Every June in the United States, parents of curious, intense kids face some variation of the same problem: school’s out, the structure is suddenly gone, and their kid is very likely driving them up a wall.
Change can be more challenging for sensitive, neurodivergent kids, so even if summer is a welcome reprieve from the school year, it can come with its own set of difficulties. Even if your child isn’t in a traditional school or is still in daycare, it’s likely that the shift to warmer weather and longer days will inevitably disrupt your family’s routine.
Despite children being out of school for an average of more than 17 weeks in the U.S. (here in Colorado, it’s the worst in the country at a full 20 weeks), employers care very little about this dilemma.1 The average worker in the U.S. gets between only two and three paid vacation weeks per year if they’re lucky, which means there exists a gap of four to five months of the year where parents must privately arrange for someone to care, educate, and entertain their kids—often at great cost.2
When you run your own practice, as I do, you don’t get healthcare, retirement, or paid vacation. If I reduce my hours to care for my young kids, it means I bring in little or no income to support my family. This is part of why the paid supporters of this Substack are SO appreciated, and so vital. If you can afford a subscription today, your support allows me to continue supporting gifted and 2E families who need it most, while caring for my own. Thank you!
Perhaps you understand the school break dilemma firsthand and have had to shell out significant sums for camps or babysitters.
Maybe you are a stay-at-home parent, but you are burned out after a full year of school and don’t have the energy to create intensive summer learning activities for your kids.
Or maybe you’re hanging in there, but still looking for something to do on the weekends that won’t cost much, gets the kids out of your hair, and reduces the “summer slide” (the time of year where learning notoriously stalls).
No matter your family or caregiving situation this summer, it’s likely that your child needs some activities to keep them busy, that you’d prefer something other than sticking them in front of a screen, and you’d like to avoid shelling out thousands of dollars.
Today’s article for paid subscribers includes 25 affordable, screen-free activities designed and approved by a gifted education specialist (me!) to keep your bright kids busy and their brains working during times away from school.
They are low-prep, low-cost, and high on learning value to keep your kids busy all summer long.
Let’s get going!
✨ Psst—One quick interruption: Ready to make a career change that actually works for your gifted or 2E mind? Want to design a more flexible career that also lets you be with your kids? Join the CURIOUS Career Cohort (C³) starting September 2nd! You can find all the details here, and if you register by July 15th, you’ll save $600 (payment plans also available)! ✨
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