10 Tips for a Great Summer Routine With Your Kids

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Summer routine.

Wait, isn’t that a bit of an oxymoron? Isn’t summer for lazy days, sleeping in, relaxing by the pool, and no routine?

Yes…and no. Too many days without a routine can make you wish for school to start back up again. However, with a little planning, you can create a great summer routine for yourself and the kids and still have relaxing days at the pool.

summer routine tips

1. Set goals. Make lists. Make more lists.

First, consider what you would like to get out of this summer. Would you like more time to connect as a family with a less busy schedule? Do you want to finally start that painting project? Is there a place you have been meaning to take the kids? Do you want to potty train your toddler by preschool time in the fall? (Yes, please!)

Then, write it down!

Here are some ideas of lists to write:

2. Write a summer bucket list with the kids.

Next, involve your children and help them to write out a summer bucket list. Ask them where they would they like to go, what special treat they would like to make, what activity or craft they would like to work on, etc.

These are a few items on my son’s summer bucket list:

  • Play in the sprinkler.
  • Eat pancakes.
  • Drink Gatorade.

Well, we might be able to squeeze those things in this summer.

3. Take time to plan for the week ahead.

After writing out all of your goals and lists, put some of these items on your calendar. On Sundays, I spend a little time to plan out my week. I check all of my lists and choose a couple of places to visit, a fun home activity, and a project to work on. After looking at the weather forecast, I also choose days to go on an outing or to the pool. By the end of the week, I usually end up accomplishing everything that I had planned on doing.

4. Make a rotating meal schedule. 

Unfortunately, your children will need to eat three meals and a million snacks in your house each day of summer. The amount of food to prepare as well as the dishes to wash is truly incredible! To make life easier, write out a two-week summer meal plan for breakfast and lunch. Then, repeat it all summer long!

A few more food tips for feeding your kids this summer:

  • Make snacks accessible.
  • Teach them to rinse and put away their dishes in the dishwasher.
  • Make a nightly chore of wiping the table and sweeping the floor after dinner.

5. Carve out time on a regular basis for school learning.

To keep from the dreaded summer slide, set aside time for learning in your daily summer routine. The transition to the next grade level will be so much easier if your child is consistently learning or reviewing school concepts throughout the summer.

Add these simple tasks to your child’s summer routine:

  • Read for ten minutes a day.
  • Do math and spelling flash cards.
  • Sign up for your local library’s summer reading program.
  • Take weekly trips to the library.
  • Review old spelling lists or math concepts from the previous school year.
  • Get on an educational website such as IXL or Greg Tang Math.

6. Make exercise a priority for you and your kids.

With all the kids at home, it may be hard to make it to a gym during the summer. You might have to find creative ways like going for a run before your spouse leaves for work in order to make exercise a priority this summer. Brainstorm ways that you and your children can exercise together including going on bike rides, running alongside them as they are on scooters, and going on a hike at a local park and make this part of your summer routine. 

7. Include quiet time every day in your routine.

Plan a little quiet time every afternoon. During this time, the littlest ones can nap, the older kids can work on quiet activities, and you can get a little break. Make (another) list of quiet time activities and post it on the fridge in case you and your kids run out of ideas. Some quiet time activities include reading, listening to audio books, building with legos, and working on art projects.

8. Find your family’s daily rhythm.

Is your whole family up by 6 a.m. and ready to hit the ground running? Or, is your family more like mine and your mornings include extended pajama time? Develop a morning routine, afternoon routine, and evening routine that works for you and your kids. For our family, our typical summer day includes a lazy morning, a fun outing, a quiet afternoon, and a family activity in the evening.

9. Keep up with (minimally) cleaning the house. 

With kids at home all day, the mess can collect quickly! Most people do not want to spend their summer deep cleaning their house. To keep the house from getting too messy, though, make a plan in your weekly routine to take care of basic chores such as floors and bathrooms. Also, involve the kids in the chores as part of your summer routine. It can be a great motivator for screen time!

10. Be flexible with your summer routine.

There will be days when your summer routine will be thrown out the window. Part of the joy of summer is less scheduled days and activities. Enjoy the times of freedom from a schedule. Your summer routine will be waiting for you when you need it again.

What is a routine that helps your family enjoy summer?

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Mary Kneidel
As a native of Cleveland, Mary came to Columbus to attend THE Ohio State University (Go Bucks!) where she met her husband during the first week of college! Fast forward: She is now a stay at home mom to three young kids, a job which she finds to be demanding yet equally joyous. With an educational background in architecture, you can find her keeping up with the real estate market as well as going out of her way to see a beautiful historical building (which is, of course, thrilling for her children). Prior to having kids, she traveled on faith-related trips to Siberian Russia, Taiwan, and Brazil. These days, she stays closer to home but still loves discovering new neighborhoods and towns. In her spare time, you can find her out in nature, biking, drinking a good cup of coffee, or enjoying a historical fiction novel. Mary is thrilled to be a part of the writing team and to highlight the awesome, family-friendly places in her beloved city.