In my previous post, I explained three reasons why having a summer routine is important for your family. Without some structure, it’s easy to let the season slip by unproductively.
The good news is that creating a summer routine is simpler than it may seem. You don’t need to plan every minute, and you can adjust the plan as needed. What matters is a clear, flexible framework that helps guide your family’s day. Here’s a straightforward way to build one:
How to Create a Summer Routine
1. Start with a sheet of paper and write the hours of the day in a column down the left side.
2. Note the typical times your children wake up and go to bed. Block the time needed for getting dressed and the evening wind-down—baths, brushing teeth, and story time. Those periods become set-aside time for those activities.
3. If your children still nap or take a quiet rest, block that time too. Nap times can shift a bit day to day, but having an approximate schedule helps create consistency and often improves sleep patterns over time.
4. Mark any standing commitments, such as weekly lessons or practices. If your weekly routine varies a lot, consider using a weekly calendar instead of a single-day layout—use whatever format works best for your family.
5. Block out meal times and include the prep and cleanup windows. Planning for cleanup while you’re still in the kitchen prevents dishes from piling up.
6. Look at the remaining open blocks. What still needs to fit in? Schedule time for work-from-home tasks, housecleaning, or intentional time with your kids. Place these activities in whatever blocks make sense.
Need an example? See my daily routine during the school year in “A Day in the Life: Brittany.”
A Few Quick Tips
1. Let your schedule guide you: The schedule should serve your family, not control it. Be willing to shift things when needed.
2. Avoid scheduling by the minute: Plan in blocks—morning cleaning, a mid-day work block, afternoon playtime. This gives flexibility when small interruptions happen.
3. Build in margin time: Kids will need attention, and if your day is packed from end to end you’ll constantly fall behind. Leave roomy blocks so you can actually follow the plan.
4. Share the plan with your family: A schedule only works if everyone knows about it. Present the routine to your household and get their input so they’re more likely to stick with it.
As a work-at-home parent, a daily routine is essential for me to accomplish everything I need to do. But beyond work, the structure brings calm and consistency to family life—so even if I weren’t working, I’d still keep one. A simple, flexible routine makes summer more productive and more enjoyable for everyone.