Hiding amongst the nearly-as-tall golden topped grasses, young children immerse in this uniquely special time of year, high summer. Falling from mid-July through early August, this peak season highlights long, warm days offering fewer indoor restraints and more room for spontaneous joy. To be savored by preschoolers and their families, high summer aligns beautifully with a young child’s natural rhythm and sense of wonder. High summer offers a golden opportunity for young families to stretch their time together fully immersing themselves in each other’s company. Whimsical summer moments strengthen bonds and create lasting memories.
Even though it is the hottest and most intense part of the season, there is a sense of ease and simplicity in high summer that suits the pace of life for a preschooler encouraging parents to follow their lead. With less pressure to rush or plan, small moments like picking berries, digging in the sand or watching butterflies enable young children to engage their senses and curiosity in unique ways. Put off the longing for order, routine and schedules as they will arrive soon enough set in place for the remainder of the year.
Each summer, a little song I sang as a child comes to mind as I instinctively hum the tune throughout these warmest weeks of the year.
Oh, what do you do in the summertime, when all the world is green?
Do you fish in a stream, or lazily dream on the banks as the clouds go by?
Is that what you do? So do I!
Oh, what do you do in the summertime, when all the world is green?
Do you swim in a pool to keep yourself cool or swing in a tree up high?
Is that what you do? So do I!
Oh, what do you do in the summertime, when all the world is green?
Do you march in parades, or drink lemonades, or count all the stars in the sky?
Is that what you do? So do I!
A quiet time after the giddiness of spring and early summer with the fruits of autumn yet to come, high summer carries a fleeting magic that makes it feel especially precious. Trees hold a deeper green, their canopy closing to the hot sunlight offering a plethora of shady retreats to read books or eat watermelon. Gardens overflow with color and wildlife is active and abundant.
Summer’s fullness is intense but short-lived. That very impermanence heightens the joy it brings. The sunsets seem more golden, laughter more resonant, memories more vivid. Often agreed to be the best weather of the year, it is also the season with the most thunderstorms, a mystical experience in and of itself. This discerning vibrancy creates a sense of energy and possibility that no other season quite matches.
High summer’s unhurried pace invites families to slow down and simply be present. Whether it’s laughing during a water balloon fight or snuggling up for a movie under the stars, summertime at its fullest reminds young families to value the joy in everyday moments. From the taste of ripe berries and homemade popsicles, the sound of sprinklers and chirping cicadas, to the felty feel of a sleeping bag during a backyard campout, high summer is a feast for the senses. Walking nature trails, collecting seashells, or chasing fireflies can turn into little adventures that stimulate curiosity and imagination by savoring the moment.
The enchantment of high summer encourages families to slow down, savor childhood’s fleeting early years and build warm, joyful memories that will last a lifetime. Teaching your little one at home following the Summer Season Lesson Plan Bundle featured in the Golden Days at Home Preschool Curriculum is another precious opportunity to savor together this unhurried season of the year. High summer is a time inviting families to live more presently, savoring each long day and warm night as if they might be the best of the year.
Written by Janet Nicole Meyer for Golden Days at Home
Connoisseur Kids: Best-selling author Jennifer L. Scott presents a charming, fun guide for raising well-mannered, neat and gracious children. Parents, grandparents and children teach and learn together behaviors and habits of living well with simple and fun games, songs, crafts and recipes (food and slime!)
I think this book is a timely winner!
The founder and author of Golden Days at Home preschool curriculum savors all opportunities to play and travel with her now grown children. She and her husband hike, bike and enjoy living on a stream in Boulder, Colorado with their elderly English Mastiff, Roxy.
