School's Out! Now What?
By Arlene DeVries
Summer can be an exciting but frustrating time for children and parents of
gifted students. The high energy level and intensity of these children demand a
thoughtful response to how they will be engaged outside the school routine. Parents
may want to keep in mind the needs and personalities of individual students. Summer
provides an opportunity to instill the value systems parents wish to pass on to their
children. Activities may encompass time for physical activity, time for in-depth
exploration, time to develop creativity, time to experience the arts, time to strengthen
family ties, time to give back to their community, and at other times an opportunity to
simply relax and “do nothing.”
The benefits of being out-of-doors and experiencing nature have become increasingly
important in fostering positive mental health. Individual sports that will carry into
adulthood can be introduced: tennis, golf, swimming, bowling, skating, or walking.
Some students may need the camaraderie of a team sport that allows them to feel part
of a group and an opportunity to make new friends. Arts activities can be experienced
as either a spectator or a participant. Visits to museums, dance, drama, and musical
productions encourage in-depth exploration of the history and culture of the
presentation. These cultural events are instrumental in developing future appreciative
audiences in our society. Participating in music lessons develops task commitment and
stimulates cognitive processes.
Gifted children are often concerned about the needs of others and the inequities in our
society. Summer is a time when families, as a group or individually, can reach out to
others through volunteering. Local newspapers and Internet sites provide an abundance of locations for volunteering. Many youth organizations or religious groups plan family work camps to aid in disadvantaged areas. Local conservation commissions and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers offer educational activities in most areas at no cost. The Internet identifies museums, historical sites, parks, and other opportunities in your community.
Based on your child’s intellectual, emotional, social, and spiritual needs, your family
might select summer activities from the following list.
Fifty Things to do When There’s Nothing to do
1. Start a rock or fossil collection; classify what you have found.
2. Learn to play a musical instrument.
3. Offer to care for neighbors’ pets while they are on vacation.
4. Draw cartoons.
5. Read some poetry, write some poetry, submit it for publication, or enter it in a contest.
6. One child-one parent: go to a fast food restaurant for breakfast.
7. Entire family: go out to eat at an elegant restaurant and engage in stimulating conversation.
8. Paint pictures with water