Creating Family This Summer
I wanted to begin by saying – at Pearls For Life; Family Yoga, we are all about family – but that seems a bit obvious. I guess what I mean is that we are about more than just family and yoga, we are about family on all levels; we are about creating unity and togetherness not just in the studio, but at home, at the park, around town – everywhere.
What do you do to encourage a culture of family in your family? What I mean, is family is not just a noun defining a group of offspring with caregivers, it is a culture, a closely cultivated unity, a sanctuary away from everything else. It is a refuge where an environment of transparency and acceptance, love and honesty is bred.
As summer is around the corner and the kids will be out of school and driving you crazy (;) , think ahead about some of the things you can do to create a sense of family in your home.
Summer Activities
1. Outdoor activities: Buy insect nets from the 99Cent Store and go exploring with your kids. Catch lizards and butterflies and take a look at them or take a picture before you let them go and then have the kids do a creative response: draw a picture, write a story, learn about the animal online. Have them capture that moment in time and express it in a way that’s unique to them.
2. Books on tape: When the weather heats up in the afternoon, create a relaxed environment within the house. Get out the coloring books and put on a book on tape or read aloud to your kids while they keep themselves busy. If your kids can read, have them take turns reading aloud.
3. Cook together: The last thing you want to do is turn on the oven when it’s hot outside, so make a no-bake meal with your kids: salads, wraps, sandwiches, desserts. Let them get creative and try new recipes.
4. Rearrange a room: This doesn’t have to be a back breaking exercise. Ask the kids for ideas and suggestions and then create a new environment for the day. Teach them perspective and seeing things through new eyes.
5. Paint: Buy canvases at a craft store (2 for 1 special) and let the kids paint them outside. Have them explore paint techniques. I once allowed my kids to pretend they were Jackson Pollock hard at work; it was truly a mess, but so much fun. They can mark the date on the canvas and hang it in their rooms as a sweet memory.
6. Yoga: While Pearls For Life; Family Yoga is closed during the summer, you can still practice with your kids. Make a space in the house, backyard or even the park (teach them about the practice of martial arts outside in Asian cultures) and stretch with them. Take note of the moves from class and keep your kids limber until the classes resume.
Make summer a time for family. Create opportunities, build memories, teach your kids to explore and express, rest and stretch. Live family.
