It’s that time of year again friends. The end of the school year is right around the corner. It’s never too early to start thinking about summer plans, and that includes a summer routine for the kids.

The Reality of Summer Break With Kids

We don’t homeschool year round, so my kiddos are excited to have time off from school, and I’m excited to work on piles of projects I can’t seem to get to during the school year.

The possibilities for fun activities feel endless at the front end of summer, don’t they? Camp-outs, travel, vacations, swimming…summer is my favorite time of year!   

I have learned to be realistic, however, about the average summer day. Sure, the fun plans and adventures are the highlights, but those aren’t every day.

The everyday is more like weather that’s so hot and miserable no one wants to venture outside. And what about kids that fuss and fight and whine all day? How about the dreaded Mom…I’m bored!

(To which my favorite reply is to remind them how I thought summer break is like their dream come true: no school…hours to pursue their own interests…They don’t usually appreciate my truth dispensing in that moment).

In reality, having no schedule, routine or expectations for summer can lead to lots of frustration for moms, and our kids too, although they may not even realize it.

All of a sudden, the glory days of summer are miserable, and moms are checking the calendar to see how many weeks until school starts!

Sadness.

Don’t let that be your summer!  While a summer routine for kids isn’t a panacea, it will make life simpler and more enjoyable for all.

Why Do I Need a Summer Routine?

We are all creatures of habit. Think about it. We tend to routinize our days whether we realize it or not.

Every morning I like to make my bed, drink a glass of water, check-in with the kids on their school assignments, and eat my breakfast.

Routine provides a sense of security and comfort. 

After months of a school routine, jumping into days with no structure or routine leaves us feeling a little lost.  

How Much Structure Should We Have in Summer?

This doesn’t mean you need to keep your days highly structured. Unless that works well for you and your kids.

You know your needs as a mom and the needs of your family better than anyone. If your family would thrive with an hourly schedule listing out specific activities, then go for it!

We prefer to find a sweet spot right in the middle. Provide enough routine and schedule that the kids find comfort in knowing what they will be doing on most days and what I expect of them.

Also, however, I allow them freedom to choose when they will complete the expected tasks I’ve given them, and the freedom to decide how they will spend the rest of their day.

It’s super important to allow kids plenty of time to play freely. It’s even important for kids to get a little bored. Kids actually NEED time to be bored.

Letting them sit with a little boredom gives them a chance to SOLVE their own boredom, and can often become the foundation that leads to their best creative experiences and games. 

The key is to provide anchors in the day when they can reset.

One of the easiest ways to do this is with a balanced summer routine that provides comforting structure for kids (especially those that thrive and crave it), as well as free time to allow creativity, imagination, and rest to flourish.

What Should I Include In a Summer Routine for Kids?

Our summer routine includes these basic areas each day:

• personal care tasks
• chores
• reading
• brainwork
• outside time
• creativity

Once these things have been completed, they are allowed to have screen time to play games or watch a show/movie if they want.

Personal Care Tasks

Personal care tasks that already happen are a good idea to keep.

Personal care tasks include things like:

• eating breakfast
• taking vitamins
• brushing teeth
• making the bed
• feeding pets

Daily Chores

Daily chores vary from day to day and the age of the child, so I have them check-in with me each day for their daily chore.

Daily chores include things like:

• emptying the dishwasher
• loading the dishwasher
• sweeping the kitchen and dining room
• washing the dishes
• sweeping the front porch
• disinfecting door knobs and light switches
• cleaning windows

I’ve also found that my kids really enjoy special projects. Remember all those cleaning/organizing projects you have on your get it done this summer list? Consider enlisting the kids’ help. 

My kids can get on board with those types of projects because they’re out of the ordinary, they have a huge sense of accomplishment afterwards, and I might even pay them extra for doing it.

Once I assigned my two boys some deep cleaning tasks in the kitchen. I told them what needed done and they went to town-above and beyond! I was amazed and they were proud.

It was a win for everyone.

I’m not saying chore assignments are magically received with smiles and thank-you’s at our house. Hardly. But it was something different for them, and they really wanted to surprise me.

They did! 

For the older kids, you could keep a list of chores/projects that need done that you’re willing to pay extra cash for when completed. Post them on the fridge for the summer along with what the pay rate will be!

Summer Learning (or Brainwork)

We know kids’ academic skills can decrease over summer break. Are there specific areas of concern for your child? If so, there are lots of apps, games, or fun workbooks that can provide your child with just enough review each day that those skills will stay fresh.

We’ve used free online programs like Xtra Math, Seterra, Easy Peasy All-in-One-Homeschool and Kahn Academy for specific subjects during the summer. 

Math is always an area we try to keep fresh during summer. I’ve used both free online websites and workbooks. This year we plan to continue the lessons from our math curriculum so my soon to be 6th and 8th graders will be ready to start their next grade level math in the fall.

Our favorite workbooks we’ve used for several years are the Summer Brainquest workbooks. I highly recommend them. They’re available from Pre-K through 6th grade. Each book has a progress map you can hang up with stickers that are added as pages in various subjects are completed.

Upon total completion of their workbooks, I may have been known to give them cash as an extra incentive for their hard work!

Summer Reading

This is a big one in our house. I pretty much keep the kids reading all summer long. It’s a great middle of the day task when it’s too hot outside, and the kids need to do something restful and quiet. Also, summer reading also plays an important role in helping prevent the summer slide. 

I typically order bunches of great books from our local library that I keep in a reading basket. When the kids need a new book, they can head to this already curated stack. 

Additionally, I make sure to include books of different genres and lengths, as well as a mix of age and grade appropriate novels and amazing picture books that any kid will enjoy (including myself!).

Great Resources For Excellent Kid Books

• The Classical Reader-search the best “classical” books for K-12 students.
• The American Library Association-list of Newberry Medal and Honor books
• Read Aloud Revival-booklists for kids of all ages
• Honey for a Child’s Heart, or Honey for a Teen’s Heart by Gladys Hunt
• Jim Trelease’s Read Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease
• Give Your Child the World: Raising Globally Minded Kids One Book At a Time by Jamie C. Martin

Your local library probably offers a summer reading program. If not, you can create your own. Using simple reading logs, have the kiddos record their reading progress. After completing the designated amount of reading, let them pick from a prize bin you curate to their tastes. 

This doesn’t have to entail spending money for prizes the kids may or may not like. Homemade coupons for things like a trip out for ice cream with mom or a bike ride with dad still feels like a prize and helps strengthen relationships with your kids in the process.

Win/win!

Because my kids often completed the library’s summer reading challenge so quickly, I found free tracking sheets online to keep the incentive and fun going all summer long. 

Alternatively, Jamie C. Martin of SimpleHomeschool.net offers a yearly Read the World Summer Book Club for moms and kids alike. Utilizing selections from her book (listed above), this could be a fun option with most of the work done for you.

Outside Play

I require my kiddos to get outside each day. You’d think because it’s summer the kids would want to be out all day long. Not true! Try to schedule outside time for the morning when it’s not too terribly hot. Or head to the pool. Or get back outside in the evening.

Kids thrive outdoors. Keep a list of things the kids can do outside posted on the fridge so when you hear the dreaded “there’s nothing to do out here” you can point them to The List. 

No Time for Flash Cards has a great list of 50 Simple Outdoor Activities for Kids.

Creativity

I ask the kids to do something creative everyday. They can draw, write, color, build with Legos, bake, etc. I just want them to spend time getting creative.

They have access to recipes for baking, coloring books, art supplies, canvases, drawing tutorials, etc. However they want to create, I try to accommodate. This required creative time has even resulted in some pretty amazing home movies and stop motion animation flicks. 

Here are some ideas:

• Lego building challenges at Free Homeschool Deals
• Draw along tutorials by Art for Kids Hub (we love these)
• Coloring books for older kids (my boys love car coloring books)
• Coloring books for younger kids (my youngest daughter loves the Melissa and Doug Jumbo coloring pads)

Depending on their ages, there are creative ways kids can use the free time of summer to become little entrepreneurs, too. While my oldest daughters will be graduating from high school this spring and working full time jobs, my younger kids have also found ways to make a little cash. 

My oldest son is in his second year of his spring/summer/fall mowing business, and my youngest son is in the second year of his baking business.

It’s been fun watching them earn money, learn how to save, spend, and tithe, and also contribute to special needs of friends, family and organizations we support.

Schedule Plenty of Summer Fun

Don’t forget to dream with the kids about what special things they’d like to do over summer break. You might be surprised by their answers! Making a family summer bucket list is a good way to include everyone’s ideas.

(check out some of our family favorites on my list of 60+ Family Summer Bucket List Ideas)

Try to get these ideas on the calendar (summer schedules get full so quickly, don’t they?), and maybe even invest in a large family calendar you can hang somewhere (or craft your own like these DIY wall calendars at The Happy Housie)

The kids can then see when those special events will happen and have something to look forward to. New memories are waiting to be made!  

Give a Summer Routine For Kids a Try

This balance of routine and free time really works well in our house. Hopefully, there are ideas and suggestions here that will make this summer amazing.

If you’ve struggled to maintain sanity during the summer break, I trust you will find these ideas doable and beneficial.

If you’ve never had much of a summer routine, moving into a more scheduled summer break might be met with resistance.

Work with it a bit until you find the happy place that works well for your family.

Here’s our summer daily checklist:

I left blank spaces so the time requirement for reading and outside can be adjusted based on age or reading ability. I’ll tweak some things this year for my 5 year old since she doesn’t read yet.

Also, I’ll probably ask both the boys to spend one half hour of their day in dedicated one-on-one time with their little sister. It’s a good act of service for them, it enriches her day with attention from her big brothers, and allows me some time alone as well.  

If this daily summer checklist looks like something that would work well for you, you can download it for FREE:

Remember, flexibility is key.

I don’t require everything on the list to be completed on days when we head to the zoo for the morning, or meet up with friends for a playdate, for example.

Let the schedule serve you, not the other way around! 

Special Note to Moms for Summer

Don’t forget to schedule time for YOU this summer, moms.

This is so important!!

Whether it’s a mom retreat away for a couple of days, a pampered day doing things you love, or daily blocks of time when the kids watch a movie and you can pursue a hobby or passion, taking dedicated time for your own self-care will be key to a better-than-ever summer.

Read more about my own experience with self-care and why mom retreats are so important.

Then, find helpful information about planning an amazing mom retreat for yourself.

Rest and self care are so important. When you take time to replenish your spirit, it allows you to serve others from the overflow. You cannot serve from an empty vessel.”

Eleanor Brownn