Tips for a Fun Summer Break During COVID-19
With thousands of overnight summer camps closed due to COVID-19, over a million Canadian children and their parents may be struggling with ideas of how to fill the summer break. This article hopes to give a few suggestions and tips on how to enjoy the summer whilst staying safe.
NOTE: This article was initially written in July 2020, only a few months into the onset of COVID-19 globally. The circumstances of the world and the advice in this blog may change on your individual situation.
Don’t Sweat It
As various provinces move into different opening measures, those who are vulnerable or caring for at-risk family members may still be feeling uneasy. Check out our previous article Reemerging After Safe at Home for some advice and tips regarding gently and safely returning to a new normal.
As each child, family, and situation is unique, the advice below serves as a guideline only, so please adapt it according to your specific circumstances. For example, camping in groups may be acceptable for some, but not for others, and that is fine.
Plan and Explain Your Summer Activities
For many children, adapting to summer break (pre-coronavirus) posed a challenge in itself. However, with new and ever-evolving social distancing measures, things may be even more tricky.
Explaining the changes this summer surrounding social distancing measures, alternative vacation activities and the virus itself will be helpful in reducing anxiety for your child or teen.
Some children may be upset at the disruption to their usual summer schedules, such as attending summer camp, whilst others may have anxiety about reemerging again into more social, outdoor activities. Planning the summer vacation with your child or teen in advance and making a visual calendar may help to alleviate some anxiety.
Much of the information in our previous post, Helping Kids Understand Coronavirus remains very relevant to the summer vacations this year, so please have a read.
Below are a few examples of social stories that may be useful in explaining summer break and the restrictions in place over the coming months:
What to Expect on Summer Break
The School Year is Over Social Story
Someday: A Story of Hope for Children
Online and Daytime Summer Camps
Many traditional summer camps, in and around Alberta, are either closed or operating at a reduced capacity due to the pandemic. Our Qi Adventure Club, as well, is taking a well-earned break to plan and prepare for future adventures.
Check with your local summer camp programs for full details if they are operating this season.
Some camps are offering daytime programs, according to governmental guidelines, but places are limited, and strict physical distancing is in place.
As most summer camps are free to operate according to their own discretion, (providing social distancing is adhered to), there will be variations on how much of a summer program each camp is offering. Therefore, it is a good idea to check locally with your own authorities and summer camps for full details.
However, the good news is that there are so many virtual camps that will engage your kids and provide them with interesting projects and structured learning opportunities during the summer.
If your child has a special interest, chances are there is an online class this summer.
The online classes work pretty much the same way as online schooling, with audio/visual components, where kids can see and hear each other and the instructor guiding them through the relevant activities.
Whether you’re happy to enroll your child or teen in a daytime program, fancy a family cabin stay at your local summer camp or prefer to stay safe home for a little longer, below are a few links that you may find useful:
Alberta Camps: All the information on Alberta camps, programs and Virtual programs for Summer 2020
Backyard Camp: A free daily newsletter of activity ideas from Slip n’ slide Hockey to Hip Hop, arts and crafts. This fantastic online activity resource was created by three Toronto moms for summer 2020.
Brain Chase: A six-week virtual Global Treasure Hunt for 2nd to 8th Grade students.
14 Free Virtual Summer Camps Kids Will Love
Virtual Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Camp Alberta - Hosted by March of Dimes, this camp is for children and youth aged 6 - 19 who use speech generating communication devices and their families.
Although on the summer camp front this summer will look very different, there are still some great opportunities for kids of all ages and abilities to learn new skills, make new friends and have fun.
Get Out!
Image: A young boy plays outside, beneath a mock tent of tarps, blankets, and poles.
Don’t let COVID-19 stop you from getting outside and active this summer. As per provincial guidelines to safe distancing, outside activities are far safer than indoor ones.
The number of people you are happy to hang out with (within the guidelines) is completely up to you and your individual circumstances.
Whatever the activity, please remember the basic safety measures such as hand sanitizing, cleaning, social distancing, and wearing a face mask where appropriate.
That said, there are large expanses of outside space whereby you and your loved ones can cycle, camp, rent a family cabin, fish, swim, hike, or horse ride. All of these activities have been deemed ‘low risk’ or ‘extremely low risk’ by public health experts. The risk increases relative to the number of people, outside of family members of the same household, in any social group.
Furthermore, getting a dose of good old-fashioned sunshine and exercise is going to be a great health boost, both emotionally and physically.
So, get out, get active, and most of all, whatever your favorite activity or sport, stay safe, and have fun.
Get Creative over the Summer
Image: Two young girls pose in ballet and dancing costumes.
By now, many of us have found new ways to entertain ourselves and our kids whilst safe at home. So, to finish off here are a few ideas, but I’m sure you can add some more:
‘Camp In’: Set up your tents in your own backyard, garden, or even inside if you live in an apartment, and camp. Go the full hog if you can, fire up the barbecue, toast marshmallows, sit around a log fire and play music, or tell ghost stories. In short, bring the camp home.
Picnic: There are so many parks, beaches, and nature spots around Alberta. With many of us feeling the financial pinch, and restaurants operating under strict social distancing, find an isolated spot, bring a load of scrumptious food and drink, and indulge in nature.
Drive-In Movie: Organize a traditional drive-in movie with friends and family. Set up your TV or projector outside and invite a few friends and family for a drive-in movie. Dish up the popcorn, burgers and soft drinks and enjoy! (Very safe for those still strictly socially distancing).
Get Gardening: This summer is the perfect time to allocate a patch of the garden to your kids and let them get down and dirty. Growing plants from seeds, strawberries, vegetables, or flowers is extremely rewarding. Also, metaphorically, it teaches kids of all ages that great things grow from very small seeds, with a little nurturing and love. What better lesson in these difficult times.
Back to Basics: Ban all electronic devices for a few days and let the kids climb trees, paddle in streams, read, write, laugh, dance, and play. Remember, it is okay for them to be bored, boredom is the first step on the road to creativity. So much pressure is put upon parents nowadays to fill each moment of the child’s day with structured activities, but a little old-fashioned fun (and boredom) didn’t do our ancestors any harm!
Silver Linings
Image: A young boy and girl climb different tree branches.
At Qi Creative we appreciate that every family’s situation is unique and many may struggle over the summer break.
However, having all of us got through the lockdown (one way or another) we are in a much stronger position not only to survive the summer vacations without summer camp, but to embrace it, celebrate it and enjoy it.
Take the positives from the lockdown and extend them to the summer break. Lie outside at night and gaze at the magic of the moon and stars, watch a sunset or sunrise, make homemade lemonade, grow a sunflower, watch a movie, play a family game, and enjoy the simple pleasures of life.
Whilst the threat of the coronavirus and a potential ‘second surge’ are still very real, don’t focus on the negatives.
Through our actions, during these challenging times, we are teaching our children the most valuable lesson: to adapt, and thrive in, an ever-changing world.
“Blessed are the curious, for they shall have adventures.”