to let kids deeply enjoy their favourite hobbies, or find a new one!
Local parks and recreation centres offer a whole range of classes and courses for all ages and abilities. Some of my fondest memories of summer enrichment classes involve me being the youngest person in the room.
I learned beginning watercolours with my fancy professional artist paint set. I took gourmet cooking classes alongside much older adults.
I’m thankful to my parents and grandparents for giving me such enrichment opportunities at such a such in your home
So don’t be afraid to sign your kid up for courses that you may feel are out of their skill range; they may actually surprise you and rise to the challenge.
So long as they meet the listed minimum age requirements of a course, you’re good to go!
Activities for older children
For older children on their way into high school or college, there are plenty of projects to work on. Summer is a great time to prepare in advance for the years ahead.
These types of summer activities can also help with letters of reference and job responsibilities, adding to their fledgling resumes as they enter their college years.
Additionally, if it’s the summer before junior or senior year, incoming students can spend time getting organised for their final years of high school.
It’s easier to prepare some things ahead of time instead of waiting until fall activities make them too stressed and busy to keep up!
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