Summer Routine Tips

Summer can be such a fun and exciting time, but it also comes with its own set of challenges. Your children have a lot more time on their hands, so that means more technology, sibling fights, and wacky sleep schedules. But it also means more time to have fun together! So there are definitely some things to let go of this summer, and some things to add more of this summer to make it the best summer for your children AND you.

Have FEWER limits around:

Learning- specifically adult-directed learning. They have so many adults throughout the school year telling them what to learn and how to learn it that they very rarely have any say in their own learning. Summer is a great time to let them lead, even if that means they are learning things you don't find important. It's ok! Let them explore topics, games, and books that might be less than their normal ability level. Let learning be about having FUN without there having to be some rigor to it. If your child DOES need tutoring this summer, make sure to get their buy-in by involving them in the conversation. Let them know why you think it's important they get some help over the summer, and let them have some voice and choice over what that learning looks like.

Sleep Schedules- Summer is a great time to let your children fall into their normal sleep cycles, which means your teens may be sleeping from midnight to 11 am! And that's ok. They can take the week before school to get back on track, but let them have some freedom with their sleep times over the summer. The more you fight them about getting up when there is no real reason you need them to be up, the more power struggles you will see. So it's okay for a few weeks a year to let them find a sleep schedule that works for them.

Technology- Remember, our children's devices often provide learning, art, music, social time, and games. These meet many of their needs all in one package, so it is inevitable that over the summer, they will spend more time with these devices. Let them know you understand there will be more tech use these next two months, but that you want to watch out for the signs of addiction. Share those signs with your children so you can all use them as a guideline, then work together to come up with some limits that strive for balance.

Summer is also a great time to have MORE of these things:

Chore Help- Summer is a great time to get more help around the house by letting your children choose some new chores to do, as well as giving them a choice around when and how to clean. You'd be amazed at the ideas kids have for making cleaning more fun! The more choice and voice they have around cleaning up, the more cooperation you will get from them.

Positive Family Time- A lot of our time throughout the school year is spent harping on our kids about homework, bedtime, or school grades, so take time this summer to do some things together that you all like to do, and make that time positive. Maybe even play their favorite games or enthusiastically do some activities they suggest. When children feel involved in the family planning for all the fun stuff, they are more likely to put up with doing all the un-fun stuff.

Cooperative Conversations- All of these strategies should be brainstormed with your children through what I call a Cooperative Conversations. Sit together and come up with limits for learning, tech, sleeping, and chores as a family. Then use that same time to brainstorm some fun activities you could do together. The more children are included in these conversations, the more likely they are to follow them.

If you'd love to have a summer where everyone is getting along, working together toward common goals, all while also having fun, I am offering Summer Success Coaching to help do just that. Book a free phone consultation here, and we can discuss the perfect solution for your family.

If you'd like more Summer Routine Tips, please check out my podcast on YouTube or Apple.

I hope your summer is both productive and FUN!