Page 8 - North State Parent July 2020

for community By Sarah Lyons
As the whirlwind of the last few weeks of schoolwork flew by, I found my- self ready for the long, unscheduled days of summer: sleeping in, spend- ing our afternoons poolside and playing hide and seek until the fireflies
come out. Realistically, my idea of carefree summer days comes from my youth and not from the summers our kids typically experience.
Camps, playdates and ball games often fill up most of our calendars, and any free time is consumed by parent-planned educational activities and crafts seen on social media. While these things aren’t bad, it can be a little daunting for parents due to the pressure to plan every minute of their child’s summer.
I have declared this summer to be different. My kids will have the kind of summer I had as a child. This summer will be less less scheduled and more child-created, with more free play and outside time, and fewer video games. If, like me, you are tired of feeling pressure to entertain and educate your child every waking moment, use these tips to enjoy your summer—1970s style.
Ditch the excess
Parents often feel the need to sign their kids up for as many camps, clinics and activities as possible to fill their days. In the ’70s, kids did not spend their days at baseball camp. They played baseball with the neighbor kids in the backyard. They didn’t attend theater and dance camps but instead made up their own show to per- form for parents and siblings. Give your kids the gift of free time to play and try things on their own. If kids are away at camps all summer, they won’t have time to create their own adventures.
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How to Give Your KiKids a
1970s Summer
Photo by Katie Drake Photography
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