Who’s pumped for summer? But what do we do with our kids all day long? I love the freedom of summer, but I still like a little routine so we don’t turn into lazy bums and waste our weeks away. Here’s how we keep summer fun, productive and less chaotic, plus the templates I made so you can do it too.
What you’ll get from this post
- Why a little routine makes summer more fun, not less
- A free, editable summer daily routine template
- A free, editable “things to do” template for summer plans
- How chores, cooking and reading fit into our summer days
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Why we keep a summer routine
Summer is all about freedom, and I don’t want to schedule every minute. But without any structure, our days drift, everyone gets bored, and the weeks disappear. A simple routine gives the kids something to check off and gives us all a rhythm. Checklists help kids learn to be organized and keep track of things on their own.
Free printable: summer daily routine
I made a summer daily routine checklist the kids can follow each day. It’s editable on Canva, so you can change the tasks and times to fit your family, print it, and even laminate it so the kids can check things off with a dry-erase marker.
Free printable: things to do this summer
I also made a things to do template for all the fun stuff we want to get to this summer. It’s editable on Canva too. Fill it in with your kids so everyone gets a say.
Chores every day
Chores don’t take a summer vacation at our house. Doing them every day helps the kids become more independent sooner. If you need ideas for what your kids can handle at each age, see our age-appropriate chores for kids.
Cooking with the kids
Summer is a great time to teach kids to cook. It builds independence, and before long they might even cook a meal for you.
Keep reading going
Summer is a good time to keep reading skills fresh. For our younger learners, we like the Hooked on Phonics learn-to-read app.
Key takeaways
- A little routine keeps summer fun and keeps the weeks from slipping away.
- A daily routine checklist lets kids manage their own day.
- A things-to-do list keeps your summer plans in one place.
- Keep up daily chores and add cooking for more independence.
What viewers say
I really love your idea of working on cooking with the kids (and chores everyday) so that they learn more independence, sooner, and may even help you out soon, by cooking a meal for YOU!;-D
thanks for the ideas!!!:D
@mobra1324 on YouTube
I don’t think it’s micro managing. 😂 I think it teaches kids how to be organized and keep track of things. 👍🏻 We use lots of checklists at our house. Morning routines, chores, schoolwork etc. 😊
@jerilyn-ourhomeschooltable on YouTube
Things we mentioned
- Summer daily routine and things-to-do templates on Canva: editable, free to customize
- Hooked on Phonics: our learn-to-read app
- Kids chores video
- Reward system for homeschool that actually works
- Our 6th grade, 4th grade and 2nd grade curriculum for 2023-2024
Want more family routine ideas? Come hang out with our crew on YouTube. Subscribe to The Johnson Crew on YouTube.
FAQ
Should kids have a routine in the summer?
We think a little routine helps. It keeps the days from drifting while still leaving lots of freedom for fun.
Where can I get a free summer routine printable?
Our summer daily routine and things-to-do templates are editable on Canva, so you can change them to fit your family.
What should be on a kids’ summer routine?
At our house, that includes daily chores, reading practice, time to cook together, and fun plans from the things-to-do list.