For those of you looking at the long expanse of summer wondering how you're going to have any time to yourself, think "refill time." This is something I've planned into our summer plans with our foster children this year.
Refill time is when everyone goes to their rooms and has some quiet time to themselves. Depending on the age of the child, this could includ reading, drawing, coloring, listening to music, journaling, playing a game, doing a puzzle, doing a word puzzle, playing quietly with toys - whatever refills them.
If your children are small, you will likely need to start with very short times, five to ten minutes for example. You can increase it over time, depending on the age of your children. Our girls are teenagers, and we try to take from one to two hours of refill time daily. It doesn't always work, but that's my goal.
Some of them have embraced it heartily. Others endure it and can't wait until it's over so they can be with people again!
With small children, you may need to show them what they can do during refill time. You can set the timer, or if they can tell time, show them when their refill time is up. The idea is to teach your children how to spend time by themselves, that it's ok to plan in quiet alone time in their schedules, and to give you time to yourself to refill.
What do you do to refill yourself?
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
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