Summer Activities: Busy Parents Planning for Family Time

If you’re like me, you’re a busy mom deep in the heart of the summer. The kids are home, and now you are managing summer activities while playing chauffeur and still trying to complete all your routine tasks of work, house management, self-care, and spending time with your loved ones. While it can seem daunting and overwhelming, I’m here to tell you that you can make it more manageable with a few simple tricks. Let’s dive in! 

The Art of Prioritizing Family Time

Summertime isn’t just for kids - it is for everyone to enjoy. These warm, delightful summer months are the perfect time for respite and building core memories that you and your entire family can take into the future. Of course, parents still have to work while the kids are out of school, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make the most out of this short season. With some intentional planning (which we will address in a minute), you can prioritize family time. To do this, I plan for monthly adventures and weekly connections. 

Summer Activities: Monthly Memorable Moments

Each summer, I plan for one extensive activity each month -- three over the summer. These more significant planned events create lasting memories and provide exciting anticipatory moments for the whole family. 

Depending on your budget and time availability, this could be a short vacation, a weekend trip, or a whole-day event. For example, we often take one short vacation to the beach each summer as one of our monthly summer activities. Other monthly memorable moments could include: 

State or County Fair: Spend a day at a state or county fair. These events typically offer a variety of activities, including carnival rides, live music, local food vendors, and crafts. It’s a great way to engage with the local community and enjoy diverse entertainments that appeal to all age groups.

Camping Weekend: Organize a camping trip to a national park or a scenic campground. Whether you prefer a tent, cabin, or RV, camping is a great way to disconnect from daily routines and spend quality time with the family surrounded by nature. Include activities like hiking, fishing, and marshmallow roasting over a campfire.

Cultural Festival or Parade: Check out local event calendars for cultural festivals or parades in your area during the summer. These events often celebrate specific cultures or historical events with traditional foods, dances, and custom displays, providing a fun and educational experience for the entire family.

If you are still trying to figure out what to do, ask your family for recommendations. Kids often have a whole slew of things they want to do, and usually, it may be simpler than you realize - like going to a water park or attending a concert the next town over. Just ask!

Summer Activities: Weekly Connections

The second part of planning our summer activities includes a weekly connection activity for the family. This can happen any day of the week and typically only takes a few hours. While it may seem small, these little moments can significantly enhance the quality of family relationships without requiring extensive time or resources. Here are a few of my favorite ideas:

1. Evening Walks: Take a leisurely stroll around the neighborhood or visit a local park in the evening. It’s a great way to wind down the day and catch up with each other.

2. Ice Cream Date: Head to your favorite ice cream parlor or set up a DIY ice cream sundae bar at home. It’s a sweet treat that everyone can enjoy.

3. Backyard Movie Night: Set up a projector and screen, or just use your laptop outside to watch a family-friendly movie under the stars. Don’t forget the popcorn!

4. Outdoor Concert: Check local listings for free outdoor concerts offered in the summer months. Bring a blanket and enjoy the live music in a relaxed setting.

5. Picnic in the Park: Pack a picnic basket with snacks, sandwiches, and drinks, and spend a few hours at a nearby park. Bring along a frisbee or a ball for some fun games.

6. Farmer’s Market Visit: Explore a local farmer’s market to shop for fresh fruits, vegetables, and artisan goods. It’s a great way to support local farmers and discover new foods together.

7. Sunset Watching: Find a good spot in your area to watch the sunset. This could be a beach, a high hill, or even just a quiet place in a public garden.

8. Visit a Local Museum or Gallery: Many museums and galleries offer free entrance days or special evening hours in the summer. Take advantage of these to explore new exhibits.

9. Gardening Together: Spend a morning or afternoon gardening in your backyard. Planting flowers or a small vegetable garden can be both educational and fun.

10. Biking Around the Neighborhood: Dust off the bikes and take a ride around your neighborhood or a local bike trail. It’s great exercise and an excellent way to explore the area.
    

These activities foster family bonding and ensure that everyone has a chance to relax and enjoy the summer without needing to carve out an entire day.

Balancing Work and Summer Fun

Yes, I know that you are busy. Juggling a busy work schedule with the desire to soak up every bit of summer fun can seem daunting, but with a little planning and flexibility, it's entirely possible to enjoy the best of both worlds. To do this, I follow these four guidelines.

#1: Streamline Your To-Do List

Summer demands a lighter load, so it’s the perfect time to reassess and streamline your to-do list. Evaluate your tasks critically—what can be delegated, delayed, or deleted entirely? I have found that removing unnecessary tasks helps to reduce being overwhelmed and frees up more time to spend on summer activities that enrich your personal life. 

P.S. This goes for home projects, too! Save painting the kitchen or doing a deep clean of the closets until the cold, dreary months of winter!

#2: Maximize Early Mornings

I am at the phase in my parenthood where my kids are now a little older - so they sleep in! A crucial strategy for maintaining my workload is to take advantage of early mornings when the kids are asleep, and the house is quiet. Personally, I've found that starting my workday before the rest of the household wakes up allows me to concentrate deeply on tasks without interruptions. This not only boosts my productivity but also frees up substantial parts of my day to engage fully in family activities. 

Of course, if you don’t work from home, there is a way to modify this - you can do your household chores early before work so that you are free to be with your family when you get home. This could mean doing the dishes, starting laundry, prepping meals, etc. 

#3: Set Clear Boundaries

Intentional margins and setting clear boundaries are aspects of summer planning that can’t be understated. To make this work, I prioritize tasks that require the most attention for these early hours, leaving less demanding tasks for later when the household is more active. Additionally, clear communication with my team and setting boundaries are key. 

Depending on your work situation, letting colleagues know your availability and work hours helps manage expectations and reduces work-related stress during off-hours. 

#4: Leverage Technology

Leveraging technology to stay organized can significantly aid in balancing work and summer activities. I, personally, need to get better at doing this, but there are so many ways to use apps to keep track of both family events and work deadlines to ensure that nothing gets overlooked and you can transition smoothly between roles. 

Remember, the overall goal is to integrate work and play seamlessly, allowing you to create joyful summer memories without sacrificing professional responsibilities.

Quality Time Guidelines by Age

As a parent, there will be seasons of life where your children need you at different levels. Essentially, as they get older, they become more independent and self-motivated. Right now, my teen doesn’t need me as much as she did when she was four. Instead of trying to interact with her every hour of every day, I instead foster those monthly events, weekly connections, and a daily interaction or two. Plus, I make myself available to be there for her whenever she needs me, whether for a chat, a ride to a friend’s house, or a mommy-daughter date. I certainly don’t want to smother her, but I want her to know that I am always there for her. 

I have found that navigating quality time with children during the summer can be enhanced by understanding age-appropriate engagement levels. Drawing from Julie Morgenstern's "Time to Parent," here's a brief guide:

Infants (0-2 years)

Focus on brief, frequent interactions every 20 minutes to foster attachment and security. These can be cuddles, playful tickles, or soothing talks.

Toddlers (2-5 years)

Engage in simple activities like puzzles or reading stories for about 5-10 minutes every hour, supporting their rapid developmental stages.

School-aged children (5-12 years)

Aim for 15-30 minutes of focused time every few hours, engaging in activities that align with their interests, like crafting, sports, or educational games.

Teenagers (13-18 years)

Maintain open communication with at least 30 minutes to an hour of interaction daily or every other day, discussing their day, offering guidance, or simply sharing moments.

Morgenstern emphasizes that quality over quantity is key; these moments should be intentional and free from distractions to strengthen the parent-child bond effectively.

Making the Most of Summertime While You Can

I sincerely applaud you for reading this far and making the conscious effort to connect more with your family over the summer. By implementing these philosophies for summer activities, I think you will have the best summer yet! 

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