Take this summer to have some dog-gone fun!

During the middle of the summer when the weather is hottest, the days are longest, and the sun is brightest, moods sometimes become grumpy and tempers get shorter. The initial euphoria and excitement of summer have faded and attention spans have waned. When this occurred and my children were young, I could have created some mid-summer interest to get through those days. We could have used the middle of summer to help out "man's best friend" and have some summer fun doing it.

I would have started by explaining the concept of the dog days of summer. We could have taken a quiz and talked about how these long summer days made us feel. We could have created a book explaining in our own words the meaning of dog days and listing activities that we did to celebrate these days. We would have researched Sirius and organized a family star-gazing party. By understanding the "whys" of a particular season of the year, a child can begin to understand how it affects their lives.

We could have declared our own "Dog Day." We had a few dog pets over the years, but if we had no dog that particular year, we would have found ways to help others. We could have collected needed supplies and gone to a local shelter to volunteer. We could have offered to walk a neighbor's dog. We could have sponsored a neighborhood pet party complete with free dog washes, fun obstacle courses, and dog dress-ups with pictures. We could have organized a pet parade and visited a local veterinarian to talk about dog safety. We would have read stories and participated in activities centered on dogs. By shifting the emphasis to something fun, children can focus their attention from boredom with everything to interest in something.

We could have used these days to relieve the heat through family activities. We could have made homemade ice cream, played together in a local swimming pool, or enjoyed an afternoon family movie outing. By realizing that everyone feels the heat, children can understand that they are not alone in their misery.

We could have used the long days to look ahead and plan future family adventures. We could find the next birthday of family or friends and plan special surprises. We could complete an overdue family project like scrap booking our latest trip or organizing photos. By finding activities that create excitement for the future or involvement in a project, children become less absorbed with their present melancholy.

Summer is a great time for fun and family. But summer can become wearisome. By encouraging children to think beyond their current physical surroundings, we help them realize that they can use any circumstance to enjoy life and help others.

About the Author:

Luanne Davidson is the proud mother of three adult children and wonders what might have been if she had done a thing or two differently. She writes her "Coulda, Woudla, Shoulda" column each Thursday.

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