This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Famous Footwear for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.
My patience is shortest when the temperature is highest.
My kids seems to have inherited this unfortunate character trait.
I want to put my best foot forward as I wrangle little kids at home during the summer’s heat. So when the days are hot and long, I need to have a plan. And then a back up plan.
Here’s three things I do that keep meltdowns at home to a minimum.
Have a Fun Summer Goal or Objective
Every summer seems full of unlimited possibilities and dreams. Harness that optimism and get your kids excited about achieving something meaningful. For our family, it’s the summer reading program at our local library. I can’t tell you how thrilled my boys are to track their progress and earn points. They want to spend every spare minute being read to. Having an overarching theme for the summer helps keep things from getting dull. We’re using our extra time for good and we’re doing it as a family!
When picking a summer goal, ask your kids! Maybe there’s a hobby they want to learn, or a large project they want to complete. So whether your child wants to learn how to bake, build a tree house, or help out at an animal shelter, they’ll be taking charge of their time and learning valuable lessons. Empowered kids are less moody kids!
Have Lots Of Options to Fill the Time
I’m not a Type A person. I rarely have a plan when the day starts. But I’ve found that when I let my boys call all the shots during the day, they end up getting in way more trouble than necessary. I wanted my kids to have lots of options for fun, constructive things to do this summer when they get bored. So I wrote a bunch of ideas on individual popsicle sticks.
The red sticks are full of ideas for creative expression like pretend play, dance parties, and music “concerts”. The yellow sticks are fine motor activities and building play. The blue sticks are full of service activities and ways to show compassion. The green sticks have a bunch of sensory play ideas to help my son who has sensory processing disorder get all the sensory input he craves.
My boys have loved getting a chance to pick a popsicle stick or two every time chaos threatens. For us, it’s been the perfect mix between structure and a free-for-all.
Be Prepared to Keep Up
I like to joke that I have a three ring circus in my home. I’m always amazed at the level of energy my boys produce. Constant motion and an uncanny knack for finding dangerous activities; my boys keep me on my toes. Sometimes literally.
I’ve found mothering to be my most physically strenuous season of life to date. I’ve got to be ready to chase, catch, hop, and hide. And since these sweet little chunks of love have made my feet grow wide during pregnancy, I was in the market for some practical yet stylish shoes that fit. I found a HUGE selection online at Famous Footwear. I grabbed these cute Women’s Biscayne Boat Shoes and found they fit perfectly and shipped with lightening speed (a MUST for a busy mom).
They make me feel ready to handle all that these little ones throw at me while still looking trendy! Having kids underfoot is challenging at times, but having the right footwear has really made a big difference for me. Less fatigue, and more play!
What shoes would you love to grab from Famous Footwear? How would they help you keep up with your summer circus? Tell me in the comments below or on Famous Footwear’s Instagram Page or via Twitter @FamousFootwear!
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