FOCUS on... Family Calendars
Lori Serratto
Family Resiliency Trainer
FOCUS San Diego
The arrival of summer is an exciting time for kids and families. The warm weather often serves as a signal for coming changes in the family routine. Summer time allows for more freedom and relaxed schedules than during the school year. It is a perfect time to go away on a long vacation or visit local attractions that you’ve been just too busy to enjoy during the school year.
While a shift to the summer schedule can mean more opportunities for fun, it may also bring more confusion since plans often vary by day and by family member. Also, parents may feel stress thinking about how to keep their kids busy and engaged. However, with some planning, you can set up a summer schedule that works well for you and your children.
Creating a Family Calendar is a great way for parents to help get their kids ready for the switch to a summertime schedule. A Family Calendar helps to:
- Let the whole family know about important events
- Keep track of busy schedules
- Allow family members to quickly locate other family members
- Achieve goals, such as cleaning the garage or enjoying a weekly family movie night
When placed in a common space, such as the kitchen, all family members are able to pass by the calendar and be reminded of upcoming events. Your family can use the calendar to schedule family meetings and family outings, and to track family goals. The calendar also allows parents and children to schedule their own important events—like parent date night or friend play-dates.
In addition, a family calendar can help teach children about organization, cooperation, advance planning, and communication. Children also learn that their plans and wishes matter.
How to create a Family Calendar:
A Family Calendar should be big enough to include the entire family’s schedule. The best option is a big desk calendar from an office store. Stickers and markers can be used to highlight special events like birthdays, holidays, homecomings, and other important family dates.
A Family Calendar should be big enough to include the entire family’s schedule. The best option is a big desk calendar from an office store. Stickers and markers can be used to highlight special events like birthdays, holidays, homecomings, and other important family dates.
Making a family calendar is just one fun activity that can help children feel at ease during a transition time. For more ideas on ways to support children during transitions (such as deployment), check out our website at www.focusproject.org.
NOTES: Deployments and homecomings are important dates to put on the Family Calendar, but keep in mind that those plans and dates can change, often at the last minute. Be sure to have a family discussion with your children about these possible changes. You can talk about the various schedule options that might exist around deployments and homecomings and how your family will deal with those schedule changes.
Families who have a deployed parent can save the calendar, and during reunification, family members can sit together to highlight how they spent their time while the parent was away from the home. This type of family discussion can be helpful in re-establishing the connection with the recently returned parent. Care should be taken to have this talk at a slow pace to allow the recently returned parent to adjust to home life.
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