Home » Parents Resources » Power of a Summer Quiet Hour

Power of a Summer Quiet Hour

Many homeschool moms have discovered that implementing a daily quiet hour is necessary to their sanity. But the quiet hour isn’t just for the school year, and it’s not just for homeschoolers, either. It can also be a powerful tool for all families during the summer. Not home during the week? Try having a family quiet hour on the weekends and during holidays or vacations.

What is a Quiet Hour?

A quiet hour is time set aside every afternoon when the entire family takes a break. During the quiet hour, the children must be engaged in activities in their own room. They may read, listen to books on tape, enjoy audio adventures, draw, color, or do other quiet hobbies. Some younger children (or teens!) may even choose to take a nap. The key is making sure that the activities are quiet and self-directed in order to give mom a break.

Some families have an hour of quiet time and others may even do two hours. The amount of time will vary depending on the ages and temperaments of the children. Each family should choose an appropriate length of time that works for their own family’s needs. It is often helpful to start with a shorter period of time and gradually increase it as the children become accustomed to the idea.

Awaken Your Child’s Love of Learning, History And Adventure With The REAL Story of William Wallace!

Hot Summer Afternoons

Summer is a great time to have an afternoon quiet hour because often it is simply too hot to be outside. Setting up a regular quiet hour gives some structure to those long afternoons when it is tempting to simply flop down on the couch in front of the television to pass the time in the air conditioned house. (Monitoring TV time fails to give mom a true break like she gets with the quiet hour.)

Avoid Screentime

Most families who have a quiet hour also have a strict policy of no screens during that time. Even if children have screens in their rooms, it is for their benefit to learn to engage in quiet activities that do not require a computer, tablet, or mobile device. It is important for them to understand that this is not a punishment, but instead a way of encouraging them to refresh their minds and bodies with a different kind of activity.

Awaken Your Child’s Love of Learning, History, & Adventure!

Provide Quiet Hour Materials

If children are going to have a quiet hour in their rooms, the parents need to make sure they have a variety of appropriate activities to keep them occupied. Simply sending children to their rooms without adequate engaging activities is a sure-fire way to see that the quiet hour fails from the beginning. Some children might even need assistance in determining what kinds of choices to make during the quiet hour. As they become familiar with the idea, they will have a better understanding of what to do and what is expected.

So jump into the summer quiet hour and discover how powerful it can be for your family!

New Audio Adventure Tells The Civil War Story Of Courage, Honor, and Duty

About Sallie Borrink

Sallie enjoys homeschooling her only child, Caroline, in beautiful West Michigan. As relaxed homeschoolers, they enjoy learning from all of life. Sallie creates learning materials and writes about homeschooling, parenting, faith and simple living at Sallie Borrink.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*