TIPS FOR HAVING A MARVELOUSLY ORGANIZED SUMMER

by ERIN SHARPLIN LOVE  |  erinlove@panachebyerin.com

Don’t let summer sneak up on you this year! As a professional organizer and mommy, I am already thinking about how I can transition myself and my family from “school-time” to “summer-time.” Now, I know that kids are “ready for summer” almost all the time during the school year, but are you really ready for it? Getting ready for summer for an adult can be somewhat complicated! What exactly is a mom to do when school closes and reality hits? I am here to help. Take a deep breath and continue reading.

PREPARATION IS KEY! As with all organizing projects, preparation is the key to success. You must have a plan of action and be able to keep up with it efficiently. So, the first thing you should do is purchase or create a family calendar. Go ahead and enter all of the camps, appointments, and trips that you already know about, so that you can fill in the blanks properly. 

FILL IN THE BLANKS! Now is the time to begin filling in the blank spaces. To be clear, though, I am not suggesting that every single day needs to be filled with an elaborate activity, but I do recommend that you plan a few get-togethers with your kids’ friends from school. It is nice to keep in touch during the summer, and it will give your children some time to relieve any pent-up energy that they may have. For example, plan summer-specific activities such as a day at the pool, a fun outdoor BBQ, or a day of slip-n-slide.  

LEAVE ROOM FOR ROUTINES! As I have already stated, I do not suggest that you fill everyday with elaborate activities. In fact, I think there should still be routines and tasks during the summer. Children (and I) thrive on consistency and structure, so make sure to create that for them this summer. For instance, keep their morning and bedtime routines by creating an easy-to-follow system. Last year when COVID hit, I created a plan that I shared on my social media (so you may want to follow me there to see what I come up with for this year! @erinlovedesigns and erinsharplinlove) To the left is a sneak peek of the routine I followed, though. Feel free to use it for yourself! 

PLAN THE ROUTINES! It is very important that you not let your kids sleep in too late during the summer. Our wake up time is typically around 7:00 every morning, followed by TV or play time on their tablets until breakfast. Breakfast is typically muffins, eggs, or waffles, but sometimes I let my kids choose what they want. And, yes, occasionally it is ice cream and chips. After the morning meal comes “learning fun,” scheduled here before they get too tired and grumpy. I see this as the most important activity of the day and never skip it.  “Learning fun” concentrates on grade-specific topics that include science, reading, math, and geography. I also provide a worksheet to help them retain some of the information. Then we move into play time as a reward for working hard during the learning hour. Play time includes such activities as water balloons, riding bikes, fishing, tadpole hunting, etc. I have a list of activities that I will share with you, too, so stay tuned. After play, we eat lunch and follow that meal with an activity that is physical. I think children definitely benefit from a bit of exercise, so we jump on the trampoline, run relay races, etc. Next is arts and crafts! I let them get dirty with Play-doh, slime, and paint. Finally, it is time to wind down the rest of the day and enjoy a bit more play time. Then comes down time when they can again watch TV, play on their tablet, or read a book. at the end of the day, we are off to dinner and our bedtime routine.  

BE READY FOR BOREDOM! No matter how organized and meticulous you are, there will still be times that your kids will not want to do exactly what you have planned. I always have a few other “rabbits up my sleeve” for when boredom strikes.  Here are a few ideas for you to keep in your arsenal, too:

1.
Create a “Boredom Jar” – I have a mason jar that I filled with tasks, so when boredom hits, they reach for a strip of paper and they HAVE to do what is on that slip of paper. It’s kind of fun because sometimes they will pull a chore, and other times they will pull an opportunity for a new, inexpensive gift.

2.
Mix it up! Let the kids choose in what order they want to do each step of the routine. I allow this freedom only AFTER the learning hour is complete. They get to plan the tasks, the fun, the games, the arts and crafts, etc.  

3.
Create a theme of the day! Maybe one day is “Pajama” day and another is “Silly Hat” day.  Think outside of the box and have fun. Fun always chases boredom away!

RESTOCK YOUR SUPPLIES! Now that I have you all thinking about schedules and routines, that is just the tip of the iceberg. You must make sure that you have all the items you need to keep your little ones entertained. I suggest stocking up on your arts and crafts products (glue, construction paper, googly eyes, yarn, washable paint, paint brushes, etc.). You should also check your “outdoor prep” supplies such as bug spray, sunscreen, first aid kit, water balloons, chalk, etc. Now is also the time to be sure you have the correct size swimming suits, shoes, and hats. And, you CAN’T forget the snack station! That must be stocked to perfection or you will pay for it later. I like to have a travel water bottle for each of my children, and I prepackage my own snacks if they are not already in snack- sized bags or containers. Be sure that you have plenty of healthy options so they don’t always reach for the candy and cookies. For example, my kids enjoy grapes, carrots, and strawberries.  

With that said, I know that you are probably hoping for some ideas on arts and crafts, learning activities, and such, so please be sure to follow me on Instagram! I will be sharing a lot of ideas. I just don’t have the space here. I can’t wait to hear what you think of my advice, so please feel free to contact me.

The LOVE Daily Schedule

7:00 / Rise and Shine
7:30-8:30 / Breakfast and Tablet or TV time
8:30-9:30 / Learning Fun 
9:30-11:30 / Play Time
11:30-12:30 / Lunch and Table or TV time
12:30-2:30 / Physical Fun
2:30-3:30 / Arts and Crafts
3:30-5:30 / Play Time 
5:30-6:30 / Down Time
6:30-7:30 / Dinner
7:30 – Bedtime / Movie, Reading, or TV time