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summer routine for kids: the ultimate family guide to fun and structure
- 5 quick tips to make the most of your summer
- Free activity downloads that are fun for the whole family
- Get more resources from On Our Sleeves
We all look forward to summer break, but it flies by in an instant! Everywhere we turn we are fed unsolicited advice about how to “have the best summer ever!” It can be difficult to balance the pressure of planning with the desire to just relax.
According to Harmen Research, “63% of parents spend a significant amount of time planning and organizing activities for their kids.” This can turn the fun, relaxing, summer months into a time of stressful planning.
This is why we created this Family Summer Survival Guide to help lift the burden! Here are 5 simple ways you can help your family spend your summertime connecting and bonding!
your family summer guide
1. Make small things an adventure together: Consistency is great for kids but sometimes you need to switch up the same old routine to make the days more exciting. Here are some ideas to try:
- Bike or walk somewhere instead of driving- you have to get there anyway! Might as well get some fresh air and exercise!
- Eat a meal outside- cook some hotdogs over a campfire or just bring some PB&J out on the front lawn. Eating in a new scenery could be exactly what your family needs to reset.
- Plan a hike- pick a trail you’ve never tried before or a comfortable family favorite. Bring a special snack to enjoy in the wilderness or to celebrate your accomplishment.
2. Pick a few things to prioritize: It is hard to make everyone in the family happy. Pick a few activities that you think all or most of the family will enjoy and make sure they happen. This might mean putting it on the calendar, saying no to other obligations, or saving up a little extra money to make it happen. Here are some easy ways to do that:
- Write down ideas of things to do on scraps of paper, fold each piece up, and put them in a jar. Make sure you have some guidance for the ideas (like how much it could cost, how long it will take and how far to travel). When you need something to do, pick an idea out of the jar and do it!
- Brainstorm 3 things each person wants to do this summer. Then, use the ideas to help plan out the summer. You can switch between free activities and activities that cost money and don’t forget to switch between activities for the younger kids and ones for older kids.
3. Be flexible: Don’t let a fun moment slip away. It is okay to change plans or skip a routine to have some fun. Here’s what that might look like:
- Give yourself permission to put off the dishes to go on a family walk after dinnertime.
- Stay tuned in to your family’s mood and adjust when needed. Will the King’s Island trip be that fun if everyone is overtired and nursing a sunburn? Pivot to another activity instead!
4. Involve the whole family: Working towards the same goal can bring the family closer together and create lasting memories.
- Find ways to include everyone in projects you need to get done. For example: Planting a garden
- Ask for input on what you can grow.
- Let parents rake while kids drop in the seeds or encourage everyone to decorate their own pot and grow something in it!
- Take turns watering the garden over the summer.
- Plan a meal together with the things you grew.
- Encourage full family participation in getting chores down around the house and then celebrating getting it down together by having a dance party, kickball game, or going to get some ice cream!
5. Balance structure play with down time: Structure helps kids feel more secure and helps us feel more in control. Too much structure can lead to us missing out on spontaneous moments of connection with our kids and missing their needs. Here's how you can balance both:
- Plan a half day off from work to do an activity at home or somewhere local
- Have a list of activities the kids can do during downtime (library book, seek and find book, Legos, painting/drawing, pretend play items). Check out Pinterest!
- Have a plan for screentime and communicate it with your kids
free downloads for summer fun
Finding the right balance for summer fun and relaxation is not always easy. We hope that some of these tips can help you get started in the right direction. For more tips on how to balance out your summer, check out these additional resources from On Our Sleeves:
Summer Connection Calendar – Download to plan your summer activities! Don’t forget to put it somewhere so that everyone can see!
Summer Boredom Busters- Running out of activity ideas? Download our boredom busters to try something new!
explore more On Our Sleeves resources
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