Summer enrichment for children includes Catholic options

By Charla Spalluto Misse, NOLA Catholic Parenting

Each year, as summer approaches, I begin to organize my son’s summer plans so that he is engaged while I am working. I talk to other parents about ideas they have for camps, sponsored activities or local attractions while searching for opportunities online myself. I look for a variety of activities that will be intellectually stimulating, artistically inspiring, culturally enriching or physically engaging. I am also careful to include experiences that will be spiritually elevating, like that of a Catholic Vacation Bible School.

I’ve had my fingers crossed these past few weeks, hoping that our plans for the summer might stay intact. As the days unfold, however, our chosen summer programs are canceling, and I’m rethinking which public places are possible to visit. This summer will look different than any before and will include a significant virtual element.

I have not given up on the desire to provide a well-rounded summer experience, but curating content can be difficult, especially when it comes to age-appropriate and morally acceptable online or printed material. Vetting videos and books to be sure they are not only compatible with my beliefs and values but also adequately challenging to maintain interest takes time. (I did get some practice with this during our home-learning experience, though.)

Fortunately, I am finding some terrific online educational and enrichment resources to supplement offline summer activities that will be completed by my child alone or with a caregiver. Academics, arts and athletics are now covered. I will include downtime to relax, hopefully, with friends. But what about my child’s most important enrichment – faith?

Keeping faith central in our lives, while it’s not always central in our world, takes effort. But here is where you can have lots of fun and special moments with your children!

Last year, we chose a different country for each month of the summer. We researched together and learned about the language, food, culture, geography – and a Marian apparition – for each country. It was very special to read these stories and look at beautiful images of Our Lady with my child.

This year, I would like to start each day with a spiritual reading and prayer, just like we did when we were home learning. Simply starting your day together and keeping prayer foremost can be so strengthening.

This summer, I also aspire to make a weekly “field trip” to a different Catholic location with my son. It may be a virtual field trip or something as simple as a visit to a local shrine, church or adoration chapel. Maybe we will learn about one of the saints venerated there or why the location is historically significant. Most importantly, we will make time for God together.

So many families are doing new activities together as a result of social distancing. Why not add a rosary or a Catholic field trip to the list?

Summertime is a wonderful time to energize the faith and enrich the souls of a family.

Charla Spalluto Misse graduated as valedictorian from Immaculata High School, earned a bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering from Carnegie Mellon University and an M.B.A. from The College of William & Mary. Charla is now a financial advisor where she enjoys using her analytical and planning strengths to develop specialized solutions for her clients; she cherishes the opportunity to directly make a positive difference in people’s lives.

A native of New Orleans, Charla feels blessed to be near her family and to enjoy the natural beauty and cultural richness of her hometown. She supports various charitable organizations, sits on the board as officer for the LPO Volunteers and is involved with the Boy Scouts of America. Things that make her happiest are laughing with her husband and their son, baking for her loved ones, exercising in the outdoors, visiting the adoration chapel and picking her son up from school.