I always look forward to summer. I get all starry-eyed just dreaming about having my kids all to myself, working on projects together, horsing around in between, exploring the town, building relationships and learning new things…
Well, we ALL know that’s not typically how it plays out. Within a few days(it was within a few hours last year), the kids don’t know what to do with all their spare time so they start bickering with one another, begging mom for screen time, or to play another round of Battleship(with mom, and no one to look after the baby) or if they can invite a friend over (again), or to go grab Happy Hour slushies at Sonic for the nth time that week.
It’s all we can do to keep our sanity. Everyone has their tips and tricks. Not all of them work for everyone. But here are a few tips for summer survival that work for me and my family:
- Expect your kids to get up at a regular time. There’s nothing that makes kids feel more like slugs (and act like them) than not maintaining some sort of sleep schedule. It’s lights out by 9:30 at our house, even though it’s still light outside until 10:30. Then they’re up for breakfast by 8:00 in the morning. This is late enough that they get ample sleep and I still wake up well before them and fit in a workout, shower and breakfast prep(and occasionally more).
- Screen time is contingent upon meeting certain requirements. Ours include morning chores, piano practice, outside/exercise time, scripture study and prayer, personal study time to prevent “summer slide”, and service to others. Even after all of that is done, they must still wait until at least 1:30 to indulge in screen time. Which they do. For about two hours… so that I can get some peace and quiet around here.
Click here for printable (and editable) “Have you…” form - Work some sort of structure into your week to keep it fun. We have “Make it Monday”, “Take it outside Tuesday”, “Work Wednesday”, “Thinking Thursday”, and “Friend Friday”. The focus for each day ensures that we schedule something every day that falls into the category for that day. For instance, baking on Monday, a hike on Tuesday, an extra home project or service on Wednesday, an educational outing or project on Thursday and a special outing or play date with friends on Friday. That doesn’t mean that they can only play with friends on Friday, or that we only get outside on Tuesday; just gives us a guideline so we are keeping ourselves busy and fulfilled. To top it off, I made a list of ideas of things to do, ways to serve, etc. as a guide for the not-so-littles.
- Teach your kids skills while you have them home. My kids can count on sewing at least one thing with mom and planning, shopping for and preparing dinner for two weeks apiece during the summer. We put this on the schedule as well, naturally.
- Refrain from signing your kids up for countless activities. We mistakenly think this will keep them engaged and out of our hair. I have found it cuts into our day and runs us all ragged. Not to mention, it’s costly. Three of my four girls were able to sign up for a single 3-5 day summer camp of their choice, two of which coincide so all that chauffeuring is benefiting more than just one child. There’s something to be said for the “lazy days of summer” (after they’ve gotten their “to-dos” done, of course).
- Don’t be afraid to let your kids be bored. It does not make you a bad mom to not provide round-the-clock stimulation for your kids. When my kid complains she’s bored, my first reply is, “Great! That means you get to use that awesome brain of yours to think of something to do.” If she complains again, the reply changes to, “Well, I’ve got plenty of ideas…” and out rolls a list of chores. My kids don’t proclaim boredom anymore.
No summer is perfect. I’ve been at this for years and finally figured out what worked for us about three summers ago. With a healthy balance of structure, idle time, and flexibility (and VACATION!) any family can enjoy the summer of their dreams.