As you start mapping out camps, vacations, and childcare, this is also the perfect time to intentionally build a few real-life skills into your summer rhythm.
I want to share something I did when my kids were younger.
I picked two weeks each summer and called it âMommy Campâ.
This did not necessarily mean I took two weeks off work.
Sometimes I was working. Sometimes I wasnât.
What changed was my intention.
During those weeks, I chose a few real-life skills to focus on.
- Even when they were still in elementary school, I taught them how to pump gas.
- How to estimate how much a tank of gas would cost by making it into a guessing game. (Fun fact: It was way lower than it is now! LOL)
- How to use an ATM by letting them handle transactions and show them what that did to my bank account.
- How to build small pieces of furniture from IKEA.
Of course, you may not call it "mommy camp" but you can apply the same concept to your child's age and developmental stage.
Summer gives us breathing room to slow down and bring kids into real life.
Not worksheets.
Not hypotheticals.
Real life.
If youâre thinking about being more intentional this summer, here are a few simple categories to consider.
đ± Independent Living Skills
- Pumping gas
- Cooking/preparing one meal per day or per week for themselves
- Doing laundry from start to finish
- Grocery shopping with a budget
- Calling a store to ask a question
đ Exploration and Curiosity
- Opening up old electronics items to see whatâs inside (you can buy old remote controls, computers, etc at thrift stores for a few dollars)
- Building furniture
- Painting a wall
- Learning how tools work
- Choosing the right plant for the right space (start my favorite hydroponics garden in your home)
- Creating a free website
đŁ Self-Advocacy and Communication
- Ordering their own food at the counter or at a table
- Asking a store employee for help
- Setting up a get-together
- Research and pick a place/park/museum to visit
- Picking an activity that helps them prepare for the new school year.
đ§ Executive Function in Real Life
- Planning a day trip
- Making a packing list
- Organizing the entry area or pantry
- Creating a simple budget for activities they want to do during summer
đ Contribution and Belonging
- Cooking for the family
- Managing pet care for a week or longer
- Washing the car together
- Washing large items at the laundromat.
This is not about adding more to your plate.
Itâs about asking yourself:
What am I already doing that I could slow down, teach, AND my child can learn life skills while we spend quality time together?
Summer works well for this because kids are often more open to it. Thereâs less academic pressure and reduced schedules.
You donât need to do all of it.
You can choose two or three skills to focus on.
There are many ways to help your child build confidence. This can be one fun way to do so with your child.
NORIKO'S NOTES: sharing my life's simple joysđ
A couple of weeks ago, we were invited by neighbor friends to go crabbing in San Francisco â and it was so much fun.
We didnât catch a ton ourselves (just two LOL), but our friends ended up with a full bucket! The most amazing part, though, was the location. As you can see in the photo, we were right near the base of the Golden Gate Bridge on the Marin County side. It was a perfect day - sunny, cool, and beautiful to be outside with great company.
We kept things simple with store-bought sandwiches, but our friends? Total pros. They had a full setup with stovetop to cook a meal, fresh coffee, hot soup!
The funniest part: there was a huge seal (or sea lion?) that kept trying to steal the crab as we were pulling them up. Cute⊠but relentless đ
If youâre looking for a great spot, I highly recommend checking out Fort Baker Pier. Itâs a small pier, so definitely get there early to get a parking spot.
Thank you for letting me share my simple joyđ.
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Noriko Abenojar, MSW PPS
Parenting REdefined
Social and Cognitive Learning Center
Follow me on Instagram/Facebook/LinkedIn: @NorikoAbenojar
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