An easy, intentional summer is possible when we create a flexible routine with space for spontaneous learning and fun.
I’ve always wanted summer to really matter.
I’m sure we’ve all felt pressure from the sentiment, “You only have 18 summers with your kids!”
That special time together needed to count.
I wanted them to be doing this and this, oh and don’t forget this! By the end of summer they should be geniuses but also humble and the lead in the community musical.
This seemed like a perfect plan when in fact, it was a plan to fail.
I realized that all the planning and scheduling that I was doing… was for me!
I decided that so much of that was a waste of time. A whole lot of effort for very little return. Why?
Because it was all my agenda, focused on all my “shoulds”.
3 Best Secrets to Summer Planning
One year right before summer started I finally wizened up.
After YEARS of experimenting, over-scheduling, and rushing through lack-luster summers with my kids, I’ve finally found the 3 secrets that guide my intentional summer planning:
- avoid overscheduling and opt for a simple routine instead
- ask the question “What do you want to learn?” and let the answers guide you
- add in magic by scheduling fun activities from a “live list”
Intentional Summer Tip #1
Avoid Overscheduling
Depending on your perspective (or time of day), the summer break can seem unimaginably loooong, or too quick and fleeting. But before you give in to the pressure and start filling your calendar with to-dos, I invite you to pause and be intentional.
First, we start by creating a daily flexible routine, not a strict hourly schedule. One of the benefits of summer is the relaxed, spontaneous, fun of the season and you don’t want to miss that magic.
When planning our routine, I always focus on including 5 main ingredients each day. Throw ‘em in, mix ‘em around, double or triple the batch. It doesn’t matter!
Below are the 5 components that have built our summer days since 2003. I highly recommend you start here and customize each area to what fits your family and your children’s ages and stages.
- Connection time: prioritize connecting every day. We like to do family read-aloud time but this can also look like morning snuggles. What matters is that you are doing something that brings you all together.
- Individual self-directed time: everyone can focus on projects and gain skills that they might not have time to explore during the school year. Emphasis on the word “individual”. This is not mom-directed, let your children have unstructured time to create and just be. This can look like creative play, quiet time, napping, and personal development.
- Learning time: what new thing will you discover today? Tangible real-life learning such as baking, science experiments, reading, building, and more.
- Active time: everyone will feel better if they spend time moving their bodies each day. Think walks, swimming, weeding, vacuuming, and outdoor playtime.
- Adult time: for whatever YOU want to do, use it to be responsible (or not!). This can be anything from productive work time, reading a book in a hammock, or just taking a nap. You deserve to enjoy the summer too!
Things to Consider
When creating your schedule, remember to focus on the things you can control.
For example, my family is most productive in the morning so we align our schedule with our personalities and include work and learning time in the morning and quiet time in the afternoon.
Is it really hot where you live? Plan active time for early in the morning or late at night.
The summer routine is meant to give everyone in the family a balance of activities and time to rest. Have you ever burned yourself out the first week of summer because you had each day filled from dawn to dusk? This will help with that.
Intentional Summer Tip #2
Ask, “What do you want to learn?”
At the end of a summer a few years back I noticed that I was feeling a little defeated.
I had worked so hard to create a schedule full of learning and fun but neither I nor my children could remember more than a couple of specific things.
All of those worksheets? They couldn’t remember what concepts they worked on.
The day camps? They had a great time but couldn’t tell me any new skill that was gained.
I finally realized that all school year, they are diligently working on learning what is taught in their classes. Summer should be the time to let their brains explore and learn about anything they wanted!
So the next summer I asked the important question, “What do you want to learn?” and then left the door wide open.
That summer we learned how to peel carrots, tie shoes, dive without plugging noses, and make rainbow loom dogs (if you know, you know).
I love letting them guide their learning because:
- I was able to get to know them better as individuals. What do they like? What are their dreams and passions?
- Exploring interests allows them to come into themselves. It is so rewarding to watch your children explore passions and topics you know nothing about. They are becoming before your eyes! It is beautiful to watch.
- They are building self-esteem as they gain skills and knowledge in areas that matter to them. The task of tying shoes may seem small, but that is a huge confidence boost for a six-year-old. Watch them glow with pride when they take ownership of their learning.
Now when we plan our summers, we start with our flexible summer routine and include time and resources for the kids to work on the things they want to learn. Will you need more trips to the pool? Skate park? Public library?
I promise that making time to explore interests will reignite their love of learning and will make the whole summer feel rich and meaningful.
Intentional Summer Tip #3
Add in Magic
Finally, the last step in creating an easy, intentional summer is to add some magic.
Each year I sit down with the girls and we make a list of all the things we’d love to do that summer to feel like we really lived it! This becomes our summer “Live List” which adds magical and intentional doses of fun throughout our summer.
These activities can be big or small events, and they deserve a spot on the family calendar so they can be anticipated with delight.
Fun activities for your “Live List”:
- picnic lunch
- scavenger hunt
- summer bbq
- horseback riding
- free ice cream truck
- attend a parade
- outdoor concert
- watch sunset
- s’mores
- movie marathon
- baseball game
- water balloon fight
- farmer’s market
- drive-in movie
- watch fireworks
- homemade lemonade
- find lightening bugs
Wishing you a happy summer!
If you want to learn more about making parenthood fun, you might also like these other resources.