Summer Rhythm

7/31/2021

Summer can be a replenishing time. The perfect time to read, relax, replenish… until you have kids. Don’t misunderstand me, my children are my life, but those little people of mine need routine to be sane and for their mama to be happy. So today I’m gonna show you how we’re trying to strike a good balance between wants and needs during the rest of this summer break by using a Summer Rhythm.

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This day in age it’s really hard to get kids away from the constant “need” to be on some sort of device. We’re not the sort of household that takes that away but we do try our best to help the kids find an adequate amount of time to enjoy them and then put them away without fighting, crying or any emotional outbursts. It doesn’t always happen and I get it they’re all learning self-control. Who am I kidding, I still am as well.

So I’m using our little board here. Something that’s right in our face about all the tasks that need and should get done in a day before any “wants” of the summer are granted.

Let me show you what we have on here.

Our Summer Rhythm Routine

Making bed
Putting toothpaste of their toothbrush
Getting dressed for the day
Picking up clothes from the floor
Closing a drawer
Tidying up the room
Picking up toys from the playroom
Reading
Working on worksheets
Practicing piano
Picking up 5 things from downstairs
Taking it upstairs.

And then when they’ve done everything, hopefully with a smile on their face, they can start doing some of the things they want to do which includes having SOME screen time. Now they are not allowed just anything on these little devices. We only allow educational games that we have paid so that they’re not bombarded with ads.

Our Top 4 Kids Educational Apps

*Not a sponsored post, these are apps we have paid for or downloaded for free because we love them.

ABC Mouse and the other educational apps that come with it
PBS kids games
Code Sparks
Khan Academy Kids

Outdoor Activities

But we try to get them out and about during the day as much as possible.

Playing outside
Going to the zoo
Gardening
Playing at the pool
Playing in a park
Playing in a beach
Going to the library
Reading anywhere they’d like, inside or outside

This board here has saved me quite a bit of frustration because it lays it upon them to get things done in order to get to do what they might like to. If they start to whine and fuss, I just say, “ it’s within your power to get to do things you like. Don’t waste time and start doing what NEEDS to get done first.”

When a room is particularly messy, I get in on the tidying up and say “Many hands make light work.”

I guess deep down I’m just always trying to train my kids to be self-sufficient, responsible and tidy. What better time to reinforce those traits and values and more during the summertime?

If you guys like this but maybe don’t have a big board to display on, I made a free printable for you. I’ll put the link below so you can download it.