How to keep a routine over the summer (without losing the fun)

By Stacie Gaetz

Although kids are bursting with excitement the minute the final class bell rings in June, it might be apparent by mid-July that the consistent routine that comes with school has its benefits.

While their schedule is no longer dictated by the school calendar, it is important to maintain some level of predictability in your child’s day over the summer months.

Simply put, a predictable routine creates feelings of security and safety for a child. It is comforting to them to know that their basic needs of eating and sleeping will be met and what activity will come next.

In fact, it is often the kids who are seen as a “wild child” that need routine and predictability the most. Knowing that a trusted adult has taken the time to plan out what they will be doing and do it with them lets them know they are cared for.

However, that does not mean you need to be a drill sergeant who barks orders at your kids all day. You can create stability and a sense of predictability while having fun.

The most important way to do that is to let your child or children have input in the things you do and when you do them.

Here are a few easy ways you can create a sense of routine during the summer months so you can set up your whole family for success:

1. Create a schedule

Whether you make a visual schedule with pictures for your younger child or have your older kid write one themselves, work together to figure out what you will be doing day-to-day and put it somewhere that it can be seen by the whole family.

This doesn’t have to be planned out minute-by-minute but might include things like:

• Active/movement time
• Outside play
• Screen time
• Quiet time

Then work together to make lists of ideas that can fit into each of those categories, such as:

• Yoga
• A visit to the playground
• 10 minutes of their favorite educational app
• Reading

Then choose which to do during each time frame each morning.

2. Simple is better

There is definitely a chance to get carried away and make the summer too structured. Make sure you keep your schedule simple by planning two activities before lunch and two after.

You can even use themes like:

• Messy Mondays – finger painting, mud pies, making slime
• Treat Tuesdays – bake something tasty
• Wet Wednesdays – run through the sprinkler, go to a spray park or pool
• Thinking Thursday – take the time to learn something new together
• Fun Fridays – See tip four for some ideas

3. Be firm about bedtime

Just because there is no school the next day, doesn’t mean bedtime should be completely erratic. With vacations, camping and the sun staying up later, there will be the odd day that your kiddos aren’t in bed at the “regular” time but whenever possible it is important to try to maintain a predictable time to sleep. This will cut down on the push-back you receive when school is back in and strict bedtimes really count.

You can also make bedtime work to your advantage. Before bed can be a great time to chat with your little ones about what they liked about their day and what you can all do better tomorrow.

4. Keep the fun

Predictability doesn’t have to be boring. Factor in some free days to do fun activities that the whole family wants to do. Make a list of activities like a trip to the Calgary Zoo, Heritage Park, Calaway Park, a movie, berry picking, swimming etc.

You can even schedule days where the kids get to be in charge of something that is usually mom and dad’s domain. Imagine if the kids got to choose what’s for dinner and how you eat it (outside, on the floor in the living room, in the car overlooking a beautiful view, with no utensils etc) one day a week.

A little planning on your part (with a bit of fun mixed in) can help your children feel safe and secure and therefore cut down on the number of meltdowns and power struggles for the next month-and-a-half.

Structure doesn’t have to be stifling and you can all work together to have some fun in the sun and set them up for success when school is back in.