Summer means watermelon juice dripping down chins and three months of no homework battles. I adore these semi-lazy, sun-soaked days with my 3, 6, and 9-year-olds.
However, my kids thrive on having a solid summer routine. We don’t keep it rigid, but without any kind of rhythm, we all end up cranky and scattered.
So, here’s how to create a summer schedule for kids that’s flexible and fun. While we don’t have a go-to schedule we stick to every day, we follow a few steps to create a loose framework that keeps everyone (including me!) happier and more settled during the long summer days.
Should Kids Have a Summer Schedule?
In my experience, yes. When we have zero structure to our summer days, everything falls apart, and fast. The kids start fighting over ridiculous things, and by noon, we’re all grumpy and bored. I’m also a working mom, so I have commitments to stick to even during the summer.
Whether it’s days that I’m home with the kids or days that our wonderful nanny is with them, we try to keep their schedule consistent.
At the same time, we don’t have a minute-by-minute schedule that just ends up stressing everyone out. Instead, we have a basic rhythm with some predictable anchors to give us all something to lean on. The kids know generally when meals happen, when we might head to the pool, and when quiet time rolls around, but there’s also still space for free play and spontaneous adventures.
Speaking of adventures, if you’re scratching your head right now, wondering what the heck to do with your kids, I’ve got a list of activities for you to pull from!
How to Make a Summer Schedule for Kids?
1. Look at the Big Picture
Before you start planning elaborate field trips or signing up for every summer camp in town, take a step back and look at the big picture of your summer months.
Who’s working and when? My husband often travels for work, so I know I’ll be flying solo with all three kids for chunks of the summer. If you’re juggling work-from-home calls or need childcare coverage while you work, factor that in now.
Money matters, too. Summer can get expensive with camps, activities, and requests for ice cream trucks. Figure out what you can realistically spend and plan accordingly. Some of our best summer days cost absolutely nothing, and my personal favorite is visiting a local library!
2. Brainstorm Your Non-Negotiables
Every family has things that have to happen, no matter what. While these are individual to each family, think about these things:
- Daily Anchors: Meals, bedtime, any work hours/calls.
- Weekly Commitments: Camps, lessons, and any family obligations.
- Health Needs: Exercise, outdoor activities, and quiet time (or naps, if your kids still nap).
- Household Responsibilities: Chores, grocery store trips, walking the dog, etc.
Personally, my kids need to burn energy outside every single day, or they bounce off the walls. They also need some quiet time in the afternoon to do their reading. Figure out what keeps your family healthy and sane, and start building your summer schedule from there.
3. Create a Bucket List
One of the smartest things we did before summer started was sit down as a family and brainstorm everything we wanted to do over the next three months. Now, when my kids inevitably say, “There’s nothing to do!” I can point them to our list instead of scrambling to come up with ideas on the spot.
Here are some activities that made it onto our list:
- Have breakfast for dinner
- Build a blanket fort
- Learn to skip rocks at the lake
- Plant a small garden
- Have a water balloon fight
- Go on a nature scavenger hunt
- Try a new ice cream flavor
- Watch the sunrise from our backyard
- Learn to make friendship bracelets
- Catch fireflies in mason jars
The bucket list takes the pressure off me to constantly entertain them and gives the kids ownership over how we spend our time. Here’s a fun summer activities list with more ideas!
4. Talk About It
Don’t just create your summer rhythm and hope everyone figures it out. Talk to your kids about what to expect and what you need from them. I sat down with each of my kids to explain how our summer days would generally flow. Depending on your kids’ ages, you might want to create simple daily checklists they can follow.
5. Keep It Flexible
Sticking to your routine shouldn’t feel like a prison sentence. For us, it’s more of a general flow. Some days, we follow it almost perfectly, and others we throw it out the window because friends invite us to the splash pad or we decide to do something we don’t usually do.
The goal is to give your family just enough structure so everyone feels secure and you’re not constantly flying by the seat of your pants.
Our Typical Summer Schedule for Kids
Morning
My kids all use their alarm clocks. My two older girls have an Alexa Echo that they love because they can ask it to check the weather and set their alarms. It’s been worth every penny for the independence it gives them.
My youngest has a special alarm clock that changes colors to tell him when it’s time to get out of bed. Without it, this kid would be bouncing around at 5 AM, ready to start his day. He needs the least amount of sleep of all my children. Is this a boy thing?!!
Once everyone’s up and fed, my kids tackle their 30 minutes of morning chores. This usually includes things like making their beds and putting their breakfast dishes away. It keeps the house from complete chaos and teaches them that even summer days require some responsibility.
Early Afternoon
Once the chore time is done, my kids have some free time. We may hang out at the pool in our backyard, go for a bike ride, see friends, or do something else.
After lunch, every single day, we have a designated quiet time for one full hour. This is non-negotiable in our house because everyone (including me) needs to recharge.
For my youngest kid, quiet time means nap time. My older girls don’t nap anymore, but they still have to be quiet to decompress. They usually use this time for their 30 minutes of daily reading.
We joined our local library’s summer reading competition, which has been an amazing motivation for getting them to read every day. Nothing like a little friendly competition and prizes to make reading feel less like a chore!
Late Afternoon
This is typically our most active time of day. After everyone’s had their quiet time and recharged, we’re ready for bigger adventures. Whether it’s hitting the pool, going to a park, working on something from our bucket list, or just playing in the backyard, this is when we burn off energy and soak up the fun parts of summer.
Evening
We still stick pretty closely to our bedtime routine because sleep is sacred in our house. During the school year, everyone’s in bed by 8 PM, but summer gets a 1.5-hour extension to 9:30 PM. It feels special and summery without destroying our sleep schedule.
The bedtime routine itself stays the same, which includes baths, teeth brushing, and stories, and that consistency helps everyone wind down and get ready for sleep.
What Time Should a Kid Go to Bed in the Summer?
It depends on your family, and I’m a firm believer that anyone who tells you otherwise is probably trying to sell you something. What matters is that you find a rhythm that keeps your kids well-rested. In our house, we push bedtime back by about an hour and a half during summer, from 8 PM to 9:30 PM. This gives us more time for evening adventures, but still keeps us consistent.
Sample Summer Schedule for Kids
How Do I Keep My Kids Busy on a Hot Day?
Water becomes your best friend! We have a pool in our backyard, so my kids will spend a lot of time there. You can also set up sprinklers in the backyard or have water balloon fights. Even just letting your kids run through the hose will often do the trick.
Getting Help During Summer Break
Being completely honest, as a working mom, I need help to make summer work, and there’s zero shame in that. Trying to juggle work and three kids is not a one-person job.
We have an amazing nanny, who is an absolute Godsend. She’s been with us for almost 3 years and is the only way I’m able to run a very busy dental practice while giving my kids a fun, enjoyable summer.
I’m intentionally transparent about the help we have because I think it’s important for other moms to know they’re not failing if they can’t do it all alone.
Other tools that keep our household running smoothly include a magnetic grocery list to keep track of things we’re running low on. This planner also saves my sanity as a mom, business owner, wife, and human trying to keep track of all the moving pieces.
Try These Summer Activities!
We all get excited about kids finishing school until about two weeks in, when we’re staring at two more months, wondering what on earth we’re going to do with all this time!
If that’s how you feel, get this FREE list of activities to schedule and plan with your kids in the summer!
