These mini daily summer routines are must-haves for families who want a peaceful and fun-filled summer for their little kids.
Summer is just around the corner, and if you’re anything like me, you’re about to have your kids at home all day long.
Whether you’re a stay-at-home mom or juggling work and family life, the upcoming changes in schedules can for sure mow you over if you’re not prepared.
Believe you me, you don’t want to let the summer season sneak up on you only to find yourself feeling stressed and wishing for it to be over.
After all, our kids only have a limited number of summers before they grow up, fly away, and are no longer wanting to run around in the sprinklers in our yard.
What's in this post...
5 daily summer routines
Since we don’t avoid our problems around here: let’s tackle this head-on and make sure we create an amazing summer for our families.
Let’s dive straight into creating a summer filled with all the necessary things as well as some fun ones.
Sample Summer Routines (Toddler To Elementary!)
Here are 3 sample daily summer routines (by age!) to help you get some peace, fun, and relaxation!
Chore routines
When it comes to planning your daily summer routines, one of the first things to consider is establishing chore routines for your kids.
With more free time at home there will be more messes to clean up.
And let me give you a massive pro tip (as a mama of 5 and parent coach): starting chore routines early on helps to avoid resistance later.
If you wait too long to involve your kids in chores, they may start refusing or developing a negative attitude toward them. So, it’s crucial to get your kids involved in helping out around the house from a young age.
Consider strategically WHEN to do chores in the summer
You can choose to have your kids do chores in the morning, afternoon, or even have touchpoints throughout the day when they take care of their responsibilities. AKA: before lunch they need to clean up the play area.
The key is to think about what works best for your family and make a plan accordingly.
Creating at least a semi-structured chore routine not only helps you avoid a completely chaotic home during the summer, but it also teaches your children life skills and responsibility.
Summer Rhythms
Create summer rhythms that help you balance fun AND real life responsibilities, so you can make make memories with your kids.
When it comes to planning your daily summer routines, it’s not just about the kids and their activities—it’s essential to carve out some time for yourself too.
That’s why the second thing to plan is your very own self-care routine.
In my summer rhythms workshop (linked above), I talk about a concept called the “not to-do list.” It’s all about giving yourself permission to do things a little differently during the summer months. You can lower your standards in certain areas, ditch certain commitments, or say no to things that can wait.
This will give you more space to relax and take care of yourself.
Sample Summer Routines (Toddler To Elementary!)
Here are 3 sample daily summer routines (by age!) to help you get some peace, fun, and relaxation!
When the kids are home more often:
the noise levels go up
messes multiply
the kitchen is in constant motion with cooking, cleaning, snacks, and everything in between.
It can be overwhelming, especially if you’re someone who craves a little peace and quiet. Whether you’re a highly sensitive person, an introvert, or even if you were an only child used to your own space (me! me!), the added noise levels, busyness, and pressure can drive you Past The Point.
So, it’s crucial to plan ahead and figure out how you’re going to find moments of calm and relaxation.
Having a designated “quiet corner” where you can retreat to when things get a little crazy or an “escape time”
Having a little plan in place, even if it’s as simple as knowing what helps you unwind, can make a huge difference in your well-being.
If Mama Ain’t Happy
Neglecting your own physical, spiritual, mental, and emotional needs for so long―in an effort to be a selfless mother―leaves you depleted. Being well blesses your family! Learn WIN WIN strategies in my upcoming book!
It’s time to think about all the things you want to do and see during this summer season. How you approach this bucket list is entirely up to you and your personality. Maybe you’re the type who loves a long list with little checkboxes to mark off each day or week.
Or if you’re not a long-list type of gal, a short list of about 10 main things that are the most important to you as a family.
Classic summertime activities like:
ice cream
watching fireworks on the Fourth of July
playing in sprinklers
going to the lake/beach/river
slip and slide
splash pad
vacation
grilling out
camping
Sample Summer Routines (Toddler To Elementary!)
Here are 3 sample daily summer routines (by age!) to help you get some peace, fun, and relaxation!
Summer days can feel never-ending, especially when the sun sets later and the kids start getting bored.
And here’s a bonus tip: having a well-planned bucket list helps you steer clear of the dreaded screen slide into oblivion.
You know what I mean—the endless hours of mindless scrolling or binge-watching shows that can quickly consume summer days.
So, when everyone starts getting squirrely and tensions rise, you can turn to your bucket list and say, “Alright, my darling offspring, what adventure shall we do today?” Or, as I like to call them, children of my womb.
It’s like your secret weapon against boredom and restlessness.
Now, let’s dive into planning those exciting projects and special plans for the summer. When I sat down to plan my weeks I realized, we are gone a lot.
If there are some things I really want done, I need to plan them in.
Life School At Home
Help prepare your kids for life, one skill at a time. Simple, easy skills every month!
Summer is the perfect time to focus on building life skills and learning because the kids are home more and have that extra time on their hands.
outdoor projects
life skills (swimming, mowing, weed pulling, etc.)
visits to friends or family
appointments
Anything you want done, that isn’t a bucket list item but is more of a Need To Do Thing, you need to slot it in so you don’t get to the end of summer (which will fly by) and it goes undone.
Sample Summer Routines (Toddler To Elementary!)
Here are 3 sample daily summer routines (by age!) to help you get some peace, fun, and relaxation!
Screen time summer routines
Screen time rules are crucial to plan, both for us moms and our kids. We need to know what we’re okay with BEFORE it comes up.
We all know how easy it is to get sucked into endless scrolling or binge-watching even though we KNOW that leaves us feeling empty and dissatisfied.
So, while going completely screen-free might not be realistic, it’s important to set boundaries.
Make screen time a privilege earned after completing chores, reading, outside play, exercise, etc. Let screen time be earned, not given when they are acting naughty just to get them to be quiet.
Summer brings more free time and less structured plans which means the temptation for Too Much screen time increases. It’s up to us to determine what’s an appropriate amount of screen time and ensure it doesn’t hijack our little ones’s development.
Summer Rhythms
Create summer rhythms that help you balance fun AND real life responsibilities, so you can make make memories with your kids.
How can I set realistic expectations for my child’s summer routine while also allowing for flexibility and spontaneity?
It can be helpful to have routines of things that you do daily (like daily chores, rest time, etc.), weekly (one trip a week to the zoo, aquarium, etc.), and monthly (a bigger trip, project, or bucket list item). Then your days will be structured with some flexible time and rhythms to allow for spontaneity.
How can I incorporate outdoor activities into my child’s routine to promote physical activity and exposure to nature, which can benefit their mental health?
Determine how much outside time you want your kids to have each day or week and how you want them to spend their time outside so that you can plan accordingly. Visiting parks, swimming, going on walks, and playing in the yard are a few ways to add outdoor activities into your routine and some require more planning than others. Start with your ideals and create your family’s outdoor routines around them!
Get my cheat sheets and find your family’s groove. Chore, independent play, meal, nap, bedtime, and MORE routine ideas!
Hi Mama, Rachel Norman Here
B.A., M.S., Routine Queen, certified sleep consultant, Language of Listening® parent coach, and *most proudly* mother of 5.
As a mom of 5 kids, born in 5 years, I understand what it’s like for lots of small problems to take over, leaving you stressed to the max. With simple routines – for everyone – and life skills preparation – for the kids! – your home can be a peaceful haven, not a source of stress you are driven to escape.
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