When School's Out, Life Doesn't Stop: Planning Your Child's Summer

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Summer break disrupts the consistency of knowing where your kids are each day, presenting unique challenges for single moms who work full-time. We explore practical solutions for keeping children of all ages engaged, learning, and properly supervised during school vacation months.

• Children over 10 can typically stay home alone with strict rules and responsibilities
• Implementing chore charts teaches valuable life skills like cleaning and laundry
• Considering small allowances based on age as incentives for completed chores
• Encouraging older children to volunteer at churches or community organizations
• Utilizing teens' technology skills to help with media ministries or similar programs
• Teaching cooking skills by encouraging children to watch cooking shows
• Helping teens 14+ find part-time summer jobs at restaurants or amusement parks
• Opening bank accounts for working teens to teach financial literacy
• Reinforcing academic subjects younger children struggled with during the school year
• Exploring affordable childcare options like relatives or summer camps
• Starting simple gardening projects to engage younger children

Please share this episode with another single mom who might benefit from these summer strategies.

https://singlemomsunitedpodcast.com/

It's not how you arrived at the title, but what you do with it.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:02):
Welcome to the Single Moms United podcast.
If this is your first timelistening, welcome.
If you're a repeat listener,thank you.
This podcast has been developedto motivate and encourage the
single mom.
It's not how you arrived at thetitle, but what you do with it.

(00:23):
It's not how you arrived at thetitle, but what you do with it.
I'm here to offer tips,suggestions and resources on
topics that you can incorporatein your life to improve your
parenting skills.
I recognize this is not aone-size-fits-all, but can fit
most.
It's designed to get youthinking about your approach to

(00:45):
single parenting, possiblygiving you an aha moment.
Today's episode I want to talkabout schools.
Out now what?
For the past nine months, therehas been consistency related to
knowing where your kids are eachday.
Allowing you to adequately planyour day and having a set

(01:08):
schedule makes life so mucheasier, not only for you, but
for your kids.
This is important to have thistype of stability in their lives
.
However, what happens whensummer break occurs, especially
if you're working every day?
Who provides care while youwork?

(01:29):
How do you keep thementertained while out of school?
What child care resources areavailable during the summer
months?
Well, ladies, I'm glad youasked these great questions.
If your child is over the ageof 10, then the good news is
they can probably stay homealone while you work.

(01:49):
Keep in mind, you must developstrict rules on how they should
conduct themselves in yourabsence, and not adhering to
these rules will result insevere consequences.
One thing to consider isimplementing a chore chart.
Teach them the correct way toclean the bathroom, the kitchen,

(02:13):
their bedroom and the real bigone doing laundry.
Now I taught my kids at anearly age how to do their
laundry.
What this does is it'spreparing them for the real
world, teaching themresponsibility.
There is no reason why yourhouse shouldn't be spotless when

(02:35):
you get home.
Yes, what a huge stressreliever after working all day.
If you're feeling generous, youcan give them a few dollars for
helping around the house.
Now I recommend you pay thembased on their age.
So if little Susie is 10, thengo ahead and give her $10, right

(02:57):
, something to look forward towhen she turns 11, right.
$1 dollar up, getting that costof living rate.
It depends on your budget ifyou want to do that monthly or
every other week or however youwant to do that, but it's
definitely something to strivefor and to feel a sense of

(03:17):
accomplishment by giving them afew dollars, and again, that's
only if it fits in your budget.
Now the other thing to consideris volunteering during this time
.
Kids at this age they have somuch energy and they need to use
it in a positive manner,otherwise using it negatively.

(03:39):
We all know what happens inthese types of situations and
unfortunately it doesn't appearmany kids play outside anymore.
It's all about social media.
This is the prime time toinsert that energy into a place
where there isn't much energy.
For example, if you areaffiliated with a local church,

(04:03):
ask what type of volunteering isavailable.
Churches are nonprofit and seekvolunteers to help with
different functions and, ifnothing else, help cleaning the
sanctuary, having your preteenvolunteer to do some cleaning,
especially now with COVID.
Many churches are having tohave the sanctuary wiped down

(04:28):
after services every Sunday.
This would be a greatopportunity for your pre-teen.
Help get rid of some of thatenergy they've got pent up, and
the churches would appreciate itright, because then they
wouldn't have to hire a companyto come in and do that.
You know, one thing with COVIDhas done is moved a majority of

(04:51):
churches to use various socialmedia outlets.
Guess who knows this newtechnology more than anyone else
.
That's right, your kids.
They know how to navigate thistechnology.
I mean they can do it in theirsleep.
Again, helping the mediaministries will also set them up

(05:12):
for future employmentopportunities.
Now I know many of them have toprepare for Sunday, so this
would be a great opportunity tovolunteer to see how they can
help the ministries develop thecontent for Sunday morning
worship.
You know, unfortunately theseare the times we live in.

(05:33):
There also may be othervolunteer options available, not
only at churches but in thecommunity as well.
I encourage you to ask Do yourresearch, ladies.
This also a time for them tolearn something new, since
you're working.
How about teaching them how tocook?
Encouraging them watch the FoodNetwork.

(05:55):
There are some great cookingshows they could learn from.
Long story short, your child orchildren should be learning
during this time off from school.
If you can afford it, prior tothem returning to school, take
them to an amusement park in aneffort to celebrate their summer
accomplishments.

(06:16):
Another thing to consider forolder children, 14 and up,
getting a part time job.
Many restaurants and amusementparks hire this age range.
Now think about the single mom.
Wouldn't it be awesome, thelittle money they earn over the
summer, they set some aside forschool expenses.

(06:38):
Woohoo, this should work toyour advantage.
Now you won't have to come outof your pocket for those school
pictures, school supplies.
I'm just saying in my out loudvoice Out of your pocket for
those school pictures, schoolsupplies.
I'm just saying in my out loudvoice.
Both of my kids started workingat an early age at a fast food

(07:00):
restaurant.
The restaurant was in walkingdistance from my home.
Hopefully that would be thecase for you, but if not in
walking distance, maybe they canuse other transportation
options.
Just never know.
There are things out there tohelp meet the need.
Once my son started working,there was a bank located behind

(07:24):
the restaurant.
When he received his firstcheck, we opened an account.
This also allowed him to easilycash his check every week and
save money at the same time.
Now, keep in mind, this exposedhim to real life and the tax
deductions that came with thispaycheck, allowing him to

(07:45):
understand the differencebetween gross and net pay.
And let me tell you, itdefinitely was an eye-opening
experience for him and mydaughter as well.
For children under nine, thereisn't a lot to say.
They should be able to belearning during the same time as

(08:06):
well.
Many of the things I mentionedearlier about the older kids
related, meaning cleaning aroundthe home.
Yeah, I would say they canstart that as well, but maybe on
a smaller scale, smaller level.
This could also be anopportunity to reinforce some of
the subjects they struggled induring the school year.

(08:28):
You could ask the teacher fortips and resources regarding
that particular subject and howyou can help increase their
knowledge.
As far as care for the youngerkids, if you are working and on
a budget, then you can ask arelative to watch them for you.
If you can afford child care,then you might want to research

(08:51):
summer camps in your area.
Also, for smaller children, anactivity you can consider is buy
a large flower pot and pottingsoil and some seeds.
Allow them to plant andcultivate the seeds.
This will be such a bigaccomplishment for them when

(09:13):
they see the vegetables grow.
Now.
The good news is this is awin-win, because there will be
satisfaction of growing avegetable and then getting to
eat it and tomatoes are a greatvegetable to start the process.
All right, ladies, I hope youfound value in today's episode.

(09:34):
If you did, please share withanother single mom.
It's not about race, religion,creed or color, but being the
best single mom that you knowhow to be.
Again, thank you so much fortaking the time to listen to the
Single Moms United podcast.
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