Simple Ideas for a Summer Morning Routine

Simple Ideas for a Summer Morning Routine

Summer is here, and even though we homeschool, it still feels like a big relief! Removing the beautiful yet burdensome task of educating our kids feels freeing, and we are looking forward to trips, pool days, and a more leisurely pace of life. I love the carefree vibe of summer, but I still put a good bit of thought into organizing our days because we all do better that way! 

Morning Routine: 

I love a lazy summer morning as much as the next mom, but I find that with my kids (ages 6, 9, & 11) too many of those unstructured days end up being more than I bargained for. So while we will for sure have slow starts, adding in some summer rhythms and routines really does help things feel peaceful and refreshing. 

The biggest thing I find is that starting the day with screens is a big fat no. Sure when we are at the beach or the girls are at their grandparent’s house, it’s fun to have a cartoon morning with breakfast in front of the TV. But at home, our best days start screen free.

Instead, here’s what we do: 

–Kids make their own breakfast: a great summer skill if your kids don’t already do this is to have them make their own breakfast. At our house by 6 years old, you can put together a yogurt parfait with honey and blueberries and granola, scramble an egg with a side of toast, and cut up fruit. My older girls can also make breakfast sandwiches and pancakes. The independence of cooking for yourself is a life skill and it’s one less meal for mom to figure out. Summer is a great time to practice! 

–Workout first thing, let the kids join in: I go on an early morning walk before my kids are awake most days. By the time I’m back and adding in weights, they are awake and getting their breakfast. Since I’m outside, they’ll often wander out as well. Getting in this focused movement first thing helps me feel good for the day. The kids being outside first thing in the morning is nice for them because it’s not too hot. 

–A devotional or devotional podcast: my older daughters enjoy Max Lucado’s You Can Count on God and Sarah Young’s Jesus Calling for Kids. My younger daughter likes to listen to the Tiny Theologians podcast. 

–Chores: This includes the regular things like unloading the dishwasher and making their beds. This summer they are taking over doing their own laundry (as a group) and cleaning their bathroom. 

–Enrichment: We are doing “fun” workbooks throughout the summer that take just 10-15 minutes a day and they are required to read every day – we love summer reading programs for extra motivation! 

–Set a rhythm for the day: you are certainly NOT the cruise director for your kids this summer, but keeping a few regular rhythms help them know what to expect. Of course we will have camp, VBS, and vacation that will follow a different schedule, but when we are home, we try to keep to a certain pattern for the day. I also find that letting them know the plan for the day helps them not mope around asking for things. “The plan” can be as simple as a set time that we are baking muffins or playing a longer board game. It doesn’t have to be crazy. 

–I’m not afraid of boredom! I’ve found the key to fighting boredom is to not react to the complaints. I view boredom as something neutral and it’s not my job to fix it. Now, if the complaining continues or leads to fighting with a sibling, I will assign an extra chore. But often boredom ends up leading to creative play, especially if I don’t immediately offer screen time. I have a list of ideas that the girls can reference when they are bored. For summer, I reorganized our art supplies and have them ready to go on the table. I find that when things are tidy and out in the open, the kids are more willing to grab them. 

Obviously it’s not perfect every day, but I do think a good start to the morning can set the tone for the rest of the day.