Sanity-Saving Summer Schedule For Kids + Fun Free Printable
If you’re like me, summer with the kids makes you a little excited. And a little anxious. This time of year, we could all use a slow down. A change of pace.
But my kids also turn into little monsters without a bit of routine to keep them grounded. Plus, for many, summer is a juggle between work and childcare.
Giving kids a summer schedule relieves the stress of coming up with something from scratch every single day. It also…
- reduces fights and behavior issues out of boredom
- incorporates amazing life-long habits, like learning and exercise
- gets kids off of screens
- helps you fulfill your summer bucket list (so you’re making the most out of summer)
Bottom Line: Summer schedule ideas are fun. But they’re also a sanity saver!
Most Helpful Daily Summer Schedule
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I use the following actions in the form of a summer routine checklist. They help give kids daily tasks before screen time and other fun things. Use this screen time checklist printable to help too.
Have you…
- Eaten breakfast
- Gotten dressed
- Brushed your teeth
- Brushed your hair
- Finished your chores (Give them a chore chart!)
- Played outside for 60 minutes
- Played with your sibling for 30 minutes
- Done something creative for 30 minutes
- Helped someone
- Done 30 minutes of learning (math games, workbook skills, etc)
Summer Schedule Themes For Weekdays
Next, use this weekly schedule to make each day of summer exciting. (Without having to come up with new things all the time!)
Monday – Make It Monday
- Paint rocks
- Paint watercolor or paints on a canvas
- do some coloring (color in these bookmarks)
- get out sidewalk chalk
- make kids vision boards
- DIY projects
- playdough
- kinetic sand
- Lego creations (Try these free lego challenge cards)
- Make “pirate treasure” to use for the Pirate Treasure Hunt
Tuesday – Travel Tuesday
Take a trip to the:
- zoo
- park or playground
- library
- mall
- aquarium
- museum
- nearby nature trail (do a nature scavenger hunt or a bike ride)
- movies
- store
- story time
(This is also a great day to check off things on your Summer Bucket List)
Wednesday – Water Wednesday
Get wet and wild with:
- water balloons
- sprinklers
- slip’ in slide
- water park
- pool
- water guns
- splash pad
- beach (Do the beach scavenger hunt)
- water table
- boat races
Thursday – Thoughtful Thursday or Thinking Thursday
For thoughtful Thursday (You could also make this selfless Sunday!):
- Write a thank you note
- pick up litter
- help your parents or grandparents
- do household chores
- drop a gift off at the neighbors
- hold the door open for everyone
For Thinking Thursday: Learn something new!
- Do a stem project
- Play kids trivia (or teen trivia for older kids)
- Do a science experiment
- Play a learning game
- journal
- work on reading skills (Try the Reading Fun Pack!)
- read a book
- write a story
- work in a workbook
- do learning printables
- listen to a fun podcast
Friday – Foodie Friday
Explore food together:
- make ice cream in a bag
- camp in the backyard with s’mores
- make fun appetizers
- make tea party treats
- go get shaved ice
- go to a restaurant
- have a family picnic
- make fancy popcorn with an at home movie
- try a new recipe
- make rainbow stew
- do a lemonade stand
- make popsicles
- make smoothies
- bake a treat
Free Printable Kids Summer Schedule
Grab the free printable here:
Summer Camp Schedule Themes For Kids
Next, make slow weeks extra special by giving your schedule an at home summer camp theme.
For example, in my home, the boys go to Scout camp for one week of the summer. We call this “girls week.” On this week, we do all things girly: tea party, dancing, nails, etc. It gives us something to be excited about!
Outdoor Adventure Week
Plan daily hikes, nature walks, and outdoor scavenger hunts.
Sports Extravaganza Week
Try a new sport each day, from soccer to swimming or even mini-golf. (These is great around the Olympics or other fun sporting events)
Summer Staycation
Grab summer staycation ideas and make it a vacation they’ll never forget.
Culinary Creations Week
Cook and bake together all week long. Explore new recipes and different cultural cuisines.
Literary Journey Week
Dive into a different book or series and have daily reading sessions. Check out the Reading Fun Pack for more >>
Community Service Week
Volunteer together at local charities or organize neighborhood clean-ups.
Family Movie Marathon
Select a theme and spend the week watching all the movies in the series. Try these books that are also movies >>
Space Week
Spend a week learning about stars, planets, and space exploration. Don’t forget to go star gazing and visit a planetarium.
Explore Your City
Plan daily outings to local museums, parks, zoos, and historical sites.
Music and Movement
Have a week dedicated to dancing, singing, and exploring different musical instruments.
DIY Science Camp
Conduct science experiments at home, from making slime to building homemade volcanoes.
Backyard Camping
Set up tents in the backyard for a camping experience complete with stargazing and storytelling
Pro Tip: You can make any of your child’s interests into a themed week. Explore dinosaurs, robotics, sewing, language, and more!
What’s Next?
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