What to Know
I don’t know about you, but one thing I struggle with as a mom during the summer is making sure my kids stay focused without going feral. Well, “focused” is a bit generous. I’d be happy if they spent some time outside at minimum. And mostly, they do. But giving them an abundance of free time all of a sudden after having structured days in the classroom can be a great thing for their creativity, or it can be something to make them glued to their screens or complaining of constant boredom. One mom influencer, Vidya, has the solution for this in a TikTok video she posted.
In her video, she says that, when she shared her parenting rules for the summer for her kids on Snapchat, she was met with lots of resistance. She was called strict for setting boundaries and having a system in place to make sure her kids’ academics and physical health stay on track during the summer months. And on TikTok, more people weighed in to share their thoughts.
Her rules involve some structure during the summer.
@queencitytrends Not too harsh…right? 😘😉 #momsbelike #dadsoftiktok #strictparents #summerschool #kidsbelike ♬ original sound – Vidya
Every kid is different. Some kids might have a summer tradition of waking up late, spending time in the pool, playing Fortnite, staying up late, and doing a boot and rally of the same thing every day after. And if you’re OK with that, then who cares? But for Vidya, there are other things that she wants her kids to focus on.
“Are we strict? Because Snapchat apparently thinks I am,” she says in her TikTok. She then goes on to explain her summer plans and structure for her kids. “Summertime is definitely a break, but that doesn’t mean you do nothing. We like to keep our kids busy. Boredom could create trouble. Our kids need to read. I’ve seen multiple videos of so many kids not reading at their grade level. That is because they are not reading. During the summer is the time to read whatever you want…So we created a little reward system for the kids. Basically, every minute of reading is a minute of screen time.”
She also explains that her kids have math packets they can do daily so they don’t fall behind. Then, there is the outdoor sport time she requires of her kids during the summer. I mean, OK, I might give my kids a couple of weeks to enjoy total freedom, but I am all for pushing them to touch grass, get outside, and enjoy the world outside of the four walls of their room. It also gives me time to switch out the air fresheners, because preteens get ripe.
“The rule of our [house] is that you have to spend a minimum of two hours a day outside playing sports, exercising,” Vidya explains. “Both of them are in sports camps, so that does help. Being outside, fresh air is so important for your brain. Another rule is learn to become an expert in your passion. Sean loves tennis and Zahana loves golf. Summer is a really great time to hone in on those skills. They’re both playing each of their sports at least three times a week. Feels like a lot of rules, but they’re not coming over to us to tell us how bored they are.”
Some people don’t understand why there is pushback on the reading part of the rules.
Although Vidya says she got some flack about her summer rules on Snapchat, TikTok seems to be a lot more forgiving. Users commented to commend her for her rules, particularly when it comes to reading. Some teenage users even commented to say they wish their parents would push them a little harder instead of giving them too much freedom. OK, OK, I’m taking some notes here.
“1 minute reading for 1 minute screentime seems fair to me,” one TikToker wrote in the comments.
Another added, “Why is everyone acting like reading is a punishment? Reading is FOR FUN, it’s a story you’re reading, it’s supposed to be enjoyable.”
“No, I totally agree with this,” someone else wrote. “The fact that people hate on you making your kids read is INSANE to me.”
Adults even want to set these rules for themselves.
@queencitytrends Now that Summer is officially here I can FINALLY sleep in a little longer, and that feels pretty amazing. But the one thing I never skip especially for my very dry skin is @TULA skincare 24-7 moisturizer. It's formulated with prebiotics and hyaluronic acid which are great for your skin microbiome. and protecting your skin barrier. Plus, it's great for use on all skin types! Use code VIDYA20 on TULA.com for 20% off #TULAPartner #skincare #momsbelike #morningroutine #sponsored ♬ original sound – Vidya
Vidya might actually spark a trend with her summertime rules that people have apparently called “strict” and “crazy” elsewhere on social media. Because she even allows for some late nights and sleeping in for her kids, which is a win, especially if they bank a few hours of screentime after reading Twilight. Well, maybe not Twilight, but you get it.
And, a teacher commented, “As an elementary school teacher, THANK YOU.”
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