Creating a Family Summer Schedule
Aah summertime. The days are hotter and longer, begging for us to get outside, get away, and let ourselves enjoy time together.
For many families, that also means putting the schedules and routines that were established during the school year on hold during summer break. Between the vacations, play dates, summer camps, road trips, juggling work, and making temporary caregiver arrangements, it’s no wonder that these changes can be a challenge and create stress for the whole family.
Some families thrive on packing in as many activities as possible in order to create a schedule that mimics school hours or provides lots of stimulation. Other families might prefer a more loose approach, where they have more flexible plans and can adapt their days based on what comes up. And still, some may use a combination of both methods depending on the week or month.
If you have an action-packed summer ahead, making sure everyone is kept in the loop will help in creating and maintaining that schedule. Using a large format calendar in a family command centre or on the kitchen fridge (or really any place where it can easily be seen) is a common and useful tool. Having a visual reference reinforces the routine so that everyone knows what is expected. Other families may prefer to use calendar and organizer apps that are easy to view and edit on the go, with the flexibility of adding and syncing so that all members are updated instantly. This link has a list of some apps that are popular for families. You may even want to take elements from each or combine both of these approaches to cover all the bases, and ensure that EVERYONE knows the schedule. If you haven't incorporated a family calendar into your life yet, perhaps summer is a great time to test one out and see if it is useful enough to extend into the rest of the year.
Another tool that can be helpful for creating and maintaining a family summer schedule is the use of anchors. As explained in Meghan Fitzgerald’s Tinkergarten blog, schedule anchors are things that you do everyday at a consistent time. Some examples could be waking up and going to bed, having meals, walking the dog, and exercise and/or playtime. Anchors vary for every family; some can remain unchanged once summer arrives, or a complete overhaul may be necessary—especially if there are multiple children or different generations living together. Anchors help give structure to the day, helping adults stay organized and keeping kids focused. If your family's anchors are predictable, it is easier to plan other activities around them, allows for some flexibility, and can also help with transitioning back to school come fall.
Creating a summer schedule requires some trial and error. Schedules are subjective and can be used differently by many people. Just like any other time of the year, some days will go really well and others may not go according to plan. Remember to give yourselves time to get comfortable, lots of grace as you figure it out, and to be open to changing it up or forgoing one completely if it doesn’t work for your family. Schedules are meant to help you manage your time and energy, but too often we can be set on creating one that is “perfect” so that we feel we are getting the most out of these summer months. Not everyone likes to follow a schedule either, as some people love going with the flow and just allowing themselves to be in the moment, whatever that may look like. Perhaps this year, your family can try something new and decide to omit a schedule altogether: summer break is the perfect opportunity to release yourself from the pressures of routine, and to just let the time unfold on its own.
Whatever the season brings, we wish you all a safe and joyful summer break full of memories and fun!