It's that point in the summer where we're kind of itching for kids to be back in school but not wanting to cave and have a screen and video game free-for-all.
I totally get needing a few days to veg out and relax, but how can we keep it from taking over summer break?
Luckily, my five year old has been in camp and we also took a nice vacation- but now that's over and we still have a month or so before school starts up again. For this remaining time, I've added some structure and routine to his days so he knows what to expect while I'm working and he's not constantly begging for screen time or telling me how bored he is. Not to mention, he'll be better prepared for when school does start.
So here's the plan:
Mark the Major Events
Write out on a calendar what you already have planned for the next month. This could be a camp, any appointments, or planned getaways.
Create a Summer Bucket List
Make a list of things you still want to do this summer -- parents included. Maybe a beach day, an evening hike, plan a playdate with an old friend, etc. Keep this list handy and try to add as many of them as possible to the summer calendar.
The Daily Plan
Next, create a daily plan for the days you'll be home. Each day's calendar should include daily tasks and chores for your kids to complete, along with built-in expectations for "mental engagement" and outdoor active time.
This means your kids will know they need to set aside time each day for reading and writing, playing outside for a certain period, and engaging in creative activities—projects they can choose themselves that don’t require much of your time. My 5-year-old loves to build forts or do crafts, so as long as I prepare the materials in advance, he's pretty independent.
Write down the daily schedule and hang it in a prominent place. In our family, tasks include completing Spanish worksheets, as my child attends an immersion school and I want him to keep practicing Spanish over the summer. Only after completing these tasks can they move on to other activities or get screen time.
Here is how that looks for my 5-year-old:
Morning
- Eat and clean up from breakfast
- Personal hygiene (get dressed, brush teeth)
- Free play with toys
- Take sister to summer camp
- Play outside for at least 30 minutes ( I like heading to a playground before it gets too unbearable outside)
- Spanish worksheets
- Make something (craft, bake/cook, build with blocks or LEGO®)
- Pick up toys from earlier playtime
- 30-45 minutes of screen time allowed before lunch
Afternoon
- Eat lunch and clean up from lunch
- Afternoon reading for at least 30 minutes
- Drawing and coloring
- Clean up
- Pick up sister from summer camp
- Play outside for at least 30 minutes or attend a class (we do Taekwondo!)
Evening
- Dinner with family, clean up from dinner, and help pick up the toys around the house
- Screen time for about 30-45 minutes
- Bath, brush teeth, and be ready for bed
- Read a bedtime story or listen to a story (Tonies is great! Also, podcasts.)
I work from home most days and it's so helpful to give my kids clear expectations and have activities thought out beforehand! It's also awesome to see the independence and creativity that stems from this structure. I know not every day will go as planned but having a plan in place really does make it so much easier for our family! I hope having a daily plan works for your family too
