The past couple of years I’ve found that having a summer schedule for kids is super helpful. It helps us create memories and waste less time watching TV during the day.
My kids and I love the freedom that summer brings. Each summer we plan what we want to do so that we have a lot to look forward to.
We create a bucket list of summer activities to do, places to go, and summer recipes to make. Another thing my kids look forward to each summer is a weekly summer schedule.
Each day we have a different theme or activity. It’s super simple and flexible, but it provides enough needed structure during the summer.
Summer Schedule for Kids
Your life will be much easier if you assign a certain activity or theme to each day of the week. You could decide this on your own or involve your kids.
There are so many ideas out there, so pick the summer routines that interest your family. Here are the ones we did last year.
1. Make It Monday
Since the we usually have a busy weekend, Monday is a nice day to stay home and slow start to the day.
We usually made muffins for the week or tried a new summer recipe.
Here are some ideas:
- homemade ice cream
- cherry lime aids
- strawberry shortcakes
- popsicles
- root beer floats
You could also have Make It Monday be a day for arts and crafts.
- tie dye shirts
- fairy garden
- handprint art
- origami
- paint pictures
- homemade slime
2. Park Tuesday
My kids would choose to go to a park every day if I let them.
But that is just not practical, so I decided to pick one day a week to visit a park. That way my kids don’t ask over and over and it gives them something to look forward to doing.
One summer we visited a different park in our town each week. Later that day we rated each park.
It was something new and fun that my kids looked forward to doing each week.
We also went on hikes, rode our bikes, played basketball, or brought a picnic lunch some weeks to switch things up.
- visit different city parks
- state parks
- picnic
- hike
3. Water Wednesday
Because it’s so hot in the summer, my kids usually want to do water games every day. However that just wasn’t always possible.
Our compromise was doing water activities every Wednesday.
We go to the public pool, splash pad, or have water fun in our own backyard.
If you invest a little money into a backyard water toy, you will get good use out of it.
Here are some ideas: (affiliate links)
4. Theatre Thursday
We limit screen time in the summer. In fact my kids have a list of things they have to accomplish before we allow any screen time.
Usually we end up running out of time during the day. Some days my kids even forget about television!
However on Thursdays we pick out a DVD from the library or pick a movie from a streaming service.
It’s a big event! The kids bring out their pillows, stuffed animals and blankets.
We close the curtains so it’s dark like the theatre, and I make popcorn that they eat out of their special popcorn holders.
This is an inexpensive way to watch movies, but you could also go to the theatre or rent a movie.
Some theaters have special discount days during the summer. You may be able to find some local deals in your town.
5. Bucket List Friday
This is a day dedicated to doing things from the summer bucket list that we created.
The kids have fun picking out what we will do each week and then crossing off each item.
- bowling
- mini golf
- museum
- indoor play park
- build an indoor fort
- zoo
- farmer’s market
Summer Day Schedule
Having a main activity each day of the week is a fun thing for your kids to look forward to. However, it’s also important that you create a daily schedule for some structure.
I hesitate calling it a schedule because that sounds so rigid. Really a schedule is simply a plan for the day. You don’t have to plan out every minute.
Not every day will look exactly alike, but you will want to include routines for specific times of the day.
Here’s some ideas to get you started.
Summer Morning Routine:
Start your day with a morning routine. This way you’ll avoid staying in your pj’s all day and your kids will know what you expect each morning.
We use morning and evening routine charts that the kids can easily follow.
- Eat breakfast
- Get dressed
- Comb Hair
- Brush Teeth
- Make bed
- Put dirty clothes in the hamper
Summer Schedule Template
8:30 Complete Morning Routine
9:30 Play time
10:30 Errands and activities
12:00 Lunch
1:00 Daily activity or outside play
3:00 Quiet Individual Play in Rooms (mom break!)
4:00 Screen Time or help with dinner
5:00 Complete Evening Routine
Example Evening Routine
- Eat dinner
- Help clean up after dinner
- Play outside and water garden
- Baths
- Bedtime
Get this schedule for free! Just click the link to download.
Things to do Before Screen Time in the Summer
As I mentioned earlier, we limit screen time during the summer. My kids have a list of activities to complete before I turn the TV on.
Some days they don’t even finish the list. We run out of time because of all the other things going on throughout the day.
Here’s what’s on their lists:
- Read
- Draw, color, or paint a picture
- Exercise or physical activity
- Clean your room
- Table activity (play dough, kinetic sand, slime, Bunchems, magnet tiles, puzzle, ect)
- Outside play
If you create and stick with a flexible summer schedule, you will set your kids and yourself up for a great summer break.
There are so many memories to be made!
