Easy Summer Schedule for Kids Daily Routine - Free Printable
Summer Break is here, and with it comes the search for ways to keep kids entertained and enriched. So if you’re looking for an easy and fun way to build a summer schedule for kids, you’ve come to the right place.
Creating a daily routine in the summer can help take the stress out of the long summer vacation and help you focus on all the fun things to do with your kids. It will give order to your day and make it easier to keep kids off screen time and enjoying summer days.
I'll show you an easy and realistic daily summer schedule to follow for the whole family. Use it to create your own DIY summer camp with fun activities and local adventures to create memories with your kids that you'll always cherish. They grow up so fast so make sure to enjoy this free time with your kids.
Keep reading to learn tons of great summer activity ideas to keep your kids busy all summer long. Plus a good way to keep your kids on a schedule with the perfect summer schedule free printable.
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Best Summer Schedule for Kids to Create a Daily Routine
Keeping kids busy all summer long can seem like a daunting task. But don't worry with this free printable summer Schedule for kids you'll have a great time hanging out with your kids all summer.
Why Create a Summer Routine?
The key to keeping the chaos out of the summer months is creating a realistic and easy daily summer routine. Here is how it will help you this summer.
1. Consistency - Kids like to know what to expect and tend to do better with a consistent routine. This consistency helps reduce kids acting out during the day and gives them a feeling of stability and control.
2. Predictable Routine- The predictable routine lets kids know exactly what comes next and what is expected of them. It will help build their feeling of independence and confidence while building in time for social play and independent play.
3. Lowers Parents' Stress - Having a whole stretch of the day where you don't know what to do with your kids can be stressful. This schedule gives your day structure and helps you prepare for the day ahead. Parents can easily plan their day with the block scheduling which creates a more calm and fun day.
4. Get's You Organized - When you have an organized day it allows more time for your whole family to enjoy quality time together and less time trying to figure out what to do.
Another way to get organized this summer is to create a fun DIY summer camp at home. I know this sounds like even more work but trust me it's easier than you think. Use this printable mom camp with 10 weeks of pre-planned themes and summer activities to easily plan your new summer schedule.
Free Printable Summer Schedule for Kids
Get started with your daily summer routine by grabbing this Free Printable Summer Schedule for Kids. It has all the daily activities I go through below in an easy-to-follow printable daily schedule template. Put this up on your refrigerator as a visual schedule for the whole family to follow each day.
Want a customized summer schedule for your family? Grab this Editable Summer Schedule & make it your own! It includes an editable summer bucket list, daily summer schedules, screen time rules, a summer chore chart, a summer reading log, and a weekly summer schedule.
If you want a more flexible schedule try our free printable Themed Weekly Summer Schedule. With this schedule, you'll have a theme each day of the week like Make It Monday, Trip Tuesday, Water Wednesday, Thoughtful Thursday, and Free for All Friday.
How to Plan a Good Summer Schedule for Kids
A block schedule is a good way to create your summer schedule. This means blocking out certain times of day to do different activities such as reading, arts & crafts, or outside time.
With this type of schedule, you'll know what you're going to do every day at the same time for the whole summer which creates your simple daily routine.
Keep in mind you can be flexible about this schedule and adjust it to what works best for your kids. You'll also want to plan some day trips this summer when you'll skip the schedule altogether and visit fun experiences in your community.
Included in the free printable is a blank summer schedule so you can create a flexible routine that works best for your family. You can use our schedule as a guide to help you plan.
When creating your own child's summer schedule make sure to have a mix of structured times, daily quiet time, outdoor play, and independent play all are great learning experiences for your kids.
Plan a few field trip ideas and activities with these 60 Fun & Free Things to Do with Kids.
Daily Summer Schedule Timeline
Here is a breakdown of our kids summer schedule.
8 am - 9 am -
Morning - Let the kids wake up have breakfast, get dressed, and make their beds
9 am - 10:30 am -
Educational Activities - writing, math, or science. I find kids have an easier time doing schoolwork earlier in the day. Consider getting a Summer Workbook that the kids can do during this time.
This is a great way to help them get ready for the next school year and avoid the summer slide.
10:30 am -11:30 am -
Outdoor Play - After their school work is done they'll be ready to burn some energy. Have the kids head outside to play.
Some outdoor summer activities are - Go on a bike ride, play chalk games on the driveway, enjoy backyard games, or go on a neighborhood scavenger hunt. You'll see a huge difference in your day by helping your kids get all that energy out and enjoying the sunshine.
11:30 - 12:30 pm
It's lunchtime! The kids will be hungry after playing outdoors so take some time to have lunch together. Maybe plan a fun picnic in your yard once a week.
12:30 pm - 1:00 pm
Chore-Time - Have the kids do a few specific tasks around the house. Find ideas on what are appropriate chores by age group. Have a chore chart or chore cards so the kids know what they can do each day.
It can be as simple as picking up a few toys for younger kids and older kids can help with the trash or emptying the dishwasher.
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Creative Time - Let the kids use their imagination with some independent play time. Kids can build legos, make crafts, build a fort, or color. This is a great time to be flexible and let the kids have some input into what they want to do with their day.
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm -
Reading / Rest Time - Have the kids do their summer reading during this time. If they are old enough kids can read to themselves or parents can read to younger children. If your child still naps have this be your daily nap time.
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Take A Walk - Get back outside and enjoy nature. You can go on a nature scavenger hunt around your neighborhood or head to a local trail. Pick up leaves and flowers along the way that you can make into an art project later.
You can also try our Backyard Scavenger Hunt or Photo Scavenger Hunt.
Visit a Local Playground - Head over to your local playground and let the kids run around and meet other kids to play with at the park.
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Educational Video / Apps - Let the kids have more time for educational activities. In the afternoon let them play some favorite school apps or on educational websites. This will give parents a chance to make dinner, get chores done, or just enjoy a small break.
5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Family Dinner Time - Enjoy dinner time together. Check out these 25 quick meal ideas for summer.
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Free Time / TV Time - Enjoy some family TV shows together or let the kids have some more time to play independently before bedtime.
7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Family Game Time - Pull out a card game or fun board game to play with the kids. Get inspired with some of our favorite Family Game Night Ideas.
We love playing Cooperative board games as no one wins instead families work together to solve the game. This means no fighting between siblings (: All these games are for a range of age groups so you can find games that fit your child's age.
8:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Bedtime Routine - Time for bath and getting ready for bed. Enjoy bedtime stories or let the kids have some time to read to themselves.
Summer Activity Ideas
Here are some activity Ideas and fun ways to entertain your kids during free play or throughout the day. Find more ideas on our Kids Activities Page.
Summer Minute to Win It Games - Summer-themed 60-second challenges
Kids Minute to Win It Games - Hilarious 1 Minute challenges made with items you already have at home.
Thrilling Escape Room Games - Printable Escape games with everything you need to play at home.
Exciting Mystery & Detective Games - Help your kids become the next Sherlock Holmes or Nancy Drew - Games for all ages from I-Spy to Escape Room Games.
Fun Scavenger Hunts for Kids - Indoor & outdoor free printable scavenger hunts
Best Rainy Day Games - Fun activities when you're stuck inside this summer on rainy days.
Super Cool Building Toys, Sets & Kits for Kids - Great STEM activities to try this summer
10 Cool Things to Make From Cardboard Boxes - DIY STEM ideas using old cardboard boxes
Treasure Hunt at Home - Free printable Treasure hunt clues & riddles for kids to solve.
DIY Hallway Laser Maze - Super easy energy buster for kids made with streamers.
60 Fun & Free Things to Do with Kids Screen Free - Save money & entertain your kids this summer
Easy DIY Outdoor Games for Kids with Dollar Tree Items - Cheap & fun outdoor activities
Best Water Activities & Toys for Kids - Keep cool this summer with fun water games.
Arts & Crafts Activities
Learn How to Paint with Bubbles - A fun painting activity to try in your backyard
Fun Chalk Drawing & Shadow Art for Kids - Cool activities & games with Chalk in your driveway
Easy Coffee Filter Butterflies Craft - Cute butterfly art project
Free Printable Summer Bucket Lists
Create your summer bucket list with your family to help everyone get excited about summer. It's an inspirational list of different things to do with your kids this summer.
Grab our Free printable Summer Bucket List with 110 bucket list ideas to choose from and a blank bucket list for you to create your own family adventure list.
Free Printable Summer Rules Screen Time Checklist
Worried about how much screen time your kids will have this summer? Use our Summer Screen Time rules this year. It's everything kids need to do in the summer before getting on their iPads or phones.
Stop the fighting over electronics time with your kids and set expectations of what needs to get done. It will make things a lot easier for parents.
Grab your free printable Summer Rules Screen Time Checklist.
Don't forget to grab your printable daily summer schedule. The free printable schedule includes the premade Summer schedule for kids and a blank summer schedule to let you create your own family schedule.
Overwhelmed by planning a summer at home with your kids? Don't worry I've got you covered with an easy-to-follow DIY Summer Camp at Home Planner. The printable planner has 12 weeks of preplanned themes and activities you can do at home with your kids. Plus schedules, budget planners, bucket lists, activity ideas, and more.
It's everything a stay-at-home mom needs for a stress-free and fun summer with her kids.
Check it out and see if the Summer Camp Planner is what you need this summer.
I hope you are now ready for an amazing summer with your kiddos. The free printable summer schedule for kids is an excellent way to kick off your summer routine. Just print it out and get started today!
Have a wonderful Summer!!
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