"The key is in not spending time, but in investing it."

-Stephen R. Covey

Summer is a time for relaxation, fun, and rejuvenation, but it can also be a great opportunity for personal growth. Our kids love to hear " schools out for summer".

However as any parent knows, a few weeks in and the children have gone "absolutely mad" chuckle. We have kids who just want to play video games all day, or expect to going swimming every single day, or eat 9 meals a day etc. In a previous blog I spoke about the wonders of a visual schedule- see here.

Today though we will talk about teaching kids to take control of their time themselves. Forethought is the word I have in mind. How frustrating is it when you invite a friend to an event and they show up 40 minutes late all the time and you realize that they just live their life impulsively, without forethought or without time management? This is likely very frustrating or stressful for them as well when they reap some of the consequences that come with that. This is why it is important to teach our children while they are young, how to think ahead, plan head, and be intentional, yes even in the summer. Not because we can't have fun but because we only get one life and we should thrive.

My suggestion is to begin with a conversation like so, " It's finally summer time! I am so excited, are you excited? What are you hoping to do? I have this cool paper here for us to fill out together! (Check it out here) We are going to write down a book you want to read, an activity you hope to do, we are going to think ahead so we make sure we make the most of our time this summer and enjoy life together. No one wants to get to the end of summer and feel disappointed, I know I don't so Im going to show you how we plan ahead, this is kind of like what mommy and daddy do at the beginning of each week!"

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Teaching kids to think ahead doesn't have to be hard, but it is something that takes consistent work and encouragement and a positive spirit around it can help a child to see it as beneficial!

Here to help you thrive inch-by-inch!

<3 ashley