We’re a month into summer. That’s right. In Georgia, the girls got out of school in May. So the fact that I’m just now sharing my Summer Planning Guide is telling. When summer came I didn’t realize how depleted I was, and I went into a hole – literally. I just hung out at home with my girls, not communicating with many people, and rested. It’s been well needed.
But summer is my time to refocus, plan, catch-up, and have fun! Now I’m ready to do that. Since I am a former teacher, I have always operated on a “school year” schedule instead of a “calendar year” schedule – even before I had kids. September, or really August where I live in Georgia, is like my January 1st. I use the unstructured time I have in the summer to prepare for the upcoming school year by getting the house organized and do projects I don’t have time to do during the year.
Summer is also a time I like to work and play with my girls. Yes, I’m that mom! It’s the teacher in me. I use the summer to work with them on skills that we don’t have time to work on during the school year. These include habits I want them to practice, chores I want them to learn, and academic areas they need to develop. Of course, there’s always a lot of reading!
Making memories is also important to me. For me, it’s not about creating a fairytale childhood, but making much of the little things. I have found that if I add the word “party” to any daily event it makes it so much more fun. “We’re having a breakfast party!”, “a movie party”, and “ice-cream party”, a craft party”, “a cooking party!” Therefore, I try to be intentional with fun things to do around the house and fun places to visit. My girls love to cook and they love crafts. I include these two activities into our weekly summer routine.
From all of this, it sounds like I’m some super organized, type-A mom, however, nothing could be further from the truth! I’m not a schedule person at all! I’m a four on the Enneagram, so typical me detests lists and schedules. Instead, I want to do whatever I feel like doing that day. But what I’ve learned is that if I allow my four-ness to govern my summer, then it ends without me feeling like I used it wisely. So I make lists. And I plan. I have to use resources like this to get anything done, and I have to make myself use it!
Summer Planning Guide 2019
This year I’m using the Summer Planning Guide that I created, and it’s also available to you! It has helped me get all of my thoughts in one place and make a plan. This is how I use it:
- Monthly Calendars: I use the monthly calendars to write in all our standing appointments, camps, trips, and vacations. Then, I schedule days of the week that will be “craft day”, “cooking day”, “field trip day”, “friends day”, and “swim day.” Every day we spend time reading, doing chores, and doing any other school skills they need to practice.
- Day Trips: Then I make a list of local “field trips” I want to take the girls on, and I write those in the calendar.
- Crafts and Cooking: Next, I make a list of crafts and recipes for the girls and me to do together. For the crafts, I ask them what they’d like to make which almost always includes painting! I also look on Pinterest for ideas and shop our local Hobby Lobby store and Oriental Trading.
- Summer Learning: I use the “Summer Learning” page to make a list of skills that the girls need to practice over the summer. This always includes reading! For EG, the goal is for her to read by herself 20 minutes a day. I also read to her every day. The goal for ME is for me to read to her at least 5-10 books a day.
- Summer Reading: This page is to jot down picture books, chapter books, or book series that I’d like to read with the girls over the summer. My favorite resource for book lists is the Read Aloud Revival. You can have her monthly booklist delivered to your inbox every month. I use this list to reserve books at our local library.
- Home Fun List: We’re all familiar with the “Mom! I’m bored” statement, right? Well, I try to be prepared with a list of fun home activities the girls can do over the summer. Some of these include simple toys and games that we already have and some of the new ones I purchased. Check out this post for ideas.
- Bible Verses to Memorize: We try to memorize one Bible verse a week. I have these available for purchase in my shop, or you can sign up for my monthly newsletter and have them delivered to your inbox each month for free! This is how I do Bible memory.
- Summer Fun Sheet: Our rule in the summer, and really all year, is that the girls can watch two shows in the afternoons around 4:00 (or while I’m making dinner) if their other daily chores and tasks are complete. We do not have an iPad or tablet, so they are not choices for my girls. Their only electronics is the television except for the occasional times they use my phone. I print this page on cardstock, then I laminate it. We use dry erase markers to check off the tasks they do each day.
- Daily Routine: I use this daily routine sheet just to get a general idea of how I want the day to go. It is super flexible!
This summer planning guide is available to be printed or to be edited on your computer. Check out more details here. And Happy Summer!!
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