Columnist Lisa Ferguson: Sun Lite for June 16, 2003

Lisa Ferguson

Monday, June 16, 2003 | 8:11 a.m.

Bored no more

Well, school's out and the official start of summer is Saturday. It's the time of year when homes across this great land are invaded by pests that climb the walls, infest everything in their paths, make ridiculously loud noises and, no matter how much you "shoo" them, just won't go away.

They're called kids, and as any frazzled parent knows, nothing agitates these critters better than boredom. Sorry, moms and dads: While it might snuff out mosquitoes, a glowing bug zapper won't burn up your rugrats' energy reserves.

The only option for ridding homes of the annual infestation: Spray the little buggers liberally with activities. And be sure the solution is loaded with educational elements. So say the folks at Scholastic SuperScience magazine, a publication for grammar-school students. Its editors have compiled a list of "backyard" science projects and experiments sure to keep kids busy all summer. Among them:

Meanwhile you'll likely have better luck keeping Junior from underfoot if he's equipped with the proper tools with which to conduct his scientific endeavors, including such items as a telescope, scale, magnifying glass, plastic bags and jars.

Meets made neat

While you're scheduling summertime activities for the little ones, you may also consider setting aside time for weekly family meetings.

Why? The title of a new tome by authors Elaine Hightower and Betsy Riley about sums it up: "Our Family Meeting Book: Fun and Easy Ways to Manage Time, Build Communication and Share Responsibility Week-by-Week." (Free Spirit Publishing.)

On the website ourfamilymeeting.com, the women offer tips for orchestrating and filling the chatfests. Start by establishing some ground rules, such as requiring all family members to attend the meetings, and that each person be allowed to speak without interruption even if it means turning off the TV, portable CD player and hand-held video games.

Make meetings a habit of holding them at the same time each week ("We find Sunday nights work best," the authors say), and when a crisis arises call an emergency meeting rather than tabling the issue for discussion on the regular meeting day. No matter the reason for the meeting, make it snappy 15 minutes in length tops, unless the issues at hand require more or less discussion time.

We live in a democracy. That means kids not just Mom and Dad should be allowed to rule the meetings (except when it comes time to make "policy rulings"; that's clearly parental territory, according to Hightower and Riley). Also, remember that all business and no pleasure makes for a very boring meeting: Don't hesitate to play games, share jokes and stories or sing songs.

Finally, before breaking from the family huddle, be sure to review goals made at the prior week's meeting: Were they accomplished? If not, figure out why and devise a plan to prevent future roadblocks.