Let’s talk schedules. During the school year, everyone is on a schedule whether they like it or not – school starts at a specific time, after school activities start at a specific time, assignments are due on a specific date, etc. You can’t avoid schedules for 9 months out of the year, but what about the other 3 summer months? If you are like me, despite living by a schedule for 9 months of the year, you realize every quickly that even the summer needs a schedule. Doesn’t have to be super detailed, but something that gives a purpose to every day and keeps the little humans sane! Right after school let out, the kids and I made an “Epic Summer Activity List” of all the things we wanted to do ~ some new, some old ~ but then came the challenge of planning everything. At first, I started putting the activities on specific days of the calendar, however, the problem came up very quickly that the weather doesn’t always consult your activity calendar. Then, we have tears and sadness and mad little humans, and NO ONE wants that! So, here is our revised schedule. It gives us the leeway of checking the weather ahead of time, asking friends to join in the fun, researching coupons or discount days, and adjusting our plans as needed. We have this schedule printed out and posted on the refrigerator so the kids know the daily theme without knowing a specific activity until I tell them what we are doing in the morning! Win-win!

Make It Monday can be anything from arts and crafts, to making a new recipe, to pulling cushions off the couch and making an ultimate fort. Today’s forecast called for scattered showers and thunderstorms, which means absolutely no way of knowing what the weather is going to be at any minute. Ugh! We decided to tackle an art project – “swing cup painting” – and ended up in the basement. The kids were super excited to know they would be making something today, and I had the flexibility of deciding what to do based on the weather. Perfect! (I’ll post more about swing cup painting later this week! Our masterpieces are currently drying!)

Take a Trip Tuesday can be as low-key or extravagant as you want. Have other chores that need done and not much time to spare?? Your trip can be as simple as going to McDonald’s for lunch in between errands and getting an ice cream cone that you normally wouldn’t get. Have a wide-open day and sunny blue skies?? Go to a new park that’s further away from home and make it a day trip!

Water Wednesday is an easy one in the summer ~ pools, slip n slides, sprinklers, splash pads, water balloon fights, etc. But what if your Wednesday is rainy and not pool weather? Get creative with your water play – jump in puddles, play in the rain, buy or make some bath bombs for fun in the bathtub, or freeze toys in ice cube trays and let your kids “break free” the toys with household items (think spoons, medicine droppers of water, toothpicks, etc).

Thinking Thursday is for keeping up those school skills that go by the wayside in the summer. As a former teacher, I always have the nagging thought in the back of my head that says, “You really should be doing workbooks with the kids.” So rather than constantly feeling guilty about not doing school work, Thursdays are reserved for brushing up on school skills. You don’t have to do workbooks, and you don’t have to be doing “school” the entire day, but plan a specific activity that relates to learning ~ science experiments, workbooks and worksheets if your kids like those (Ava would do an entire workbook in one sitting), make a “reading nest” area in the house and pretend to have your own library time, etc.

Funday Friyay (FriYAY is Eli’s term! Ha!) is for doing exactly that – having FUN! After all, that’s what summer is all about! Eli and Ava are so lucky to attend “Nana’s Vacation Bible School” at my parents’ house on Friday morning with their cousins. You could also write on popsicle sticks or pieces of paper activities and randomly draw one out of a hat to make it a surprise fun day.

Stay tuned for lots of activities happening this summer!