• About Us
    • FAQs
    • Interview with Dr. Allison Sibley
  • Specialized COVID-19 Services
  • Our Services
    • COVID-19 Offerings
    • Adult Therapy
    • Child Therapies
    • Teen Therapy
    • Couples Counseling and Therapy
    • Family Therapy
    • Group therapy for children
    • Group therapy for teens and adolescents
  • Therapists
    • Allison Sibley, PHD, LICSW, RPT-S
    • Cristina Alba, MSW, LGSW
    • Justin Barrasso, MS, LPC, NCC
    • Danielle Birx-Raybuck, LICSW, LCSW-C
    • Alexander Chan, PhD, LMFT
    • Sarah Dougans, MSW, LICSW
    • Kristin Drouin, MSW, LCSW, LICSW, APHSW-C
    • Amanda Good, MSW, LICSW, EMDR-C
    • Jules Hartsfeld, LPC, LCAS, CCTP
    • Alexis Herschthal, MSW, LICSW
    • Sarah Jones, LICSW, LCSW-C
    • Meagan Mitchell, MSW, LICSW, MEd
    • Sarah Perrin, MSW, LGSW
    • Michelle Pittman, MSW, LICSW
    • Georgette Saad, MSW, LICSW
    • Rachel Scharf, MSW, LGSW
    • Lori Seifter, Consulting Supervisor
    • Barry Shapiro, MSW, LICSW
    • Laurel Tobias, MSW, LICSW
    • Lottie Walker, MSW, LGSW, CSE
    • Rachel Yutzy, MSS, LICSW
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
    • Hours & Location
    • Payment & Forms
    • Assistant to the Director – Sherri Eichberg
  • Home
  • About Us »
    • FAQs »
    • Interview with Dr. Allison Sibley »
  • Specialized COVID-19 Services »
  • Our Services »
    • COVID-19 Offerings »
    • Adult Therapy »
    • Child Therapies »
    • Teen Therapy »
    • Couples Counseling and Therapy »
    • Family Therapy »
    • Group therapy for children »
    • Group therapy for teens and adolescents »
  • Therapists »
    • Allison Sibley, PHD, LICSW, RPT-S »
    • Cristina Alba, MSW, LGSW »
    • Justin Barrasso, MS, LPC, NCC »
    • Danielle Birx-Raybuck, LICSW, LCSW-C »
    • Alexander Chan, PhD, LMFT »
    • Sarah Dougans, MSW, LICSW »
    • Kristin Drouin, MSW, LCSW, LICSW, APHSW-C »
    • Amanda Good, MSW, LICSW, EMDR-C »
    • Jules Hartsfeld, LPC, LCAS, CCTP »
    • Alexis Herschthal, MSW, LICSW »
    • Sarah Jones, LICSW, LCSW-C »
    • Meagan Mitchell, MSW, LICSW, MEd »
    • Sarah Perrin, MSW, LGSW »
    • Michelle Pittman, MSW, LICSW »
    • Georgette Saad, MSW, LICSW »
    • Rachel Scharf, MSW, LGSW »
    • Lori Seifter, Consulting Supervisor »
    • Barry Shapiro, MSW, LICSW »
    • Laurel Tobias, MSW, LICSW »
    • Lottie Walker, MSW, LGSW, CSE »
    • Rachel Yutzy, MSS, LICSW »
  • Blog »
  • Contact Us »
    • Hours & Location »
    • Payment & Forms »
    • Assistant to the Director – Sherri Eichberg »
  • Home »
 
facebook

Capitol Hill office is now open!

Schedule an appointment at info@thesibleygroupdc.com
  • Recent Posts

    • You’ve heard of Post-Traumatic Stress… but what about Post-Traumatic Growth?
    • Understanding Childhood Grief in the Holidays 
    • The Parent as the Pathway to Healing
    • What is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder? 
    • Who is your “Best Self” and How can that Help You?
  • Archives

    • January 2023
    • December 2022
    • November 2022
    • October 2022
    • August 2022
    • July 2022
    • June 2022
    • May 2022
    • April 2022
    • March 2022
    • February 2022
    • January 2022
    • December 2021
    • November 2021
    • October 2021
    • September 2021
    • August 2021
    • July 2021
    • May 2021
    • April 2021
    • March 2021
    • February 2021
    • January 2021
    • December 2020
    • November 2020
    • October 2020
    • September 2020
    • August 2020
    • July 2020
    • June 2020
    • May 2020
    • April 2020
    • March 2020
    • February 2020
    • January 2020
    • December 2019
    • November 2019
    • October 2019
    • September 2019
    • August 2019
    • July 2019
    • June 2019
    • May 2019
    • April 2019
    • March 2019
    • February 2019
    • January 2019
    • December 2018
    • October 2018
    • September 2018
    • August 2018
    • July 2018
    • June 2018
    • May 2018
    • April 2018
    • March 2018
    • February 2018
    • January 2018
    • December 2017
    • November 2017
    • October 2017
    • September 2017
    • August 2017
    • July 2017
    • June 2017
    • May 2017
    • April 2017
    • March 2017
    • January 2017
    • December 2016
    • November 2016
    • October 2016
    • September 2016
    • August 2016
    • July 2016
    • June 2016
    • May 2016
  • Categories

    • ADHD
    • Adult Psychotherapy
    • Anxiety
    • Bethesda Psychotherapist
    • Child Counseling
    • Child therapy
    • Coping Skills
    • Couples Therapy
    • DC Psychotherapist
    • Depression
    • Divorce
    • Family Therapy
    • Mindfulness
    • Parenting
    • Self-care
    • Uncategorized
    • Washington

Summer Ideas During COVID

Posted by Allison Sibley

the word "summer," a flower, and the sun illustrated in a colorful children's design

 

Are you worried about what your kids will do with their time once school ends?  Do you fear that they will become permanently merged with their favorite device?  At TSG, we have spent the spring talking with kids and families about how they are coping during this pandemic.  We know that many of your children are bored, disappointed, and lonely.  We also hear that many of your kids are quite happy with the slower, simpler pace of life where they get to watch what they want, do new activities, and interact with their friends virtually.

 

We’re spending the month of May preparing for you and your child’s summer.  As the pandemic progresses, we will likely be in and out of isolation. That means we will all be in between our old version of life and our COVID version.  How do we establish some routine and certainty in the midst of so much ambivalence?  Therefore, every family will have to customize their own summer plan.  Here are a few ideas for you to think about for your family.

 

  • Brainstorm 1st–Have each member make a list of 20 things that they’ve always wanted to try or never had time for. Have at least 5 be something that is COVID approved. 
  • Go Back to the Basics–Include nature,  crafting, and projects that involve your hands.
  • Stay Focused on One Thing–Have each person in the family choose one thing that they will focus on this summer as a learning or creative project.  It could be reading every book written by one author or growing a garden.
  • Don’t Forget to Deal with the Disappointment-–New ideas can’t usually take root until we’ve acknowledged and honored the sadness or loss in what we’ve missed out on due to the pandemic.  If your child is aimless or stuck in their thinking process, be sure to talk through what they miss about their old life and what they are sad about right now. Once processed and released, feelings offer us energy for new creations.  
  • Keep Routine & Structure–It is wise to keep some semblance of structure in your family’s daily routine even as you shift into summer mode without virtual classes.  For instance, you might start the day later, and do less. However, you will still want them to have some time for being productive, active and connecting with others daily. 
  • Still Limit Screens-–Screens will gobble up family time, productive time, and creativity. So yes, allow screens in moderation and loosen up on your rules. However, still impose some limits on how much, when/where, and what they get to do on their devices.  
  • Explore what your camps have to offer virtually first to see if it matches your families needs. 
  • Then widen your search to include new ideas for your family, both organized program and DIY activities. 

 

Here are a few options both at TSG and in the DC Metro area for you to consider.

 

TSG PROGRAMS

Parenting In Place Support Group

Are you constantly trying to reinvent your daily schedule and plans for yourself and your family  in the midst of these uncertain times? Are you struggling to focus, feel hopeful, and find the right support despite endless webinars and zoom meetings?  TSG launched a 7 week parent class/support group in response to the pandemic, which addressed these issues specifically. We plan to continue meeting regularly for support and customized information to add to your family’s toolkit.  Please contact allison@thesibleygroupdc.com for more information.   

 

Young Adult Entrepreneurs Group

Have you always wanted to learn about running a business? Or do you just have a fun idea and more time on your hands than expected this summer?  If you are 16-20 years old and interested in learning more, please reach out to allison@thesibleygroupdc.com.  Business owner and entrepreneur, Dr. Allison Sibley, is facilitating a 4 week group coaching program on entrepreneurial skills. It will include discussion and skills on marketing, branding, money management, strategy and execution of your unique business idea. It will focus on personal development activities as an entrepreneur and how to maintain positive coping as you grow your business. 

 

Teen Groups for Stress & Anxiety

Are you concerned about your teen feeling anxious or down?  Do you worry that they have no motivation since the outlook on  summer seems bleak and uncertain?  TSG has several therapists who work with teens on skills to support positive coping and improved moods during hard times.  Please contact info@thesibleygroupdc.com for more information. 

 

DIY Your Summer for Tweens & Teens

Is your teen or tween binge watching way too much netflix and slothing around the house with a device in hand?  Are you seeing him/her doing less and watching more?  Are you at a loss for how to engage your teen/tween in productive creative time over the summer?  TSG is offering a 4 week creative group based on the popular curriculum, The Artist’s Way.  It will include sample DIY projects and a group experience for your teen/tween to learn more about the interplay between their creative and emotional selves.  We will focus on DIY projects such as mural making, sewing/cooking, gardening, movie-making and photo-collaging.  Please contact info@thesibleygroupdc.com for more information.  

 

Creative Hands Project for School-Aged Children

Are you worried about how to engage your school-aged child now that virtual lessons are ending?  Do you struggle to come up with organized, interesting activities to keep your young child entertained while working on their social and emotional regulation skills?  TSG is offering a 4 week creative play group to include such activities as no-bake baking, constructing your own candy machine, slime-making and more.   Please contact info@thesibleygroupdc.com for more information.  

 

DC METRO AREA OFFERINGS

Educational Connections’s Summer Virtual Tutoring

https://www.ectutoring.com

 

Chesapeake Center for ADD’s Summer Social Connections Groups for Teens

https://chesapeakeadd.com/

 

Children’s Art Studio

https://childrensartstudio.org/

 

Urban Adventure Squad

This is an outdoor camp that might be more suitable for participation during COVID. Stay tuned. Until then, here are some suggested activities.

https://www.urbanadventuresquad.org/coronavirusresources.html

 

Georgetown Psychology’s Online Teen and Mindfulness Groups

https://georgetownpsychology.com/services/online-therapy-groups/

 

Good Beginnings Virtual Groups

https://www.gbtherapy.org/our-classes/

 

Fun with playdoh, Flexible Thinking Group with Legos, Quarantine Kitchen

Camp Q

https://www.adventurelinks.net/CampQ

 

Bach to Rock

https://bethesda.b2rmusic.com/online-music-lessons

 

Varsity Tutors

https://www.varsitytutors.com/virtual-summer-camps

 

Child & Family Associates of Greater Washington, LLC

Services

 

This entry was posted in Child Counseling, Family Therapy, Parenting and tagged parenting during the pandemic, summer projects for kids, support groups. Bookmark the permalink.
← Previous Post Next Post →
  • About Us
  • Our Services
  • Hours & Location
  • Payment & Forms
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
  • Home
  • No Surprises Act

Allison Sibley & Associates, PLLC • 5039 Connecticut Avenue NW #5 Washington DC 20008
202-237-1196 [office]

Website by MightyLittleWebShop.com. Photos by Karen Elliott Greisdorf and Amanda Good.

©️ Copyright 2023. The Sibley Group. All rights reserved.