Make the most of summertime!

At Oxley Comprehensive Dentistry, we know how quickly kids grow up and how valuable summer break can be. We want to help you make the most of summertime with your kids by making memories both you and they will cherish forever. Use these ideas to plan some fantastic summertime activities with your kids. And call us if you have any concerns about your child’s dental health or if a dental emergency occurs while they are enjoying summer sports and activities.

1. Get organized.

Summer break is short. To make the most of the time you’ve got with your kids, you will need to be organized. Sit down with a calendar and make a list of the activities you want to do and the places you want to take them. Make a plan for each week of summer and include the activities you want to do that week. If you are taking the kids somewhere where you will need tickets or a reservation, get the tickets and book the reservation ahead of time so you won’t have to worry about being turned away. 

2. Create a summertime family bucket list.

Summer break is all about fun, and your kids should get some say in the activities you do. Sit down as a family to create a family bucket list of things that everyone wants to do. Then you can work on scheduling as many of those items into the summertime as you can. Some of the things your kids want to do may require nothing more than craft supplies and time, while others might involve full-scale family vacation planning. Remember, the summer is about fun, so don’t get too caught up in trying to do everything on the list. Just do as many as you can without making it stressful for you or for the kids. 

3. Set up a family calendar to keep everyone organized.

A great way to keep kids from getting bored over the summertime is to put up a family calendar that shows when events and activities are happening. Older kids will like being able to check the schedule to see when things, like summer holidays, barbecues, trips, and other activities, are happening. And if your kids are attending camp or other scheduled activities, keeping everyone’s activity schedule together in one family calendar will prevent any mix-ups from occurring. 

4. Leave unscheduled time for fun.

Parents may want to cram as many activities as they can into the summertime so they can get as much quality time with their kids as possible. But kids need unscheduled time to play too. Give your kids the opportunity to lie in the grass on a blanket and soak up the sunshine or chase fireflies at dusk with their friends or set up a fort in the backyard or play in the dirt. Make sure you leave some blocks of unscheduled time for them to just play and be kids. 

5. Focus on experiences instead of things.

The best things you can give your kids aren’t things; they’re experiences. Summer is the perfect time to get out and explore. Give your kids experiences they will remember for a lifetime. And you don’t have to spend a fortune doing so. Go hiking at New Bern Historical Society Civil War Battlefield Park or spend the day at Kidsville Playland. Or pack a picnic lunch and spend the day exploring the Island Creek Trail. Take the kids horseback riding or kayaking or simply take a long family bike ride. Get outside and play. 

6. Make fun moments educational.

Summer doesn’t mean that learning stops. There are many fun and educational activities for kids and parents in New Bern to enjoy over the summer. Kids always love exploring Tryon Palace to see what life was like for people who lived in the 18^th century. The North Carolina History Place is a fascinating place to spend a summer day, and if you have smaller children, the Pepsi Center inside the museum has an area for smaller kids with interactive exhibits and experiments and games. The New Bern Fireman’s Museum is also a big hit with smaller children. 

7. Don’t forget the summer reading list!

Your kids may not like the reminder that school will be coming again soon, but they can get their summer reading started with a trip to the library. When it’s too hot to be outside, head to the library and spend the day in cool comfort looking at books, lounging on couches, or participating in story times and events. With free WiFi, books, movies, and music, the library has something for everyone, no matter how old or young your kids are. 

8. Try some messy crafts.

Summertime is the perfect time to get messy. Let your kids try all the crafts and activities they wanted to do during the school year but were too messy to be done indoors. Set up an outdoor craft area and let kids paint their furniture or create artwork, make some tie-dye, or work with clay. Kids and craft stations can be washed off with a hose in the warm summer weather so your home stays clean and your kids have a blast.

Summer is also a great time to get your kids in for dental cleanings and exams before the rush of the school year starts. Call us today to schedule appointments for your kids so we can help keep their teeth and gums healthy now and throughout the year.