Must Do Things on Your Final Week of Summer Break

As we head into the last week of summer break, the craziness begins, the anxiety starts, and it feels like life is coming to an end- in the minds of any child heading back to school. In your final week, there is a sense of urgency to get kids back into a routine, cram in all of the summer assignments that were meant to be completed over the last two months, and a desire to hold on to every single minute.
As a teacher and a mom, I encourage you to live it up this last week. Skip the sense of urgency to cram all of that school work in. Spend time playing and as a family. Go to the pool a few last times. Do a few more things that didn't get crossed off on the summer bucket list.
If your child didn't read every day this summer, or do 20 minutes of math on a daily basis, or keep that summer journal they intended to it's ok and trying to overload it in the last week of summer break is just going to make it more stressful. As school begins and teachers are establishing routines and procedures, start to get back into the routine then. Slowly start to add more reading time, bring out the math fact flash cards, and start a new journal. It will be easier to get into the routine when school starts and to slowly work your way up to the homework expectations. Don't hear me wrong, I strongly believe every child should have reading incorporated into every day of their life but I also know making them read everyday during the last week of summer can backfire.
Must Dos on Your Last Week of Summer Break
-spend an entire day at a pool or lake
-find a book to read as a family. Select your favorite book from your childhood and read it with your children. 
-go on a family bike ride
-allow your children to build or create something with their hands
-start a gratitude journal
-spend a day in PJs
-go on a hike
-complete one more item from the summer bucket list
-write goals for the upcoming school year
-have a family night or go on one on one dates with each child
-play outside!
As a teacher, I relate to my kids and students. I promise you life really isn't ending even though it feels like it. A week into the new school year, summer will seem like a distant memory so hold on to it this last week and make the best of it!