QUESTION: Summer is here. How do I calm the chaos that is already happening in my home?

ANSWER: Summer tends to be a “special event” for children.

Special events bring excitement and usually with excitement comes chaos. It’s routine that brings calm.

Repetitive patterns have a rhythm that children respond to positively. It is likely summer vacation routines will be different than the regular school year routines; still, it is important that there is a routine in the day and the week. Think seriously about the beginning, middle and end of the day; in a calm environment it will look and feel the same and the person “in charge” will be firm and friendly about the pattern.

There are things that regularly occur in a calm environment. Some meals are eaten at a table as a family and healthy food is paired with conversation. There is time and opportunity for physical exercise, whether it is climbing on park equipment or playing in an organized sports team.

Some time each day is spent in reading; research proves that reading lowers aggression. In calm environments, children are creative. They build cities out of blocks, roads out of play dough, and castles with moats out of sand. They are artistic with paper and markers and paintbrushes.

“Big picture” routines that bring children comfort and calm are often annual events that are anticipated all year long. These annual routines are often the focus of memories that adults talk about years later when the relatives gather together.

So, think about the time periods of the day and the days in each week. Can you recognize the pattern? Could your child describe the pattern to a friend?

Does your summer pattern have a rhythm that you appreciate? As the parent, you are the one who has the privilege and responsibility to “do the math” — adding or subtracting to create a balance that is the healthiest for your family.

To talk with a parenting specialist about the challenges in child-raising, call the toll-free Parent WarmLine at 1-888-584-2204. For free emergency child care call Crisis Nursery at 1-877-434-9599. Check out www.familiesandcommunities.org and free resources at the Parenting Resource Center Specialty Library (105 First Street SE, Austin).