The Secret to Summer Sanity: Creating A Summer Schedule in 5 Easy Steps

Summer Help for the Constructive Parent

If the thought of your kids being home all summer long has you feeling worried, you have come to the right place.  We all look forward to lazy summer days and the extra time to connect but the reality of having to keep kids entertained during the day can make any parent squirm.  The key to having a wonderful summer is finding balance — and that starts with a schedule.  In this post I’ll walk you through how to create the perfect balance between down time and structure so that you can make the most of your children’s summer break.

Step 1: Create a Vision

Find a time to sit down and visualize what the perfect summer day would look like for you and your family.  What time would the kids wake up?  What kinds of food would they have for breakfast and who would prepare it?  Go through the entire day from start to finish imagining what activities the kids would do, whether those activities would occur at home or somewhere else and who would be in charge of all the little details like transportation and household chores.  When you have a vision of your perfect summer day you have a starting point for creating a daily schedule.  Then think about the long view. You can also take time to brainstorm all of the fun activities you would like to do with your children this summer — from amusement parks to picnic lunches.  Since this is the planning stage you also want to make a note of which weeks your children will be home and which weeks they will have scheduled activities such as camps or swim team practice. 

Step 2: Add Some Responsibilities

Summer is a time for fun but it can also be a time for your children to stretch themselves by taking on extra responsibilities around the house.  These jobs will be age dependent but even a very small child can learn independence by being in charge of helping to set the table or emptying the silverware section of the dishwasher.  In my house if I don’t make it clear what is expected the default is that all house hold chores fall on me.  On the other hand, when my kids understand ahead of time what is expected of them, they are capable of being excellent helpers. If you are dreading summer mornings that consist of kids rolling out of bed and jumping on screens until the afternoon, consider coming up with a list of expectations that they must accomplish before they can go near the TV, iPad or phone.  This might include making their own breakfast and cleaning up their plates, reading, or feeding a pet. One idea is to create a “chore jar” by writing various chores-of-the-day down on slips of paper and having your kids blindly pick a few out of the jar each morning. Once you decide which responsibilities to add, make it clear to your children what you expect and when by including those details on your daily schedule.

Step 3: Sprinkle in Some Privileges

As your kids take on more responsibilities over the summer you may find that you feel more comfortable rewarding them with extra privileges.  For instance, if they are doing extra chores maybe they get a small raise in their summer allowance.  If they are able to make their own breakfast responsibly, they get more freedom to choose what they are eating.  A natural reward for taking on more responsibilities is an increase in freedom and independence. A child who is able to keep their room clean and help out around the house without complaints is also likely to get a parent’s good grace when he asks for an impromptu play date or a trip to the pool.  Also, remember that brainstorm of fun activities you created in step 1 while you were visualizing a perfect summer?  These ideas can be used to incentivize children to follow the schedule you create. The key is connecting initiative with the size of the reward. Perhaps you expect your child to help out around the house doing simple chores because that it is what it means to be part of a team, but if they choose to go above and beyond they can earn something special. For example a day of following the schedule without complaints and doing two extra chores may equal a family movie night. A week of making good choices and completing extra chores might equal a trip to the water park.  For more ideas on how to use a chore jar and connect extra work with rewards check out these tips from Michelle at Our Three Peas.

Step 4: Don’t Forget Down time

Just because you are creating a steady routine does not mean that every moment has to be choreographed.  Carve out windows in the day for downtime and put it on the schedule.  Although screen time is okay within reason, be sure to sit down with your child and come up with a list of fun alternatives to keep them entertained when there is nothing planned.  Whether it is playing outside with neighbors, turning on the sprinkler or doing crafts at the kitchen table on a hot day it is important to have an extensive list of options when your child turns to you and says, “I’m bored.”  In my experience, if that list isn’t available the result tends to be hours of screen time and that always equals grumpy children when it’s time to unplug. Also, remember it’s okay to give yourself permission to let your kids be bored. Boredom stimulates creativity and that’s when some of the best summer memories are made.

Step 5: Print it and Post it

Once you have come up with your ideal schedule (one for days when the kids are home all day and a second one for days when they have camp), type it up and print it out.  Or you can just hand-write it with a sharpie on paper.  If your kids are little and aren’t able to read, add little images to help them understand what is expected.  Then post the schedule in the kitchen and go over it with your family.  They may groan initially but trust me, they will quickly adjust because, thanks to the school year, they are used to having a routine. Have you ever wondered why so many children behave for their teachers only to save their worse behavior for you at home?  A big part of this is that teachers always have a clear schedule and that sense of predictability provides a sense of safety for children. YOU CAN READ MORE ON THAT HERE. Take a cue from your child’s teacher and make your expectations very clear and then do your best to follow the schedule.  The consistency will help your children thrive over the summer months when they are home with you.

If you have concerns about your child’s behavior that a schedule can’t fix, the summer is the perfect time to reach out for a little extra professional support. I specialize in working with children and parents in Charlotte, NC to build connected, joyful relationships. I also offer virtual parenting support for families across North Carolina.