Transitioning From a School to Summer Routine

by Barbara Reich on May 25th, 2019 | 1 Comment »

Routines work. This is true not only for the school year, but also for the summer. Just because your kids are home for the summer does not mean your house needs to be in a constant state of chaos. Set up a routine. It does take a little time to get situated, but once you and your family are there you’ll be amazed at how much more enjoyable your summer will be!

Transitioning From a School to Summer Routine

Here are some tips to help you decompress from the school year and set a summer routine.

Take a break from a schedule. Allow your children to spend a few days or a week sleeping late and doing a lot of nothing. Give them time to unwind without having to be a slave to a schedule.
Discard old schoolwork. There’s no reason to save the run of the mill math workshops and spelling tests, so sort through the piles THE DAY they come home. Keep only creative writing or truly special assignments.
Evaluate what’s on your bookshelves. With limited space on your bookshelves, it’s important to purge textbooks and books your child has outgrown. The end of the school year is a great time to pare down and organize what’s on your shelves.
Sort through old clothes. Take some time to go through your children’s closets and drawers to see what clothes still fit them from last summer and which clothes are ready for donation or the trash. This will help you plan accordingly when shopping for summer bathing suits, shorts, and tanks.
Stock up on sunblock and other summer essentials. Sunblock doesn’t retain its efficacy indefinitely. Make sure that yours hasn’t outlived its useful life, and you have it stored where it will be applied daily.
Register for summer activities. Ensure that your child doesn’t get shut out of the tennis or baseball clinic that fits her schedule. Sign up early for the activities your child wants to do.
Plan your vacation. Make sure you take advantage of travel deals and entertainment discounts.
Arrange carpools and other transportation. Know how your child is getting to summer camp and other summer activities.
Schedule appointments before camp starts. Plan ahead for orthodontist, dentist, and any other doctor appointments your child needs. The perfect time to fit these in is between the end of school and the beginning of camp.
Create a master calendar.The master calendar is something that should be used all year long. This is where you’ll put all of the carpool schedules, the doctors appointments, the practices, etc. This will keep you organized and make every member of your family responsible.

What are you doing to help your children transition from school to summer?

Barbara Reich is a professional organizer based in New York, NY. Her tough-love approach turns organization and clutter from chore to lifestyle. Her book, “Secrets of an Organized Mom” is on shelves now. To find more tips from Barbara, please visit www.facebook.com/ResourcefulConsultants.

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BarbaraReich

Barbara Reich is a professional organizer based in New York, NY. Her tough love approach turns organization and clutter from chore to lifestyle. Barbara’s book, “Secrets of an Organized Mom” hit bookshelves in February 2013.