As summer approaches, many of us are looking for ways to keep our kids engaged without adding more to our plates. Below, I have listed and described activities I have found helpful in structuring our homeschool days.
1. Synthesis
Elon Musk’s online program, Synthesis, offers engaging, problem-solving challenges that kids can navigate independently. It’s a fantastic way for them to learn critical thinking and teamwork without needing constant oversight. We utilize this online tool as a part of our homeschool routine. The AI tutor is fun for the kids to play around with. The kids have control over the lesson and are guided by the tutor rather than a rigid program that doesn’t spark interest. It is not a free program, but they offer a summer program targeting students who are on break. Check it out! We love it!
2. Life Skills
Summer is a perfect time for kids to practice essential life skills. Independent activities foster confidence in kids. Before allowing our kids to venture out on their own, we set some rules and guidelines and ran over some scenarios. How can we trust them to do anything if we haven’t guided them or provided them with some instruction?
Our 7-year-old son and 9-year-old daughter have really enjoyed being able to bike to Starbucks or run to the grocery store. We utilize the Greenlight debit card, which has a great app for easy setup and use. When money starts running low on their account, they are motivated to earn money, so they have more discretionary purchasing power. We want them to know the value of a dollar. We have found that a dollar they earn is spent much more wisely with discernment than when they are freely given money they haven’t earned. Working for their money and seeing them filled with confidence brings me joy! Below are some of the ways we have enjoyed helping our kids build life skills:
Grocery Shopping: Give them a small budget and a list.
Bike Rides: Ensure they know the route and safety rules.
Cooking: Provide simple recipes and let them take charge in the kitchen.
3. Chores: Teaching Responsibility
Incorporating chores into your child’s routine teaches responsibility and helps maintain a team mentality in the household. Complaints are bound to happen. I have found my honest response of, “We all have to do things we don’t like to do.” Or “I don’t enjoy unloading the dishwasher or putting the laundry away; fill in the blank with said chore” helps them see we all have to work through things we don’t enjoy doing. These are some chores we incorporate into our routine:
Daily Tidying: Make beds and pick up rooms, watch baby sister.
Weekly Tasks: Putting laundry away, folding laundry, unloading the dishwasher, taking out the trash, breaking down boxes (everyone has Amazon boxes)
Outdoor Tasks: Scoop dog poop, pick up sticks in the yard
4. Free Play
Free play is crucial for kids’ development. It allows them to use their imagination, develop problem-solving skills, and enjoy unstructured time. We love free play in our home. These are ways we foster free play:
Let the Kids Decide: Give your kids autonomy with free play. They have great imaginations! Legos and Barbies are my kid’s favorites.
Limit Screen Time: Encourage physical and imaginative activities. Our home has a workout room that we have shown our kids how to use. Kids love mimicking our behavior from the moment they come out of the womb. Why not encourage and support a workout routine for them if they are interested? I think our kids just like to say they are going to workout, but really, they are pretending to be rockstars, turning the music up loud and staring at themselves in the mirror, haha!
Balance is the key. No one needs more stress in their lives. Having these activities to utilize helps our family have structure and flexibility. I love my little toolbox to pull from as we go through the day. Below are examples of how we have flexibility within our schedule and routines that work for us:
Flexible Schedule: Design a loose daily schedule that includes time for Synthesis, life skills, chores, and free play. When we need to get work done, we make sure Synthesis, journaling, and Duo Lingo are cued up so they can keep busy. My kids love lists. They feel accomplished as they check off their to-do lists. We have things as simple as getting dressed and brushing teeth—one more fun thing to check off, mixed in with school work and chores. We also love to leave sweet messages or simple I love you notes at the end of the list so they know it’s not all business.
Quiet Time/Room Time: Help your child calm their bodies and their brains. We all need quiet time in our house. During our baby’s nap time in the afternoon, we have whole-house quiet time, or room time, as my oldest coined the term. This is 60 minutes, where we engage the prefrontal cortex and allow the amygdala, or the emotional part of the brain, to relax. Our kids can read or relax in bed: no toys or screens. Everyone comes out of the 1 hour “room time” refreshed and recharged with good emotional balance.
Intentional Shows: Rainy days are bound to happen, and all options will be exhausted. This is when we will turn on the TV for the kids. We try to be intentional with what shows or movies we allow our kids to watch. We like to watch: National Geographic, Magic School Bus, Full House, Carmen San Diego, Ghost Writer and The Chosen. Personally, I love The Chosen. It is an excellent series that personifies the apostles of Jesus and follows Jesus’s life on Earth; we find connection and context for each of the Gospels we hear daily or at Mass weekly.
I hope you find some of these activities helpful for a fun summer at home with your kids. Summer provides a great opportunity to see your kids learn and grow in skill and confidence! I pray you enjoy a memorable summer while fostering your child’s sense of independence!
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