Summer vacation

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone,

 

My son is 7 and going into second grade. The school year is so chaotic that we decided to take it easy on him this summer and keep him home with his 4 year old brother and their babysitter. It's only been a week but I can already see the impact of this decision in his behavior. He's much more agitated, seems easily irritated with his brother and has been having a fair amount of unexpected outbursts, sometimes followed by hitting. We've been doing our best to monitor this, but I'm not really sure what to do long-term here. Next week he starts a summer school program that will be just a few hours a day - this will offer some routine to his day and I hope that that helps. Other than that I had thought having some freedom would be good for the two of them. Any thoughts on how to improve things?

[Guest guest]

At that age, free time is probably the problem. He needs structure and predictability. The summer school will probably help a lot. Then maybe structure the rest of the day a little bit - having certain activities or specific days for certain things. If that is still not helping, I would suggest a visual schedule so he knows what is happening that day. That sometimes help calm them.

Roxanna

Whenever I feel blue, I start breathing again.

( ) Summer vacation

Hi everyone,

My son is 7 and going into second grade. The school year is so chaotic that we decided to take it easy on him this summer and keep him home with his 4 year old brother and their babysitter. It's only been a week but I can already see the impact of this decision in his behavior. He's much more agitated, seems easily irritated with his brother and has been having a fair amount of unexpected outbursts, sometimes followed by hitting. We've been doing our best to monitor this, but I'm not really sure what to do long-term here. Next week he starts a summer school program that will be just a few hours a day - this will offer some routine to his day and I hope that that helps. Other than that I had thought having some freedom would be good for the two of them. Any thoughts on how to improve things?

[Guest guest]

I agree with Roxanne, create a schedule to the day. Such

as from 9am -11am, park or bike riding then lunch and

quiet time reading or coloring (or nap) 1-3pm go to the

library for the summer reading program (for both kids), other days

have water play outside with a small pool and buckets to fill and pour out. From

3-5pm can be quiet inside play to relax for dinner

such as blocks, or trains etc. dinner and then bath by 7pm and in bed by 8pm

reading.

Keep the transitions from one activity to another spaced

out so their is no rushing.

Create a sticker chart for kind behavior toward

each other and have the sitter be generous. Give lots of

praise for any and I mean any kindness.

Is the babysitter up to the task of shaping kind behaviors?

Pam

>

> Hi everyone,

>

> My son is 7 and going into second grade. The school year is so chaotic that

> we decided to take it easy on him this summer and keep him home with his 4

> year old brother and their babysitter. It's only been a week but I can

> already see the impact of this decision in his behavior. He's much more

> agitated, seems easily irritated with his brother and has been having a fair

> amount of unexpected outbursts, sometimes followed by hitting. We've been

> doing our best to monitor this, but I'm not really sure what to do long-term

> here. Next week he starts a summer school program that will be just a few

> hours a day - this will offer some routine to his day and I hope that that

> helps. Other than that I had thought having some freedom would be good for

> the two of them. Any thoughts on how to improve things?

>