Summer schedule for kids
I am not organized at all. I try my best, but it is just not a skill that is innate. I am also one to become quickly involved in my own projects. So I was worried about starting the summer with three kids, ages 6, 3, and 1 at home, plus my 6 year old nephew on many days.
(The very fact that I have a summer schedule laid out for my kids should concern some of you that I have been kidnapped and replaced by an intruder!)
The 6 and 3 year old have been in school, and they are used to structure and activity. Plus, it took a long time for us to get Nayner Bug writing, and I do not want to back track on that.
An email from the blog 5 Minutes for Moms with ideas for activities for the summer asked if we had been busy with summer routines. This made me think – hmm, maybe I should have a summer routine?
I turned to my pal Google, which directed me to a ton of great resources. My favorite is the IHeartOrganizing blog. She provides free printables (as seen in the lovely picture above) and great suggestions as well. I combined her sample schedule with a couple of other sample schedules I found out there, and put together ours. I also use her printable “Peek At the Week” so that I can compare any big activities going on during the week, use the menu planning section, and jot down notes on big projects that need to get done that week.
So, I sat down last night, printed things out, made my plan, and crossed my fingers.
And lo and behold, when I implemented today, it has been smooth sailing! My son (6 year old) is so used to a schedule of this nature, that he has just rolled right into it. It probably helped that I sat down with him last night and told him what our new schedule would be. It also helps that his Kindergarten teacher sent home a daily packet of writing, reading, and math suggested work and prepped them that they would continue on with those.
So, want to see our schedule?
Our Daily {Non-Camp Week} Summer Schedule for Kids
This schedule may look really rigid, but it can be very flexible. For example, this morning we went to the library when it first opened, got signed up for the summer reading program and checked out books. Then we came home and rolled right into story and writing time and since I inadvertently left out 9:30-10:00, we were outside playing by 10! And our world will not end if we skip an activity or two on a day.
Some of the activities do not take as long as I gave them time for, so my son was able to play Wii for 20 minutes, and I let them watch one show on ETV between lunch and quiet time. Everybody was content.
Right now, the baby is napping, the 6 year old is quietly in his room, and amazingly, after a few re-directions, the 3 year old is quietly in her room, and I have some free time too. WHAT?
I feel somewhat like a superhero right now! I am rocking (DAY ONE) of the summer schedule for kids!
The schedule has also been good for me. It has kept me on track of the things I let build up, like dishes, working in the garden (that’s what the kids and I did during play time) and keeping the laundry going.
We actually have something each day that will get us out of the house and cause us to do a little bit of adjusting, but if we can even mostly stick to this schedule, I think we will have a happy and fun summer.
Oh, I forgot to mention – Fridays will be Free Fridays – movies, parks, fun stuff. But I will still get in at least 30 minutes of reading and writing.
Camp weeks – there are three weeks in the summer when the kids will spend the morning in camps. Those afternoons will include quiet time, reading, writing, and outside time.
Do you have a summer schedule for kids, or do you like to just wing it?
Buy My Book! 🙂
Janine Huldie says
June 10, 2013 at 3:53 pmGod bless you, because I seriously just wing it, but then again I am never really good with schedules and just have never been. But that is just me. Your schedules look great though and would love to hear an update as the summer goes on of how it is working for you and kids!! 🙂
katbiggie says
June 10, 2013 at 4:15 pmGirl, I have never been one for schedules either. But if I didn’t do this, my kids would sit in front of the TV all day all summer. I just know it. Hope you’re having a great day Birthday girl!
Gayle Haddock says
June 10, 2013 at 3:56 pmYou go girl! That is awesome and I’m sure it feels good to have a schedule. WP & I signed up for the summer reading program, too, so he’s already prepped for a little competitive reading. He’s all worried b/c I have more circles filled in than him at this point! :)We are enjoying reading Junie B. Jones books at night – a big hit from his Kindergarten class and I’d highly recommend them for story time.
katbiggie says
June 10, 2013 at 4:14 pmOh yes, I have heard all about Junie B. Jones! That’s good, he’ll be all set for story time especially if he knows he gets to fill in his circles!! I made it through day one of the schedule and we actually did it ALL. We made a fingerprint flower vase for Grandma Edith. Who am I??
Eli@coachdaddy says
June 10, 2013 at 4:32 pmAwesome idea. My fear is that the kids, after soccer is over, will just vegetate on the couch with the wii remote in hand, something playing on the Netflix, and their jaws hanging open. They’d freak if I tried to introduce a set schedule, but there are ways to ease into it … they already have the idea that different days will mean different things, so maybe that’s my in to slipping in a schedule, right?
Your schedule really rocks, by the way.
The Dose of Reality says
June 10, 2013 at 5:42 pmDude…you are rocking our WORLD!! You are owing summer with a detailed plan like this!!! We tend to do a little general planning like “let’s have a picnic next week” but not much more than that! We might be less miserable if we put a little more organizational effort into things! We might just have to try it for a week and see if it works for us!! –The Dose Girls
Sherr says
June 11, 2013 at 8:20 amI love this! …and you’ve just inspired me to get my act together this summer too =) Thanks for sharing!
Ilene says
June 11, 2013 at 8:45 amI am horrifically unscheduled unless I write it down. There is something about committing plans to paper, even if it’s just every day routine, that makes a difference. Hopefully this will inspire me!
Pary Moppins says
June 11, 2013 at 8:52 amWow! You are so ambitious! 🙂 Oh yes, we have a schedule but it fluctuates from week to week. For instance, this week our daughter is helping with little kids’ swimming lessons in the afternoons before taking one herself in the evenings, she has a piano lesson, a guitar lesson, and Summer Reading program at the library. Next week she’s off on a church Mission Trip then the following week we add activities and drop others. It really keeps me on my toes! 🙂 School schedules are so much easier because, for the most part, they are static.
Cobwebs, Cupcakes And Crayons says
June 12, 2013 at 9:24 pmThis post has inspired me! You know I’m a sucker for lists and schedules 🙂 What an amazing idea to make a summer schedule!
Chris Carter says
June 16, 2013 at 11:31 amHoly Moly you are SOOOO ORGANIZED!!! I remember when my kids were little and I had point sheet spreads and sticker charts and schedules… oh how my intentions were always SO good!!! One academic goal that my kids set. One spiritual goal. One fun goal. 😉 If they meet these goals- then we will have a family fun day somewhere new and great!! Last year it was a cool water park.