Summer Schedule Tips and Tricks

I am somewhere in between. I like to have a relaxed routine with plenty of free play and free time, but I do think some structure to summer can be very helpful.

Are you thinking: It’s almost July! Aren’t you a little late with your summer schedule tips?

My girls each had 5+ days of 104+ temps…and then it was my son’s turn to get this beast of a virus. It was my first time seeing a temp over 105! :( Our summer outings have been a bit on hold, but that doesn’t mean it’s too late to start!

I made myself a list at the end of May of a few things I wanted to incorporate into our summer. I am totally OK if we are a bit behind on certain summer plans. Better late than never! If your first few weeks of summer are going less than smooth, you may want to read on and make a change or two.

Here are a few quick tips along with helpful links:

I share quite a few links so make sure you come back and go through any that interest you!

Get out of the house.

Getting out of the home benefits everyone. It’s healthy for everyone and is a great way to reset during a day that just isn’t going well.

Get the kids out and let them run. Or send them outside with this Nature Scavenger Hunt Printable. Or take a walk around the neighborhood with this Neighborhood Scavenger Hunt Printable.

Make sure books are a big part of your summer.

Check out Read Aloud Revival if you need a book list for your kids.

If you need books for yourself, check out my list of books read in 2019 and also my recommended reads here. I have added a few books to my list of books read this year. Check it out if you need a new read.

If there is anything you struggle to fit into the school year, make sure it’s a part of your summer!

I have a list of things that fall into this category! It includes:

• this ABC Memory Workbook
• going through this list of questions for kids (what to ask instead of “How was your day?”)
• more family reading time (I’m currently reading this to my daughters and they love it!)
• teaching them a few new chores. I am looking at chores that they can do from start to finish…in other words chores they can complete on their own. Summer is a great time to teach your kids how to do the laundry!
• additional family devotional time

If you are looking for screen-free projects for your kids and you have a girl that enjoys crafting, get 2 Creative Girls Club craft kits for under $4. Use SHARE80. If you look around, you will also see that they have crafting clubs for adults too. So find yourself something fun to do also! There is a club for crocheting, quilting, beading, woodworking, and more.

You can also check out Green Kid Crafts. Their activity boxes encourage creativity, literacy, and learning through monthly STEAM science and art projects, all made with carbon-neutral, sustainable materials. Every box includes up to 6 creative STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) projects designed to be perfect for kids ages 2-10+.

Use screen time to your advantage.

We don’t have a daily screen time allowance in my home. I use screen time strategically and I can tell you it’s so helpful.

Why do I not allow daily screen time? It’s just not a battle I want to add to my day. If we are having a busy and fun day, I don’t want my children fixated on their daily screen time. I don’t want them to feel like they are entitled to that time. I want them to figure out other ways to entertain themselves.

That being said…don’t think that we skip screens entirely. There may be a day when I really need to get something done and we pull out a movie. Or there may be a day that I just need a break and they get more than a tiny amount of time with a game on the kindle. I just use the screen when it’s best for me and the flow of our day.

I realize that if daily screentime is your routine, it may be hard to change that. It probably will be quite the struggle! But I definitely think it will be well worth it.

Is there something YOU want to do this summer? Invite your kids to join!

My girls have been interested in running lately, so we head out for a run of a loop or two around the park. It’s just a start and not necessarily the intense exercise I like, but it’s been a fun way to add extra exercise to my day! If you want to exercise more this summer, find creative ways to do it as a family.

Or have you wanted to start a garden? Children can help! Kids can help water and weed. Or sometimes they can just play in the yard and that is their way of helping you. :) 

Keep Sleep a Priority

If you struggle to make sleep a priority, I share a few morning books and resources here.

You can also track your sleep on this printable.

This article from Your Modern Family shares the importance of consistent routines & regular bedtimes.

Your transition into the school year will probably go easier if you still keep a sleep schedule.

TRACK YOUR HABITS

If you want to get new habits ingrained into your life, start tracking them on paper. Once you get a streak of a few days going, it will get harder to break the chain. Even small simple habits can turn into something bigger. Use simple habit tracking to your advantage!

Either grab this free monthly habit tracker printable OR

pick up the full Habit Tracker Bundle here.

Keep healthy snacks on hand.

I rarely give my children snacks during the day. I realize that many kids need snacks during the day to keep going, but that has never been the case for my children. If they get a snack then they don’t eat their meals!

Make these tasty, healthy, and filling Energy Bites Protein Bars. It’s so much quicker if you make them into bars instead of bites!

If your children do need snacks to keep them going, here are 10 Snacks Your Kids Can Make. Another option is energy bites. They are tasty and feel like a snack, but can actually be very nutritious!

Stay organized.

Here are a few tools to help you stay organized throughout the summer.

– The Day Designer …the covers are gorgeous! (The Academic Version starts July 1.)

Let me know:
Do you have any summer tips to share with me?