3 Helpful Steps for Planning Summer Break [+free PDF printables]

If I am NOT the one deciding what my summer looks like then it gets decided FOR me. I get peace and clarity along with my planning.

By the time April & May show up on the calendar I am ready to start my summer planning.

As a kid, summer vacation was full of so much freedom. No school! Backyard slip ‘n slides and popsicles that stained my t-shirt. Reading all my favorite books from the library. Playing Mario Brothers on the Nintendo. It was effortless and free.

But now I am a mom, homeschool mom, homemaker, cook, and the "planner of all the things". Summer does not feel the same. It is a lot of work.

But, for me, living a life with intention is at the top of my list. Even if it takes time and planning.

If I am NOT the one deciding what my summer looks like then it gets decided FOR me.

I get peace and clarity along with my planning.

By choosing to live deliberately, I make decisions about what my summer will look like and feel like for my family ahead of time. I want to step into our fall season rested and ready for the next school year.

photo from Unsplash

So I spend a Saturday afternoon alone with my journal, my lists, our calendar, and a tall latte.

I ask myself all the questions. I make lists. I write out meal ideas and activities to try. I look up all the info on all the things.

I usually forget my planning routine and it takes me extra time to remember. So I have written it all out here for you (and for my future self).

Here are the steps that I go through to plan out the many details of our summer break. Some of these might seem simple or silly. But, hopefully, I am saving you time and mental effort. 😊

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Planning Our Summer Break:

#1 - the family calendar and scheduled events

First, I place the big events and bookends of my schedule first.

• When is the End of the School Year / Start of Next Year?

Next, I block out all scheduled events.

• Holidays & birthdays

• Long vacations planned

• The homeschool convention (in AZ it is AFHE and it is awesome¹)

• Summer camps for the kids (church, science camps, learning camps)

• Swim lessons

• Sports – like dance classes or karate

photo from Unsplash

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Now I am ready to zoom out and ask some big picture questions...

#2 - big picture planning

What do I want this summer to be about?

If I could pick a one-word theme what would it be?

Adventure / Relaxation / Sunshine / Travel / Hobbies / Friendship / Nature

This becomes a filter for activities and ways to spend our time.

from Unsplash

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#3 - evaluating our time & our goals

Then, I see where we are needing some structure or what we have too much of.

• Do we have space for free time?

• Can any weekend trips or short vacations fit in?

• Do I have a variety of activities planned?

• When will I work on school planning and curriculum shopping?²

• Will my kids have a chance to develop new hobbies and get bored?

  • I fully believe that bringing up well-rounded kids involves boredom.

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• What kinds of meals do I want to make?

  • Brainstorm my Summer Meals list for easy meal planning.

    (hot dogs, BBQ, pizza on the grill, pasta salad)

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• Summer book lists!

  • Booklist for me, for each kid, for us to read together³

  • audiobooks to listen to on road trips

• How can my kids keep learning fresh on their minds?

  • Will I have them complete workbooks?

  • Should they keep working on math lessons?

  • Will I have them write about what they are reading?

• How can I reward them for keeping their brains from turning to mush?

  • Sticker charts, tickets, cash for a vacation, shopping trips at Target?

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• When can I take some time to myself this summer break?

  • How can I schedule some time away to journal, think, and be alone? Moms are important too!

😁look at these cuties! from Summer 2021

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I know. I hear you….

I can feel the eye-rolling and the questions.

• Seriously? This is a long list of things to think about!

• Why do these things matter? Who cares?

• Do I really need to spend the time to think about this stuff?

The answer is NO.

Choose what is important to you.

I personally do not want to stumble into August completely exhausted and worn out. I’ve done that for years and it was not pretty.

So I walk through these steps, and then I know that whatever this summer holds I will be ready. I have adjusted my expectations, thought about all our events, placed the important things first, and created a theme.

This planning process helps me feel settled and ready for the season ahead.

🌞Welcome Summer! Let’s do this!

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The end of the school year has so much to think about. Let me help!

Free PDF downloads for your Summer Planning:

• End of the Year Certificates (with ideas to fill them out)

• Daily Planner and 2 different Weekly Planners - for organizing your schedule

• Weekly Meal Plan

Photo by Kenrick Mills on Unsplash

1. see this article: Practical Tips for Attending a Homeschool Convention

2. As a teacher, this takes a lot of my time in the summer. Homeschooling is a full-time job.

3. see these articles for more ideas for Summer Reading:

• Summer Reading – Tips & Ideas,

• How to Revive Your Love of Reading this Summer

• Quick Ideas to Get Kids into Summer Reading

• When My Reading Plans Fail

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Photos by Dakota Lim, Phil Hearing, Point Blanq, and others on Unsplash