News 8
Summer Survival Guide: Tips for parents 
10:40 AM CDT on Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Summer Survival Guide
Hannah Keeley interview
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On today's Summer Survival Guide, we speak with child and family expert Hannah Keeley. Here's a look at some of the questions we asked her. Her answers may help you deal with the summer months.
WFAA: Summer camps, sleep overs, sporting events, what advice do you have to keep north Texas parents from running ragged this summer?
Hannah: The summer months are a great time for the family to relax, connect and make memories together. The trick to a stress-free summer is to get creative, involve the kids and not be so hard on yourself! Even families on a tight budget can still have a memorable summer.
• Bring fun activities home
• Establish a weekly game night with prizes
• Subscribe to a home movie rental service
• Strap on a helmet and ride bikes as a family
• Place limits on screen time and cell phones
• Visit your chamber of commerce to learn about local museums, parks and events
WFAA: Another big issue is how to keep the kids from eating too much junk this summer. What advice do you have for parents trying to put together a healthy meal in a hurry — and on a budget?
Hannah: Summer is a great time to teach kids about healthy eating. Kids don’t have homework, so get them into the kitchen and keep them engaged.
• Plan simple side dishes that kids can help prepare
• Use canned products
• Let kids help measure and mix ingredients
• Find family-friendly, affordable recipes from Get Back to the Table.
Hannah: Embrace dinnertime! Studies show that eating as a family has a lot of benefits for kids, such as reduced incidence of drug use, healthier diets, better grades and more confidence. And, the summer is the perfect season to introduce a new approach to suppertime.
• Dine outdoors at least once a week
• Let kids in on the planning and the ambiance
• Opt for colorful plastic stemware and use fun placemats to maximize the experience for the whole family
WFAA: And finally, summers run hot and so do tensions sometimes, so when things get overheated at home with the kids, give us some tips on conflict resolution, especially when they don't have that structure of school to keep them in line.
Hannah: Whether is a conflict over a toy or the infamous grocery store meltdown, there are simple things you can do to alleviate a lot of stress on yourself and your children. Remember children feed of your attitude so if you’re positive they will be too.
• Perk up and keep a smile on your face
• Get down on their level and look in their eyes
• Explain how they are feeling to them so they know that you understand
• Keep a healthy snack in your purse to stave off hunger pains
• Keep a favorite toy handy to engage them with something fun and familiar
• Engage them in a fun game of “I Spy” to provide a welcome distraction
