Summer isn't just for children...

Summer vacation has arrived. Children are eagerly anticipating fulfilling their wishes. Parents have also made summer plans for their children. Sometimes, however, they don't see eye-to-eye. How can we create a fulfilling summer for both?

The passion of a child, the experience of an adult.

After nine long months of diligent studying, many children eagerly await the arrival of summer so they can realize their long-awaited personal projects.

It could be the daily dream of going swimming, enjoying the refreshing coolness of a summer pool while splashing around and having a blast. It could be the dream of attending dance and music classes, immersing oneself in music and the endless trends of childhood.

To make summer truly meaningful, adults should experience things together with their children. (Photo: Thanh Huyen)

It could also be the longing to return to one's grandparents' hometown, to visit the green spaces of childhood, instead of the overly monotonous concrete walls of the city. Or it could be the desire to attend painting classes, to be captivated by the lines and colors, and to paint new and unique perspectives of childhood…

However, children's passions don't always align with their parents' aspirations. This is where summer conflicts often arise.

Parents often share the feeling that they need to create a summer plan for their children to prevent them from going astray and becoming unsuitable for the developmental needs of society.

With our life experiences, we often assume we know what children are good at, what they're bad at, what they need, and what they should do. Therefore, we often assume that, to have a good future, children should follow the guidance of adults, including how they should spend their summer.

Conversely, children often have needs and expectations that differ from those of adults. Throughout the nine-month school year, children have strived to fulfill their parents' wishes; now, as summer arrives, they feel the need for space and time to pursue their own desires.

And when common ground cannot be found, conflicts arise repeatedly.

Summer for the whole family

Modern psychologists and sociologists recommend that adults connect with children to find common ground, rather than imposing traditional family-based parenting models.

To find common ground, we can consider the following three suggestions:

First, always be prepared to listen and try to understand the child's perspective. Conversely, explain to the child that they also need to listen to and understand the thoughts of adults.

Two-way communication is essential during sharing and discussion. To achieve good results in these conversations, adults need to use language appropriate to their children's age, avoiding overly complex expressions.

Secondly , we also need an open-minded attitude to reach consensus, accepting different voices, including those from children. If there is disagreement, we must persuade with strong arguments and vivid illustrations, instead of imposing our views unilaterally. We also need to seek a compromise solution that is reasonable and fair, instead of leaving potential psychological conflicts to both sides.

Ultimately, to make summer truly meaningful, adults should experience things together with their children. If adults only plan and expect children to do it alone, the results will not be as expected.

Summer isn't just for children. Summer isn't just for parents either. Summer belongs to all members of the family. Activities should and need to take place in a shared experience for everyone.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/mua-he-khong-phai-cua-rieng-con-tre-229135.html