This summer we are trying something new. Normally, we fly by the seat of our pants for summertime. Everyone is so excited to be out of school and not having to pack a lunch (okay, mostly me), that we say YOLO and and all sense of schedule flies out the window. It has worked for us this far, but with both girl’s in full time school in the upcoming fall, I knew that the time for that was pretty much over. I want summer to be fun, but I also don’t want to die a slow death by the time school rolls back around, ya feel me?
In search of the best of both worlds, I came up with this summer schedule. It gives us enough structure and responsibility to keep everybody grounded. It’s also really attainable. We usually finish the list before 9 AM! The rest of the day can be spent on the go or doing something fun! This is also how they earn screen time. When the list is done, they get screen time if they ask for it. I don’t remind them. They’ve forgotten most days so far. This has been our most “screen free summer” yet. MAGIC!
In the beginning of summer, we gave them a reward as incentive. For each day they complete their chores, they take that day’s clip and put it in a jar. The charts aren’t optional unless we have an appointment or something in the morning. So, at the end of the week we have 14 clips in the jar, and they either get treasure box or we do a fun “smaller” activity. By now, they know that the chore lists just need to be done. On occasion we have some whining but for the most part, it’s been really smooth. Although, if you ask the girls, they’d both tell you, they don’t like the lists. Tough cookie.
My husband and I thought about the things we wanted the girls to accomplish each day. Things that we hope will just become engrained in them as a way to start their day. A foundation to build their own daily routines on someday. We came up with this list. We added a box for prayer and affirmations. I really struggled with this, as I didn’t want prayer to feel like a chore. Ultimately, we just decided it was something that they needed to be reminded to do every day.
I also made them a prayer and affirmation list. Eloise can’t read yet, as she’s only four. Sophie sometimes reads this aloud for them both. Or I read it for her. During the school year, we do affirmations every day on the way to school. This was something I wanted them to keep up. The ones we do on the way to school change from time to time, if someone is struggling with an issue, etc. But this is our core group of affirmations.
I found these clipboards, used my favorite font so the girls could color in the letters for personalization, and laminated them so they could check everything off with a dry erase marker! Easy peasy! Side note: the laminator was very inexpensive and I’m going to use it for so many things in the future!
So tell me, do you have a summer schedule?
Sources to Make Checklists: // Clipboards // Laminator // Laminator Sheets // Weekday Clips – Hobby Lobby
Decor Sources: // Initial Hooks // Embroidered Rainbow // LOL Purse // Maileg Mice // Basket – Vintage // Twin Bed // Full Bed // Duvet // Rug // Pillow // Knit Dog Doll