I recently started to feel overwhelmed with working at home with my kids this summer. There’s the popping into my office while I’m in meetings, my responsibility of providing meals and snacks, and just generally keeping them entertained and at a decent noise level. Sound familiar?
But just before I lost my cool, I created a daily schedule for them with self-run activities to keep them occupied. Not all heroes wear capes, so I’m sharing my tips and schedule with you in hopes that it’ll help out you and your own crew!
What Activities Can Kids Do On Their Own?
Part of the struggle sometimes is just figuring out what can our little ones do to have the most fun with the least supervision, honestly. And there are more things than you think:
- Coloring / Arts and crafts
- Reading
- Hide and Seek
- Board Games
- Kid’s Bible Reading Guides
- Dress Up
- Story Telling
And the list goes on! These are just a few to get you started on your kid-friendly work journey. Keep in mind the age of your kids as you search for activities to keep them busy.
How Long Should My Kids Do Each Activity?
I know some adults who can’t pay attention for the length of a movie, so it’s only fair that we don’t expect our kids to! I break each activity up into lengths relevant to whatever they’re doing:
- Board games are 30 minutes at at time
- Outdoor activities vary on the weather
- Reading is scheduled for 15 minutes at a time
- More complex or imaginative activities can take more time
And this will make more sense once you see the free printable schedule I share with you!
5 Tips To Keep The “Fun” In Your “Functional” Daily Summer Schedule For Your Kids
Creating the schedule is half the battle. Getting your kids to actually follow it is just as important!
Tip 1: Include Activities Your Kids Already Like
Don’t make it harder than it has to be. Keep it simple and include activities that your kids already enjoy doing at home. Using games and supplies that you already have makes it so much easier than filling an Amazon cart with “stuff”. Try things like:
- Printable coloring pages
- Puzzles
- Board games and video games
- Playing in water
- Crafting with Amazon boxes
Pro Tip: Make common things feel exciting and new just by calling them something different. Instead of “dress up”, it’s a “talent show”. Instead of “story time” it’s ”story telling time” and let them create their own story!
Tip 2: Include Daily Chores
My weekly calendar starts their day off with breakfast and their chores. This gets it out of the way and makes them feel empowered to relax afterwards. It’s a nice way to set the tone of the day by already checking off a big ‘to do’ item!
Tip 3: Schedule in Meals and Snack Time
Random snacks not only ruin my kids’ appetites sometimes, but also gets them in the habit of just snacking when they’re bored.
- Set a snack time that works for your dinner schedule
- Fill your snacks with fruit and goodness
Being intentional about when to nourish with a full meal or refuel with a snack is an important lesson they can carry with them even into adulthood one day. Need a quick dinner recipe? Try my dump-and-go pressure cooker spaghetti recipe or an easy butter chicken recipe!
Tip 4: Reuse The Same Activities On Different Days
Don’t feel pressured to buy new games from Target and Amazon. Take what you have and rotate the games on different days. Merely the fact that the games were scheduled was enough to make them new and exciting again for my kids! When they saw “Sorry” on the schedule for that day, they got so excited.
Side note: I have been obsessed with the bookshelf style board games. They make my living room beautiful and add a nice spin to classic board games!
Tip 5: Print It Out For Everyone To See!
You’ve done the work of compiling your activities and getting them scheduled. Now’s the time to let them shine, mama:
- Use colors and designs that will grab their attention
- Tac it on the wall in a place where everyone can see (or save the image and post it on a virtual screen if you use any!)
- Display the whole week, so they can look forward to the coming days
Luckily for you, my free printable includes a template for you to add your own items and is already formatted in fun colors for kids!
Claim Back Your Sanity and Work Life
With using games and activities you already have at home and displaying them for your kids to see, you can create the perfect daily schedule for your kids this summer. You can use the same schedule each week or swap out activities to keep things fresh. Kids love routines, so this will feel like something fun for them while being so helpful for you!