14
Friday, June 28, 1985
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
SPICING UP
SUMMER
School's out and the
kids are underfoot.
Here's a few ideas to
keep them occupied,
and you under control.
BY ELLYCE FIELD
Special to The Jewish News
A broken arm does not keep Yael Ebenstein
from participating in a game of kick ball.
Avinoam Stolovitch contemplates a myriad
of activities available when school is out.
It's the first day of summer vac-
ation. Toys are scattered all over the
floor. Scissors, markers, papers,
crayons and discarded schoolwork
weave in and out of forgotten shoes,
shorts, bathing suits and towels.
"Hey, Mom. Where are you? Can
we have our treat now?"
Take heart. Summer is only
two-and-a-half months long. Why
not make the most of it? Here are
some summer survival suggestions
guaranteed to keep you and the kids
from getting overheated.
Relax and enjoy each day. Try
not to overburden yourself with
deadlines, commitments and respon-
sibilities. If your children are romp-
ing around outside and parading
through the house from sun up 'til
sundown, you'll find it difficult ac-
complishing much. Better to give in
and go with the flow.
Don't give up on all household
rules and routines, though. Meal-
time, bedtime, TV and phone time
might be relaxed and flexible, but
still need to be consistently enforced.
Expect the kids' help picking up
toys and clothes at the end of each
day. Don't create extra work for
yourself.
Be prepared. Keep on hand spe-
cial treats and ingredients needed to
whip up a summer milk shake (fresh
berries, milk, ice) or bake old-
fashioned sugar cookies. Offer your
rolling pin and cookie cutters and let
7.
•
Attplia:
the kids take over. They'll enjoy de-
corating the cookies, too. Anything
chocolatey and sugary will do. -
While you're having fun in the
kitchen, divide up meal respon-
sibilities. Let each child pick a meal,
plan the menu and help you prepare
the food. Post a list announcing
"Chef for the Day" on the re-
frigerator. Bake challah together.
Have a secret cache of "bored-
out-of-our-mind" materials: bubbles,
clay, colorful paper, markers, poster
paints, blank tape recorder cassettes,
large boxes from appliance stores,
old clothes, and odds and ends such
as yarn, cardboard, buttons and
material scraps.
Encourage your children's imag-
inative play. Make puppets, create
costumes, tape record a show to send
to Grandma and Grandpa, design
greeting cards, build a cardboard
castle or outdoor fort.
Enjoy the outdoors. Take a na-
ture walk, collect bugs, have a
peanut hunt, set up an outdoor easel
so the kids can paint "en plein air,"
like the Impressionists.
Plant a garden. -Let the kids do
all the work. They love playing in
dirt. Let them water the seeds and
themselves.
Organize. Kids love cleaning out
shelves and drawers if they know
they're planning a garage sale with
all their discarded possessions. Give
them boxes and folders. They can