For me, being at home with my two kids for the entire summer is both tiring and fun. While it can be draining to provide constant care and entertainment for their active minds and bodies, the years seem to be flying by and I’m grateful to have this quality time with them.
My daughters are now eight and six so there’s a lot they can do independently, but they still enjoy being in my presence and require a lot of attention. I learned years ago that settling into rhythms and routines can make the days smoother for everyone. During summer break, the outline of each day is pretty predictable with windows for variety and flexibility.
Here’s a look into my day as a stay-at-home mom during summer break.
6:30 a.m. – My Morning Routine
One of my biggest sanity-saving habits is waking up before my kids and making time for self-care. I like to do 30-40 minutes of exercise (a yoga or HIIT video on YouTube), take a shower, and get dressed for the day without interruption.
7:30 a.m. – Kids’ Morning Routine
This is about the time my kids start waking up. Since we don’t have to rush off to school, we snuggle for a bit and then eat breakfast. These days, they mostly request avocado toast or yogurt parfaits. Then they brush their teeth, get dressed, and play together while I tidy the kitchen and get a load of laundry started.
8:30 a.m. – School Time
I try to incorporate a little learning time each day to keep school concepts fresh in their minds. I found these engaging Summer Brain Quest workbooks and my girls do about four pages each day. They can complete most of this unassisted, but I stick around to answer questions and check their work. Then we have at least 20 minutes of reading time where my older daughter reads to herself and my younger one reads aloud to me.
9:30 a.m. – Outing
Most days, we try to fit in an outing or play date. Our favorite places to go are the library, playground, Riverbanks Zoo, or a splash pad.
12:00 p.m. – Lunch and Screens
When we get home, we eat lunch, which is usually leftovers from last night’s dinner. Then my girls have screen time while I work on household tasks, like meal planning or ordering groceries. We’re going out of town at the end of the week, so this is also a great time for prepping and packing.
2:00 p.m. – Play
My kids can get cranky with unlimited screens, so we turn them off and have free play time. When the weather is nice, I’ll read a book outside while they ride bikes and scooters in front of our house. If it’s too hot or rainy, they have plenty of toys and craft supplies to stay busy inside.
4:00 p.m. – Prep Dinner and Tidy Up
I like making dinner early so it’s ready when we want to eat. I also have my daughters start tidying up any messes they’ve made throughout the house. This way, we’re not struggling at the very end of the day when they’re exhausted.
5:00 p.m. – Dance Class
We’re at the dance studio twice a week, but there are no other activities on our schedule. Since we’re so busy during the school year, I was mindful not to overbook my kids this summer.
6:30 p.m. – Eat Dinner
By the time we get home, my husband is back from work and has set the table for dinner. We eat together and share highlights from our day.
7:00 p.m. – Family TV
After the kids have bathed and gotten into pajamas, we find a TV show or movie that we can all enjoy. Disney+ has been excellent for introducing my girls to many of my childhood favorites.
8:00 p.m. – Wind Down
It’s hard to get my kids to sleep when the sun is still out, so they read in bed while Husband and I clean up the kitchen and dining room. Once they’re asleep, we’ll chat about our plans for the next day and watch TV.
10:00 p.m. – Bedtime
Around this time, I’ll hop into bed and read until I can’t keep my eyes open.
What does your summer routine look like?
