A Bowl Full of Lemons

Summertime has arrived, the kids are home from school, and you have no clue how everyone is going to spend the next 3 months.  Sound familiar?  You want to give your kids a memorable summer, yet you still have responsibilities (a job to do).  So how are you going to plan it?  Begin today by creating a list of goals for the summer as well as create a summer schedule for the kids, as well as yourself, so your not frazzled.

1.  Plan your summer “Bucket List”  –

Sit down with the kids and write a list of what you all want/hope to do this summer.  No ideas are out of the question.  Brain storm and let the kids use their imagination.

Here are some ideas:

Go to the beach

Summer camp

YMCA day camps

Family Camping

Join the local pool

Summer book club at the library

Movie night outside/Drive in movie theater

Go Fishing

Spend the day inside making homemade playdoh, moon sand, finger painting, painting with pudding, etc.

Bike riding

Hiking

Catch Fireflies

Make smores in the backyard

Host a block party

Attend the weekly discount matinee at the movies

2.  Set up a 3 month summer calendar –

– Whatever it is that’s on your bucket list, schedule it and write it down on the calendar.  Plan at least 2 activities per week. Write down the dates you plan to do these activities. You can always change the date if your schedule changes.  If you work full time, you will have to plan around your work schedule.  Keep the calendar where the entire family can see it.  This is a great reminder of the exciting things to look forward to this summer. The kids will not keep asking “what are we going to do this week”? They will already know where to look.

– Schedule your grocery shopping, bill paying, errand, day, meal planning, cleaning, and laundry days.  When the kids are home, time gets away from you.  If these are scheduled, you will be sure to stay on top of things.

– Stick to a regular routine.  Just because it’s summer, doesn’t mean you forget about a consistent daily routine for your kids. They function best with a routine. It may be different than during the school year, never the less, they still need a routine.  Have them wake up, shower, and go to bed around the same time every day.  Maintaining a regular daily routine will keep them healthy, happy, and productive.

3.  Schedule one “NO ELECTRONICS” day per week (Adults included). –

– Give yourself permission to relax and enjoy the summer, without electronics.  Take this time to be “present” in your childrens lives, as well as teach them to  function without their iphone, facebook, and texting. Lock the laptops, cell phones, and ipods up where nobody will be able to find them. Out of site, out of mind.  Sunday may be the easiest day for this, since most people do not work on Sunday.

4.  Have fun! –

– Summer goes way to fast! So make it count while it lasts.  Have  a great summer.

Toni

Tags: planning, schedule, summer, summertime, vacation
Blog, June 2013, Organize, Planners & Binders, schedules, summer, vacation Posted in 12 comments