Finding Your Summer Routine
Summer is around the corner and soon we’ll have older kids home from school, and the craziness that summer brings!
If you have a crazy summer ahead, it’s time to make a plan to make the most of it! (Seriously! Your kids only have 18 summers with you!)
I can’t tell you how many summers I’ve let float by, only to find myself back-to-school shopping before I realized that we haven’t done anything I planned yet!
Every year, I have an idea of what I’d like to do, but I never stick to it. This summer, I’m going to change that — how about you?
Make a Summer Schedule
Let’s first start out by taking a good look at typical days for the upcoming summer.
What are the things that need to get done? For instance, lunchtime, naps, any games and practices that older kids might be a part of.
What are experiences or adventures you’d like to take? Such as playdates, or trips to the library or playground, or just general outdoor play.
What are some things that YOU need to do? I’m thinking things like that I still need to get some work done, so I need to be able to block off some time for that, but also meal planning and prepping, general cleanup around the house, yard work, and I’d also like to schedule in some quiet reading time.
Fill these summer tasks on this planning sheet.
Next, we’re going to take those answers Schedule these all into a general outline for your days so we have a plan.
I like to keep things a little broad, such as mornings, lunch, afternoons, evenings, etc (instead of in 15-20 minute blocks that we’d need to stick to).
For instance, my schedule might look like this:
7-8am — Breakfast, get ready for day
8-11am — play outside/outdoor activities, library/playground, day trips, yard work
11-12pm — lunch
12-3pm — play outside, play games, activities, (nap, if needed), work
3-5pm — alone play, prep dinner, read books
5-7pm — dinner, clean up, bike ride/family walk, playground
7-9pm — bedtime routine
9-10pm — read
Schedule & Plan Adventures & Experience for the Summer
Now that we have a broad schedule of our days, it’s time to pack it with the fun stuff!
Let’s take a moment to brainstorm with the kids, daydream a little bit about everything you’d like to do. Don’t nix anything off the list yet. Just jot down all the ideas that come out!
If you could do anything this summer, what would you want to do?
If you need some ideas to fill in your bucket list, try these:
How to “Survive” Summer
Here’s the trick to the craziness of summer.
We need a go-to guide for those moments.
Who do you call when you need help?
What are last-minute lunches to eat?
What can the kids do for 15 minutes when I have something important I need to get done?
What do we have going on?
I need those answers handy.
These may not be easy questions to answer. But now is the time to figure it out before the crazy happens.
Having 2-3 backups for someone to help out and watch the kids for you is great! (I can’t tell you how many times I plan on Grandma to watch the kids when I need it, only to find out that she has a life too and is busy… and then I’m stuck… so to have a backup — or 2 — is great when you’re in a pinch.)
Make a list of 4 or 5 go-to activities that you know the kids can do for a few minutes with very minimal supervision.
Here are my go-to’s:
- Play dough and trucks
- Bucket of soapy water and outdoor toys
- Sidewalk chalk roads
- Stacking plastic cups
- and last resort, TV, a movie, or a favorite show
You can also Get Camp Mom to help you plan your summer! Many of these printables came from there.
It’s geared towards 3 years and up with 4 different themes of activities with plenty of fun ideas, including books to read that go along with the themes!
Order Camp Mom here
Use 30% off MEMBER-ONLY Coupon — ROOMCAMP
