Summer Panic

[summerandsun]

So, I have 2 DC aged 11 and 14 and they break up in a few weeks. They have a few sports activities lined up but I'm desperately wanting to get into a bit of a routine before the school breaks and then also having one during the hols.

The reason for a loose 'routine' is that things have drifted with screen time as DC have grown up and I'm not happy with how much time they devote to gaming/looking at their phones etc.

Just as some background, in term time, we try to stick to no gaming in the week but they're allowed phones in the morning once dressed, packed bag (if not done nite before) and ready. Then they're on phones in the car journey over to school (I drive them). After school, they're on the phones while having a snack (20 minutes) before going on to HW. 14-year-old now much better to get on with HW whilst 11-year-old still resisting.

I'd like to hear from you lovely parents as to what has worked (well) for you i.e. 'no screens before lunch time', 'one hour of reading time in the day', doing some minor work (e.g. languages, music practice etc). Obviously I will be encouraging them to go outside and see friends etc.

Please hit me with your 'schedule' (and how it has made a difference) or what 'house rules' you have around screens and added study/chores etc.

Thanks in advance! :)

Slightly different perspective. I always let DS play as much as he wanted at first. After 3 days he'd be asking why we weren't doing anything and was happy to go anywhere

Wow, mine have always been allowed in the past to play as much as they want during the first week or so but not had the same result as with yours. ;)

Unfortunately, both my husband and I work 8 hours a day and we have no family or friends to help us, so our 13 y/o son is on his own until 5 pm from Monday to Friday. I am allowed to work from home so at least he has company but I have a very demanding (IT) job so I can't do anything besides work. He's with the computer all the time. I know it's not OK but he hates summer camps, all his friends have more affluent parents that take them to Greece, Bali, Bahamas, etc... so nobody is here. I feel I am a bad parent because I can't offer him what other kids have in summer, but on the other hand, being on his own turned him into a very creative kid. He's interested in puzzles, drawing, and designing with the computer, so the outcome is positive. Maybe we just need to let them be and see what happens, without schedules or imposing rules?
But believe me, as a mom, I wish I could offer him summer activities and fresh air. Sadly, we need to work hard to earn money so the whole family needs to adapt.

DC now an adult. No TV in bedrooms - one in family room (DH grew up with no TV at all). DC never really played on phones at all. Break from homework for short TV programme, e.g. Simpson and the homework finished by 7pm (hopefully). Tried to limit computer games to about one hour - less if activities e.g. Scouts.Summer - combination of holidays, always family and sometimes with one parent while other working, Scout camp, summer sports camps, so active all day. Rarely spent all day at home with no plan, we live in London, so trips to museums, galleries, theatre, cinema, dry ski slope, swimming etc. and days with friends. Never had to push reading - we had a “books don’t count” approach to spending, so any book that would be read were bought - used library when younger but too pushed for time with work and fines too high when older.