Tag Archive for: Staci Chambers

Should Your Kids Have a Summer Routine?

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By Staci Chambers, MSW, LSW – May 22, 2025 –

“Schools out for summer!” This is potentially one of the most controversial statements of all time – for some, cheers, for others, tears. Summer has the longest and warmest days of the year for kids to enjoy, with a break from structured routines. What could go wrong?

Random sleep schedules, spontaneous pool days, and impromptu picnics may sound ideal to some, but some unexpected and potentially even negative things could pop up. The reality is that children thrive off structure and routine. If the goal is to make meaningful memories and connections with your child, consider implementing some plans and routines in the daily summer schedule.

The main goal in establishing and maintaining a meaningful summer routine for children at home is to be intentional, present, and consistent. These routines do not have to be too strict or time-consuming.

Being intentional with a summer routine can help make it more impactful when connecting with your child. Consider having conversations to assess their interests or desires. Your child may share an idea of an activity they would like to participate in or a new interest they have developed, which will help create plans that are more specific to your child’s interests. It may also present an opportunity for you to introduce your child to a new hobby or activity that you enjoy. These activities do not have to be fancy or all about checking activities off a wish list, but rather more about being intentional in spending time together doing something that promotes happiness.

To be present in your time with your child requires more than just physical presence. Whether you are on an elaborate amusement park trip or a backyard worm hunt, being present and engaged with your child can make all the difference in the experience. Ways to truly be present and show genuine interest may include putting your device away and engaging in conversation. Spending uninterrupted and undivided time with them maintains a good connection with your child during the summer months.

Consistency in your summer routine can mean more to your child and benefit your family more than you may realize. Amid the more unstructured routines that summer break may naturally present, prioritizing quality time with your child consistently can help keep you connected and give your child something to look forward to. These consistent interactions can help promote deeper communication with your child.

Finding stability in the flexibility of a summer break schedule can provide a great opportunity to strengthen bonds within your family. Staying involved, engaged, and connected with your children on a regular basis throughout summer break will encourage relationships that are more positive.

Here are some simple examples of summer activities:

  • Movie nights
  • Nature or neighborhood walks
  • Backyard campouts or campfires
  • Ice cream outings
  • Weekly water days (garden hose, trip to the pool, splash pad, etc.)
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Effective Communication with Your Teen

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By Staci Chambers, MSW, LSW – January 23, 2024 –

For parents and caregivers, it’s often challenging to find a balance between keeping the door open for communication with our children and being overbearing. Fostering a compassionate, protective, and comfortable relationship with our kids is the key to maintaining that positive bond that allows us to communicate effectively with them. 

The following are some tips to help establish this type of relationship with your adolescent or teen.

Providing love and support establishes the foundation of a healthy relationship with your child to keep the lines of communication open. As we all know, ways of showing love and support vary from person to person. However, consistent expressions of love, care, and concern demonstrate a deep bond and unconditional love toward your child.

Taking interest in their activities can help the bond with your child grow. Taking time to truly check in with your child about their latest goals, accomplishments and their personal interests is a way to show care and connection.

Consistent communication is quite possibly the most imperative component of connecting with your child. Opening doors for communication with frequent check-ins as part of your daily routine can help encourage the line of communication to remain open. Consider finding time in your family’s daily schedule to engage in these conversations to stay up to date with your child.

Dinner time, car rides to and from school, a phone call when they get home from school, etc. are examples of easy ways to consistently check in and have these conversations with your children.

A willingness to be open with your child about your strengths and challenges can also help establish a level of comfort with communication. Helping our children learn alongside us can be beneficial for both parent and child.

Maintaining clear rules and boundaries with your child can help set them up for success. Allowing them to take part in establishing some of these expectations and answering questions about why certain rules are set in place helps encourage children to follow established rules.

Give grace when grace is needed. Understand that children are going to make mistakes and staying consistent in your responses and follow through can be key. Non-judgmental and minimal reactive responses can help encourage your child to be more open and willing to share. Responses that communicate support and willingness to help resolve an issue encourage children to open up more to their parents with positives and when challenges arise.

Finding ways to effectively support, encourage, and protect our children will always be a challenging task for parents. Understanding that there is no “one size fits all” approach to parenting is key.

Taking the time to communicate regularly and understand your child for who they are is the best way to work towards protecting your child. Utilizing outside resources may also be necessary and helpful to protect your child. Be open to suggestions from professionals in the community and schools to help improve your communication with your child.

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Incorporating Family Time into Your Schedule

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By Staci Chambers, LSW – August 25, 2021 –

The last year and a half has certainly provided its fair share of uncertainties and changes. From school and business closures to stay-at-home orders, we have all had to adjust. Those adjustments inevitably lead to spending extended periods of time at home.

For some, this provided a silver lining among all the stress the pandemic generated:  more time with family. That time allowed for more flexible schedules and challenged us to find new ways to connect and comfort our family members. As time has progressed, it seems that our planners are beginning to fill up once again.

It is easy to get caught back up in our busy schedules like before as we return to school and work. The family time that was so precious during the prime of the pandemic is now more limited. The following are simple and inexpensive ways to incorporate family time into our schedules as we become busy again.

1. Prioritize mealtimes. Whether it is breakfast or dinner, at the table or on the couch, mealtimes are great opportunities to reconnect and update each other on recent experiences. Cooking a meal together may even be a fun task to complete together.

2. Plan a family night. At least once a month, plan a family night in. This may include takeout night, movie night, or game night. The kids will love to help plan this.

3. Go on regular evening walks with your family. When the weather permits, going on a walk with the family is a simple way to get some fresh air, chat, and exercise.

4. Be a part of the kids’ bedtime routine. This applies more to families with younger children. Make it part of the nightly bedtime routine to tuck them into bed and read them a book. This is a great way to wind down from the day with your child.

5. Create a group chat for texting. This applies more to families with older children. Creating a group chat for the entire family is a convenient way to share stories, pictures, and day-to-day experiences with one another. 

Time is a worthy investment to make when it comes to your family. Small strides to keep your family members connected can make all the difference. Consider implementing just one of these ideas into your family’s routine as the bustle of returning to school and work unfolds.

One concept that is ever present in my mind these days is adjusting to the “new normal.” Among all of the other changes we have had to adopt, why not make prioritizing time with your family another “new normal?” This is one that all members of the family are sure to appreciate and benefit from.

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