Going Back to the Basics this Summer
“My father didn't tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it.”
— Clarence B. Kelland
The school year is long behind us and many of us are already knee-deep in summer planning, trying to juggle activities, camps, and family trips.
I find myself in the same boat as many of you—scrambling to piece together the perfect summer for the kids.
Just the idea of filling every moment with something productive or entertaining is already exhausting.
But do we really need to? Instead of cramming every day with stuff to do, how about we just... don’t?
I've decided to try something a little different.
Let me tell you how it all started.
Last summer I remember feeling overwhelmed by the thought of keeping Chloe entertained every single day.
During the school year, her schedule was packed with classes, extracurricular activities, and homework.
But summer?
Suddenly, all that structure disappeared, and I felt like it was up to me to fill the void. I quickly realized that this constant need to schedule every moment was exhausting for everyone.
It felt like we were just going through the motions, ticking off activities like items on a never-ending to-do list. I realized we were missing the whole point of summer—relaxation and fun.
With this new mindset, Here’s 3 Q-TIPS you can do to slow things down this summer
If you've already been brainstorming summer plans on your own, I suggest you keep those plans on the back burner for a while and gather your family to brainstorm and agree on things together. When everyone chips in with their ideas, we all get to play a part in shaping our summer experience.
We do weekly Family Meetings (you don’t have to call it family meetings) all throughout the year and the summer shouldn’t be any different.
Set aside 20-30 minutes for open dialogue within the family to discuss anything from daily schedules to larger plans like summer activities or your summer routines.
This ritual is particularly important for children to grow a sense of themselves as a member of a greater whole, which promotes positive developmental outcomes.
You can read more about family meetings here.
2. ESTABLISH ROUTINES WITH TIME BLOCKING
During the school year, daily routines are defined by the school day. But once summer comes, that pattern may not be so well defined.
The big question parents ask me is should they try to keep their kids to a routine similar to what they do in the school year, or let things slide?
The key is to find a balance that allows for both structure and spontaneity to keep some semblance of order without over-scheduling.
One technique that can be used is time blocking. Not the “schedule every minute” kind, but broad time frames for different types of activities.
Here's an example of a day structured using time blocks:
7:00 am to 10:00 am: Start the day with personal care routines like getting dressed, having breakfast, and doing morning routines. If there's extra time, children can watch TV which often doesn’t happen during the school year (except on the weekends).
10:00 am to 12:00 pm: This block can be dedicated to home activities or outings such as visiting parks, libraries, or going on nature walks.
12:00 pm to 5:30 pm: Lunch time followed by chores. Quiet time for napping, playing quietly in rooms, or screen time (I usually reserve screen time for the “witching hour” when we are all just a little bit tired and cranky). Outdoor activities like sports, going to the pool, or bike rides.
5:00 pm to 8:00 pm onwards : Dinner time, family time activities, and bedtime routine.
Keeping such a routine over the summer can be especially beneficial for children.
This way, children can have a general idea of what to expect each day while still having the freedom to explore and enjoy their summer.
It provides a sense of order and predictability without being overly restrictive.
Download our FREE Summer time block template here !
3. LEAVE SPACE FOR SPONTANEITY IN SCHEDULES
The time blocks allow for flexibility, yet still give a structure to the day that can help keep things running smoothly.
It's also important to remember that it is just a guideline. The actual schedule can be adjusted to fit each family's specific needs and preferences daily (I also consider the weather and what we might do if a beach day gets rained out).
I always make sure to leave plenty of room for spontaneity. We do plan activities but ensure that substantial portions of our days remain open.
This loose structure has been a game-changer. It gives us a framework, but also the flexibility to switch things up. If the kids are engrossed in a game or we decide to extend our park visit, it’s no big deal. We are no longer bound strictly by the clock, which is incredibly freeing. Just the other morning we went to the local Children’s Museum, there was so much to do that we couldn’t get to everything so we went back the next day.
This open space is also a fantastic time to teach or train our children in new skills or tasks, such as chores.
If you’ve already established a family summer routine like me, you could revisit them and see where you want to make changes.
I’ve been doing that with Chloe the past few weeks and it’s been great. We revisited our chore list and created a new way of choosing chores (the chore wheel) and she loves it.
She spins it twice a day (she chooses when) and does the two chores. She loves the free choice spaces on the wheel when she can choose her task. Even Max (my husband) is using it!
I encourage you to give it a try. Involve your family in the planning, embrace flexibility, and savor the simple moments. Whether it’s a spontaneous trip to the ice cream shop or a quiet afternoon at home, these are the memories that will last a lifetime.
It’s about finding what works for your family and enjoying this special time together.