Summer can fly by in a flash. One moment you’re wrapping up the homeschool year, and the next thing you know, fall is knocking on your door.
Rather than just letting these summer months fly by aimlessly, why not plan on making summer count? Often, by the time summer break comes, we are tired and just want to sit back and relax ALL summer. As enticing as a summer with no plans or structure may sound to your tired mind and body, I have found from personal experience that a summer of no routine and no goals was NOT a good idea!
6 Simple Tips for making your child’s summer count
Kids quickly got bored, bad attitudes became the norm, and the house was often filled with complaining and bickering. Not my idea of a good way to spend our summer! By being purposeful, you can make the most out of those months. With just a little planning and purpose, summer can be a time of refreshment, connection, growth, and joy—for both you and your kids.
Why Is It Important to Make Summer Count?
Many parents ask, “Why should I plan my child’s summer?” or “Can’t we just take a break?” And while rest is certainly important, a summer filled with purpose will give your family more joy, less chaos, and far fewer “I’m bored!” complaints.
Purposeful summers:
-
Create lasting family memories
-
Help kids retain learning
-
Provide opportunities to build character
Affiliate Disclosure: This blog contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
-
Strengthen parent-child relationships
-
Allow for spiritual growth and reflection
Here are six simple, practical ways to make your summer meaningful—without overwhelming your days or schedules.
1. Have a routine for your days.
Kids function much better when they have a daily routine to guide their days. When they know what to expect and have regular activities to plan for, daily things like jobs or reading are easier to manage, because they are part of the normal flow.
With my kids, the problem began when I would just spring things on them when they had already made their own plans for how they were going to spend their day.
Say Goodbye to Whining, Complaining, and Bad Attitudes... in You and Your Kids
Passionate Parenting: Enjoying the Journey of Parenting TeensSolving A Crisis in Christian Parenting: Why so many prodigals?[(Child Training Tips : What I Wish I Knew When My Children Were Young)] [By (author) Reb Bradley] published on (August, 2014)
![[(Child Training Tips : What I Wish I Knew When My Children Were Young)] [By (author) Reb Bradley] published on (August, 2014)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51SnOcJL+QL._SL500_.jpg)
In the summer, I think it’s great to give them lots of free time they can spend how they choose, but it should still be within the confines of a routine.
2. Make time with God a priority in your schedule.
For us, this meant that kids who were able to read the Bible on their own had a quiet time each morning right before breakfast, for about 15 minutes.
After breakfast while we were all still at the table, we would have a Bible-based character lesson that included memorizing Scripture. Little ones were included, but could play with quiet toys while listening. They take in way more than you may think as they play while listening in. Even though they may not be verbally reciting Bibme memory verses with the older ones, they are taking it in and often memorizing it right along with everyone else.
When my youngest daughter was about four years old, she proved that to me. She asked to say our Bible verse one night when I was putting her to bed. I thought she was just trying to stall for time, and said the first verse with her, then said goodnight. She asked to say it every night, so I began to say more of it, and was surprised when she went on by herself to quote three or four of the verses we had been working on!
Make sure you remember to schedule time for your own personal priorities, when scheduling what the kids need to get done. Some things you should include are:
- Time with God
- Exercise
- Reading motivational books
- Spending time with a friend who encourages you
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” – Matthew 6:33 (ESV)
3. Schedule time to keep up the reading skills of your kids.
You don’t have to do your full reading routine from the school year, but you don’t want their skills to get rusty, or for them to forget what they have learned during the school year.
Do kids lose knowledge over the summer break? Did you know that 2 months of reading skills are lost over the summer if your kids aren’t reading? Kids need 2-3 hours a week during summer vacation to prevent learning loss.
Depending on the ages of your kids, this can be family read-aloud time, or kids can have a set time to read quietly. Scheduling two separate reading times is great, so you can do both!
Don’t let them fall into that summer slide, and lose reading skills. Keep them reading and learning.
Help prevent the “summer slide” by:
-
Setting aside 20–30 minutes daily for reading
-
Having family read-aloud time
-
Visiting the library weekly
-
Letting kids choose books they’re excited about. Let them choose books from the library (or your bookshelves at home) that they want to read. When they get to pick the book, they are more likely to enjoy reading it, as it was their choice.
Mix it up by creating reading challenges or keeping a summer book log. Reading doesn’t have to feel like school—it can be fun, especially when it’s part of your routine.
4. Schedule time for chores.
Find a chore system that works for your family, and have a set time when everyone is working on their jobs. This way work can be done together, which is always more enjoyable.
How do I help my child learn over the summer? Sticking to a chore schedule allows Mom to provide training time for younger ones , or an older sibling working with them. (Be sure to grab our free age-appropriate chore chart pack below!)
Need help? Grab our FREE 15-page age-appropriate chore pack!
5. Schedule time to serve your community.
Find something you can do together as a family to serve others.
This could be visiting widows from the church. They would be encouraged and it is a great way to teach your kids to be a blessing!
Another option you can consider is making arrangements to go to a nursing home. If your family is large enough,or you have another homeschooling family you are friends with, consider planning programs the kids can do at the nursing homes. The residents would enjoy the kids talking to them or singing to them. You can also have them han out pictures the kids have colored for the residents.
Ideas for serving together:
-
Visit elderly neighbors or shut-ins
-
Deliver meals to new moms
-
Volunteer to clean at church
-
Organize a singing or storytelling time at a local nursing home
-
Write cards or draw pictures for residents or hospital patients
When kids experience the joy of blessing others, they often want to do it again. Service creates opportunities for gratitude and heart growth—and builds powerful character lessons along the way.
“Through love serve one another.” – Galatians 5:13 (ESV)
6. Schedule time for summer fun.
Kids still need downtime, and a break from the normal routine. Summer is perfect for that!
Some things our kids loved doing in the summer:
- Game nights
- Baking
- Bike rides
- A trip to the park
- Playing kickball in the back yard
- Going out for ice cream at the local Dairy Queen
- Scavenger hunts
- Flashlight tag
Focus on winning and keeping the hearts of your children this summer. Schedule fun family activities that will enable you to make heart ties with your kids, while making memories.
Having a nice mix of routine and worthwhile activities, and a good amount of free time will make for a fun summer of memories for your family.
Making summer count doesn’t mean packing your calendar full of activities or following a rigid schedule. It’s about being intentional. It’s about balancing rest with purpose, structure with flexibility, and fun with faith-building.
When you prioritize routines, learning, family time, and spiritual growth, you’ll not only keep the summer chaos at bay—you’ll build a season filled with peace, joy, and connection.
Here’s to a summer full of memories, growth, and heart-ties that last well beyond the break.
More Resources for a Good Summer
- Plan a Successful Summer – Intentional Summer Challenge
- How To Set Goals For The Summer
- Fun Ideas to Keep Summer Learning Going
- 7 Ways To Make Summer Count
