We use these customizable checklists every summer to give the kids a little structure and independence. Each summer checklist has a section for daily tasks, weekly tasks, habits, and chores. See how we use them and our favorite summer resources below!
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It’s that time again. We’re done with school this year, we took a week or so off with nothing on the agenda (because I had not made the kids’ summer checklists yet), and then I realized WHY THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING TO DO EVERY DAY.
I don’t mean like a fun errand or adventure everyday. We definitely do not have the stamina for that. But during the summer, the whole household runs better with at least a little structure. So, personal summer checklists it is.
I even made myself one this time!
Summer Checklists & Recommended Resources
The thing about a checklist or rhythm or schedule that I absolutely love, is that when the tasks are on a piece of paper, posted for all to see, the job of TELLING THE KIDS WHAT TO DO is off my plate. The checklists are the bossy ones making the kids do their math, read their books, write in their gratitude journals, etc. It’s not mom. She’s the easy-going one who get to defer to the checklist whenever anyone asks for screen-time. “But what does the checklist say?!”
(Highly recommend this method for assigning regular chores, daily rhythms, etc, too. Less decision fatigue for you, more responsibility for them). You can find a lot of ready-to-go printables and organizers in my shop to help with this!
I like to laminate the checklists so the kids can use dry erase markers to check things off, then erase for the next day/week. I also printed mine 4 to a page, but you can go bigger if that works better for you. (Different print options are available with the download in my shop).
WHAT’S ON THE KIDS’ CHECKLISTS
Each day the kids all have to complete 1 page of math in their math books, read an hour independently or 30 minutes with mom, and complete a page in their word building or grammar books (my middle schoolers are doing a page of grammar a day).
In addition to the daily tasks, they have once a week tasks, like write in their gratitude notebook, write a journal entry about something that happened that week, read current events and do a written narration about something interesting, do a building project or science experiment, play math games, do a math speed drill, etc.
Here are a few of the resources we’re using for our checklists:
- Math Mammoth (this is the math curriculum we’ve used for years. They have review books, but we’re just going to keep working in their regular books because we didn’t finish)
- Honey for A Teen’s Heart (this is a book recommendation book for teenagers. I have the standard Honey for A Child’s Heart too. I’m using this to pull reading ideas from for my oldest boys)
- The Week Jr. (current events magazine that arrives once a week. Interesting and fun, generally non-partisan. My kids typically devour it when it arrives)
- Word Ladders (this is a whole series of books on different grade levels. The pages are simple to complete and will serve as fun spelling and vocabulary practice)
- Grammar Practice (basic grammar rules and practice exercises. I got 6th grade level for both my middle schoolers because grammar isn’t something we typically focus a lot on)
- Gratitude Notebook (Juniper Grove Journals has a lot of printed notebooks like this to go in a traveler’s journal. I love that the prompts and places to write are ready to go)
- Cardboard Engineering (I bought this for my 8yo’s birthday. He can use this book, and others in our library, to complete his project task each week).
- Multiplication Speed Drill (I use this website to print out our speed drill practice pages)
In addition to the math and language arts practice this summer (and our summer nature study, gardening, interests, and adventure days), there is also a section in the checklists for habits. I’m trying to help the kids develop a habit of starting each day with water, sunshine, and movement, so that is on their checklists. I also included gratitude and random acts of kindness in the habits section.
You can see and print the Random Acts of Kindness sheet for free at the end of this post!
My summer checklist is a little different than the kids (the last one on the daily section should actually say book reading, so that is actually similar). But I wanted to set some regular goals for myself this summer, and help me reach some of my work deadlines.
Hopefully, my personal checklist will be a helpful reminder to make both work and personal fulfillment a priority most days!
Printable Resources
You can find these customizable summer checklists in my Etsy shop, along with a lot more resources like a Drink Flip Menu, Summer Menu pages, and more.
The Random Acts of Kindness page is free to print here. I hope it inspires more kindness in all of us, in new and fresh ways!
I love summer and this season of adventuring and gardening especially! If you enjoy organizational content, fun family content, and great summer recipes, stick around, look around my site, and follow me on Instagram!
These are some great summer posts to get you started:
- 10 Summer Mom Hacks for Better Family Adventures
- 50+ Fresh Summer Vegetable Recipes & Resources
- 20+ Tasty Summer Cookout Recipes
- Adventure Day Bags
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