What is something you want changed for yourself or your children? Have you been struggling to find the right time to implement it? Good news!
Change is a natural part of summer, so you might have a perfect opportunity to start something new right now. Think about it - summer often provides a natural time for transitions. Kids have ended one grade level and are preparing to start another. Family routines shift. The days are longer and the weather is warmer. All you have to do is follow a few simple steps to make your dream of change a reality.
Let Everyone In On The Secret. Be positive and introduce what you want to do and tell why it’s a great time for it. For example, if you want your children to start independently getting up and out of bed in the morning, you can say something like, “You have become so mature and independent. I’m so proud of you. One of the most important habits you can have is to get up on time all by yourself. This will be important when you are in 2nd and 4th grades because you know how busy our mornings are. It will be a big help for me, and I think you are ready. We will start practicing using an alarm clock this summer.”
Create a Plan. Have action steps with timelines assigned. In the example above, you might create a plan to buy a cool new alarm clock, pick a day to start using it, and have a reward in place for getting up that first day or two.
Review Progress. This is one of the most important parts of the plan, but the step many folks ignore. Sadly, if you don’t monitor success, the change often doesn’t stick and the attempt goes into the pile of “I tried but it didn’t work.” Troubleshoot if the change doesn’t immediately take hold. Brainstorm with those involved to see how to modify. On the other hand, if everything has worked well, take a moment to celebrate. Marking success is fun and it reminds everyone about the progress they’ve made.
Yes! You can create a culture of change in your family starting this summer. After that, regularly talk with each family member to see what they would like to improve or something you’d like to see happen. While traditions are great, there are always improvements that need to take place to help develop independence, make life run more smoothly, and create more harmony in the home.
One of my favorite sayings is, “A goal without a plan I just a wish.” Summer is the perfect time to set goals and make plans. Save the wishes for later!