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We won't be starting officially until mid-Aug. My older kids just got out of ps last week so I do want to give them a "break" before starting up again at home. From then on, we will school year round. What do you all do in the summer? We need some sort of structure to our day before they all drive me crazy! I at least need a morning routine. Something like chores, perhaps a page or 2 of math and then a subject of their choice for each day of the week? Afternoons are usually spent with friends. It is rather hot these days so I think we will have a "quiet time" for those who are home around 2 or so. Reading, quiet play, no tv, etc. I'm just not sure. But I know we need structure! Thanks.

I'm doing more full school days this summer, but here's a link where I posted my summer schedule.

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Sure! Our summer schedule reflects our family's goals for the summer. I like to use summer to train our dc to do their chores well, so chore time is first. I still like to have Bible time fairly close to first thing in the day, and it's been neat to do that at the same time, though we are all reading our things in our own Bibles and our devotionals. We've had some neat talks already as we sometimes do an informal sharing of what we learned or what was special or what struck as as interesting. I also like to have my toddler have a similar schedule to what I want him to have for the school year - otherwise, the same time I'm starting homeschooling I'm back to square 1 with what to do with the little guy. So, my toddler's schedule is about the same as it will be in the school year. For this reason (as well as keeping the boys close to one another), I kept the separate playtimes with the toddler for each of the boys. We also randomly work in big family chores together, as summer is the only time we get things such as that done (i.e go through the basement, sort things into give away/throw/sell piles, go through books, go through toys, fix things in the house, etc.).

For summer, we like to have lots of time to play, but I've found it's helpful to switch where they are playing every so often. We rotate between outside, inside, upstairs, downstairs. Finally, evenings are for daddy to come up with what to do after supper, at least for an hour or so. He has finally enjoyed taking this over and does an awesome job of having the kiddos help him with this or that, usually outdoors. Or else, he oversees their play outside. Then, at bedtime, we all read the Bible together, do prayers, talk a bit, and then the kiddos have quiet time until 8:30 or up until 9:15, depending on how tired they are and what we have going on tomorrow. Here's a link to our overall schedule:


Just like the school year, I finally figured out it's good to have a few loose goals for summer for our family. This has worked well for about a month now. We're enjoying our summer so much, the kids are so happy, but we're getting some things done we need to as well. HTH as you consider your summer!

In Christ,
Julie

Oh, yes, we need some structure too so otherwise we are all over the place!

Currently, we are still finishing what we haven't finished... and in the afternoons they play with the other children outside.

During the day if I want to keep them occupied, we do crafts or drawing together, have quiet time in their rooms and do chores.

We also do a considerable time of read aloud - all of us lying in my big bed with the fan going overhead. We like that!

We also go on nature walks complete with containers to collect whatever we find, go to the pool, etc.

We are missionaries in Asia, so a big part of our summer will be devoted to traveling back home.

All the best for your summer!

I've never been good at following a schedule or being structured, even when the 3 oldest were young. Regrets I admire those who can make a schedule and follow it. Now with another young child, I can see where a schedule will benefit her tremendously. As I have said in other threads, since putting dd in school, it gave me time to really identify what her needs are, academically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually. I really want to be more structured, even during the summer. But that hasn't worked out too well, because we have so many 'extra' things going on. Last week we had 2 days in which dd(20) had doctors appts. 3 hours away, so two days away from home. This week I'm taking dd(7) to VBS, so mornings the 5 days, away from home. On Monday, a trip to visit ds out of state, so...4 days away from home. July holds one week of CEF Day Camp and a week of family camping. So, until we start HOD full swing in August, I have only a few weeks at home to try to begin incorporating some kind of structure in dd's day. I guess having a child with special needs has really called for me to have more flexibility in my life, because of doctor visits, surgeries, etc. for the past 20+ years. But, dd(7) needs more structure and my being....older, it is tough to change the way I've always done things. I honestly don't think I will ever be able to make a daily schedule and follow it.

I guess my goal for the summer, while at home, is to keep dd reading, teach her some household responsibilities, spend more time outside and away from TV, and most importantly, keep teaching her God's Word. I also want to spend more time teaching her manners and also proper social skills with friends. The best thing for me, at this point, is to make a list, on a daily basis, of things that need to be done. Ex. I don't always do laundry at the same time, depending on appts., etc. One thing that I do have ready for school is a visual schedule for dd's schoolwork, so she can see what is expected of her when the time comes. I am thinking this may be a good thing for her during the summer, also, but it just wouldn't be the same every day. This probably didn't help much. It will be a challenge for me, as well.