News You Can Use
How parents can cope with kids when school’s out
University Relations
News Bureau (662) 325-3442
Contact: Pam McTeer
March 16, 2005
STARKVILLE, Miss.—School holidays can be a handful for parents wanting to keep their kids busy, but establishing rules and planning ahead can make the transition easier on all.
“It’s time well spent because planning keeps the kids involved and out of trouble,” says JoAnn Thomas of Mississippi State’s Early Childhood Institute and project coordinator for the university-based Partners for Quality Childcare.
Especially for children in day care, Thomas advises establishing priorities—with safety being first on the list. Even if the child remains at home under the supervision of a carefully selected caregiver, rules also should be established. Whichever the case, she urges the maintenance of normal bedtime hours and limits on television and computer usage.
Whether a parent, professional caregiver or someone else is responsible, Thomas says it’s important to provide a variety of activities and responsibilities to keep children’s interest. When stuck indoors because of bad weather or other reasons, her sample of suggestions includes:
—Scavenger hunting or simple cleaning assignments. These two can be combined by having children find clothing items or toys and placing them in their proper locations.
—Indoor picnicking, wicker basket and all.
—Reading times, with encouragement to draw favorite parts of the story.
—For youngsters, learning simple, practical skills such as cooking or button sewing; for older children, budget shopping from a catalog.
—Writing “thank you” notes to local emergency service officers or preparing packages for overseas troops.
In good weather, Thomas recommends, among other ideas, visiting local parks, petting farms, lakes and hiking trails; volunteering for local service organizations; visiting a library’s story time; organizing a neighborhood get-together; or attending a sporting event.
For more ideas on creative holiday planning, visit www.nacyc.org, www.earlychildhood.com or www.familyfun.go.com.