Timmy Ryan: Fail to plan, then plan to fail

Summer is out there, allegedly. My heart goes out to those who have been particularly affected by the, up to now, atrocious weather we’ve had since January. I can’t remember having to light the fire late into May ever. 

I’m not a fan of heat-waves but just some nice, pleasant dry spells with a bit of warm sunshine sprinkled here and there would be perfect. Regardless of the weather, whatever comes our way in the next few months, one thing remains unavoidable; school holidays.

Yes, our beloved young ones are once again let loose for three months or so and not everyone is jumping for joy. I still remember the absolute thrill of last day in the classroom and breaking up for the summer.

Summer holidays were filled with football, trips to the beach and hanging out with buddies, and generally living your best life but I can’t ignore the downside. I recall many wet days stuck indoors watching just two channels on TV. 

We all tend to have rose coloured glasses casting an eye backwards. The days were warmer, the fun was greater or so we think. 

In reality, if I’m honest, I had many boring days in the summer when I had no mates around for various reasons and it was bloody dull. 

A little tip for any parent, don’t allow rows your kids have to fester. It could ruin an entire summer.

So what about 2024? 

I dread to think how some parents are going to navigate Junior’s free time. If they’ve been glued to smartphones all year, it’s unlikely they’ll put them aside for the holidays. The Playstation, X-Box or whatever will not go away. 

God forbid the weather doesn’t pick up, but even if it’s glorious outside, I’d be willing to wager some kids will be on Minecraft or blowing someone or something up on a screen at every available opportunity. 

Do them a favour – if the weather is nice, cut the power or shut down the broadband. Addiction is addiction and it won’t diminish because the sun is shining. 

Cold turkey, turf them outside. They will survive. Certainly there’ll be those who are naturally drawn to the outdoors. Swimming, cycling, football, whatever choice of activity, but some will need a bit of a shove.

I’m all for a happy household but it won’t be harmonious for long if Johnny and Katie are stuck on the couch and getting under your feet. 

The comfort zone is usually the biggest enemy. Unless gently led in a direction, the summer could be a potential battlefield. To avoid the unnecessary stress and aggravation, you need a plan.

It won’t always be feasible to get to the beach, but then again living in or near town might provide more options. 

Camps are fantastic but sometimes they can blow the budget and they only last a week or two. However, they are great to provide an outlet for all that energy. 

There was no such things in my day, so I can only assume, given their popularity and proliferation, that they are great fun. GAA Cúl Camps strike me as terrific ways to get kids moving and active, and most sports should have something available to attract youngsters.

The trick is getting little Stevie to get stuck in to anything that pulls him away from the gaming device. 

I’m not advocating getting kids to sign up for pursuits they don’t want to do, but let’s face it, how often do we really know what’s good for us as teenagers? 

Kids hate the thought of going first day to a new class, but often it’s not long and they’re loving it and have made new pals. I’d rather them try say a soccer skills camp for a few days and leave, than not give it a go at all. Worth a shot surely?

I’ve seen a youngster in my immediate circle who’s no slouch when it comes to spending time on his Playstation, but conversely and happily, I see him hugely enjoying basketball, table tennis and even the odd game of Subbuteo.

I noticed though that he has to travel from Dungarvan to Youghal for basketball. This means that his team plays all over Cork and so that’s quite a bit of travelling for his parents to training and games. 

Some can be as far away as the bowels of West Cork. 

It’s a shame that Dungarvan doesn’t have a basketball club. I find that surprising. Where are the coaches, the zealots who love the sport so much? 

Surely one or two devotees could put their heads together and come up with some tangible approach to grow the game? 

It beggars belief in a county where we have established basketball icons, like the Wildcats, that this dearth of action exists. I would love to be proved incorrect here. Please let me know if I’ve missed a green shoot in this area.

Anyway, rant over. Clubs are vital. The lifeblood of most communities. 

That said, it only takes a few kids combined with a little parental support to get into something this summer. They’ll have memories for a lifetime. 

For the non-sporty, there are plenty of other activities, including art and music and drama camps. Hey, even some less physical pursuits like regular walking or a leisurely cycle might be just the job.

Sometimes kids just need a little push or discussion to find something that will make the summer of ’24 one to remember, regardless of the weather.