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What happened to the lazy days of summer" For busy families where both parents work, summer can mean a rushed schedule of day camps, work and evening activities. Yet there are several good reasons to ?unschedule? your summer?even just a little bit.
?We didn?t sign up for any activities last summer,? says Sue Luff, who has five children between 18 months and 10 years. ?I was really judged for that; people said, ?Really" They?re not going to do anything"? But the kids really enjoyed it. They liked that we weren?t on the go all the time. I really noticed a positive change in their behaviour. I think having the choice about what to do made them feel more in control.?
Kids really benefit from unstructured time, says Carl Honoré, author of Under Pressure: Rescuing Childhood from the Culture of Hyper-parenting and the parent of two children, ages eight and 11.?It?s that timeless childhood need for getting dirty and being out of sight of your parents,? he says. Playing together in an unstructured way also teaches kids how to build relationships and get along with others. They learn this best when adults aren?t too quick to jump in and solve issues. Try these ways to free time even when your child?s days are pretty booked:
1. Look for relaxed programs

If both parents are working, it?s harder to give your child time and space for free play because you?re relying on child care. Honoré suggests choosing a day camp where there?s some unstructured pla...