With summer vacation in full swing, many parents spend hours trying to figure out where to send their kids so that they don’t have to deal with them. My hunch is that many of these parents also view school as some sort of glorified babysitting service. For them school is not a place to send your children to develop their minds and gain the information needed to be a productive adult, rather it’s a way to get your kids out of the house for 6-7 hours.
Without the pressure of school, parents should use the summer break to forge stronger relationships with their children. For working parents, things tend to be a bit more laid back in the summer anyway, so why not take off from work a couple hours early and do something fun with the kids? Beth Lynne likes the idea of teaching the kids some home economics, as both a way for them to get some practical knowledge as as a bonding method. She says, ” Cooking with a child can be a fun and very rewarding experience. Teaching a child to cook will result in a lifelong valuable skill.”
You may want to include your child in the planning process. Let them choose an activity for the family to do. This will make them feel like an important part of the family ( which of course they are), and make them feel that their opinion is valued.
Some quality time with the kids will also help build their self confidence as well as keep them off the street. It gives you a way to impart some of your value system to your children in a fun and friendly way. Have a good summer!
Aaron Katsman is Managing Editor of the Israel Opportunity Investor newsletter. He is lead portfolio manager for the Israel Growth Portfolio and Managing Director of America Israel Investment Associates, LLC. For more information, go to www.israelnewsletter.com , or email aaron@profile-financial.com.
