Spring 2004 Edition

Planning for the Summer   by Mrs. Ann Lustgarten, Fifth Grade Teacher at the Radburn School   When we look out our March windows, we often feel that sunshine and warmth may never again return to our lives. March is almost always the longest month – not quite spring, no vacation. It sometimes feels like all work and no play! Even though the summer vacation is several months off, it’s time to begin to plan for summer activities.   In an ideal world, parents and children should have a maximum amount of time to vacation and play together for the weeks that students are free of school. Realistically, it just doesn’t happen.  When planning for the summer, parents need to consider several factors:   1.  With so many working parent families, the youngsters need to have some direction – even the ‘older’ teenagers. Too much free time is not good for anyone. 2.  What time off can parents take to spend with their youngsters? 3.  What are the finances? 4. What are the youngsters’ interests?   Locally, the Fair Lawn Recreation Department provides day camp at the pool, swimming lessons, summer sports teams. The Board of Education provides summer school – both remedial and for enrichment. The Community School sponsors a day camp with academics and recreation.   A quick camp check on google.com (Summer camps New Jersey) found 512,000 entries – yes, that’s 512,000. There are camps listed which cater to youngsters who are interested in computers, horses, sea life, theater, and so forth. There are sleep-away camps, day camps, short-term and full time summer camps. There are camps which provide counseling for medical circumstances and an opportunity for these campers to have their horizons expanded. There are camps which cater to youngsters who have a need for particular sports conditioning. Oh, my goodness – so many!  Families with young children can find some of those older teenagers willing to act as ‘Mommy’s Helpers’ and babysitters which benefit all. Some of the local businesses need summer help.  Let’s NOT leave our children under or unsupervised. Let them have some time to ‘hang out’, read a book, play with friends, have a pick-up neighborhood kickball game. Take plenty of time to play together as families.  Let’s bring them back to school with relaxed minds ready to begin again and have plenty of experiences so they can easily write:  “How I Spent My Summer Vacation”  See Mrs. Lustgarten's Previous Columns   Overweight Kids (Winter 2004) Kids in the Summer (Summer 2003) Are Kids Different Today?   (April 2003) Taking Advantage of Down Time  (February 2003) Achoo:  What to Do With A Sick Child   (December 2002) Scheduling After-School Activities  (October 2002) Back To School  (August 2002) Summer With the Kids  (June 2002) PTA/PTO Involvement  (April 2002) Telling The Teacher  (February 2002)