Limiting screen time and managing rainy days

Concrete strategies

Little bins of guided projects

Start preparing bins now that will hold everything needed for a variety of engaging activities that are, of course, suited to your kids' ages. Be sure to offer choices that match their interests, whether they're more artistic, scientific, musical, sporty or culinary. Also let your kids be independent in choosing which activity to do, to spark more of their interest and boost their motivation. For these same reasons, the bins should also be refreshed regularly! 

Before turning on a screen

If your kids tend to reach for a screen the moment boredom shows up, ask them to complete a checklist, which will have them ask themselves a few questions before turning one on: Have I finished all the chores I was asked to do? Have I taken the time to read? Have I spent time outdoors? This approach invites your child to take responsibility for their choices and to take the time to think before automatically using technology, while also letting them learn to self-regulate their total time in front of a screen. 

Keep device passcodes secret

To keep a natural form of parental control over access to screens and make sure you have a conversation with your kids before they turn one on, keep the passcodes secret; your child will then have to ask your permission before each use, letting you check whether every step of the checklist has been completed and avoiding more impulsive, thoughtless screen use. 

Handling tough days

Are rainy days piling up, to your dismay and that of your kids, who are stuck indoors against their will? Make sure you have emergency strategies ready to deploy as needed. Aim to alternate days of free play with more structured, guided days, and make a point of involving the kids in finding solutions to boredom and to the effects of repeated rainy days. Finally, even though the challenge may tempt you to loosen the structure you've set up, make sure you maintain it instead, to avoid the house, and with it the kids, falling into disorganization! Use the situation to turn the constraints you face into opportunities, an ideal way to develop everyone's creativity!

Special summer feature: The conclusion

The four fundamental pillars of a successful family summer

For a relaxing, harmonious family summer, make sure you put these four things in place: 

• A game plan for family chores

• Setting up effective routines

• A motivation and positive reinforcement system

• A system for managing screen time and rainy days

Remember that each system you put in place needs to be effectively linked to the others, to create synergy between them and so ensure their success. Also, allow yourself to start putting them in place gradually and with kindness; leave room for possible mistakes as well as for the adjustments that are often needed along the way. Finally, always keep a long-term view of the benefits your current efforts will bring, and remember that summer is the perfect laboratory for the new school year coming in just a few weeks!