Why is it that we want to bring the young people in our lives to the places where we grew up? There’s something special about getting a cone from your childhood ice cream parlor, visiting the park you thought was larger than life or sitting down to enjoy the movie that enchanted you as a kid. Reflecting on your childhood allows adults to tap into the feelings of wonder that accompany childhood – and doing that alongside the children in your life can create a meaningful connection.
We can’t always access our pasts. Restaurants close, movies don’t stream and people move away. But we can still create opportunities to engage our children with memories from our childhood in inexpensive, attainable ways. Here are a few ways you can do that this summer.
Focus on activities
What types of summer days excited you as a child? If you’re like a lot of children, then a few sprinklers and a popsicle on a hot afternoon were all you needed to create hours of fun. These types of experience-based activities are inexpensive and rich opportunities to connect and engage. It’s enchanting for a child to watch a beloved caregiver laugh while being sprayed with a garden hose. Biking through the neighborhood is more fun when your favorite adult rides alongside you. Think back to the simple joys that made summer fun, and use them as a point of connection to make new memories.
Connect through characters
The great thing about characters is that they can be accessed all over Memphis! Heading to your local public library to check out a book you loved can create a free opportunity for both learning and connection. You may not have held summer reading close to your heart, but there are other characters you can share with your kids! The library also offers movies and TV shows for check-out, so think back to your favorite cartoons and see which stories might be available for rent. Or, if you were a friend of the world’s most famous mouse, you can head to the Children’s Museum of Memphis to play with Mickey Mouse! He brought his Clubhouse to the 901 for the summer – you’ll have a blast planning Pluto’s birthday party with interactive exhibits that engage the whole family.
Find fun through food
Sometimes, it’s just too hot to get outdoors, or you find yourself looking at the weather and trying to stay out of the rain. These are great opportunities to bring your beloved childhood dishes to life! Maybe your grandmother made a fun meal that always got you excited to head to the dinner table. Or maybe there was a sweet treat your dad whipped up for special occasions. You can share these foods with the children in your life and have fun doing it! Involving children in cooking is a great way not only to pass the time but also to impart lessons in measurement, kitchen safety, nutrition and chemistry.
Take the pressure off!
There can be unspoken (or sometimes spoken) pressure to create an incredible summer for your child. Curating days filled with fun and enrichment, on top of your regular adult responsibilities, can be daunting. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, remember that your presence and effort matter more than the agenda you create. Being there for the children in your life is much more important for creating memories and imparting life lessons than being the Instagram-activity parent of the year. Keep it simple, participate when you can, and spend time with the children who look up to you.
This blog was written by Dr. Stewart Burgess
Dr. Burgess is the Children’s Museum of Memphis’ CEO and a developmental psychologist. His extensive career centers around early childhood learning, designing innovative educational spaces, parent education and child-development-focused community outreach. While completing his master’s degree in Experimental Psychology, he was a member of the MacArthur-granted research team that created and named the MacArthur Communicative Development Inventories, the first and foremost comprehensive standardized assessment of early language development. He received his Ph.D. from the University of California, Irvine, where his primary research focus was on early intellectual skills and the effects of emotion on memory in young children. He is the co-author of Toddler Next Steps, which earned the National Parenting Seal of Approval and two Director’s Choice awards by Early Childhood News. He’s been published in scholarly journals including Developmental Psychology and has presented at prestigious child development and education gatherings.
