Summer break always sounds better in theory than it ends up feeling by day four. The kids are thrilled. The calendar is empty. The sunscreen smells like vacation. But then, reality walks in – dripping popsicle juice on your clean floor, asking you for snacks 74 times before noon, and somehow losing every single shoe they own.
If you’re anything like most parents, the first week feels magical. After that, you’re white-knuckling it until bedtime, negotiating with people under four feet tall like you’re the UN. Don’t panic. You don’t need to enroll them in 17 camps or plan daily field trips that require spreadsheets. You just need a few solid strategies, a realistic attitude, and maybe some earplugs. Let’s talk about how to survive it without losing your entire sense of self.
Lower The Bar, Then Lower It Again
Here’s something no one tells you before school ends: you’re about to become the camp counselor, short-order cook, referee, and screen-time dictator – all without pay. That’s a tall order. So here’s your new motto: “Done is better than perfect.”
You’re not trying to win Summer Parent of the Year. You’re just trying to make it to August with your relationships (and mental stability) mostly intact. That means boxed mac and cheese three days in a row? Totally fine. That means your kids wear Halloween pajamas in July? Fine again. That means you hide in the laundry room to scroll your phone for five uninterrupted minutes? Honestly, I respect that.
Let go of the Pinterest version of summer. Those kids in matching gingham outfits catching fireflies? They aren’t real. And even if they were, they’d still ask for screens while surrounded by nature. Focus on small wins. Keep your expectations low and your snack drawer stocked. The rest will sort itself out.
Build A Routine That Sort Of Looks Like Structure
Let’s be clear: you don’t need a color-coded daily schedule with themes like “Mindful Monday” and “Watercolor Wednesday” unless you’re the kind of person who thrives on that. Most of us are not. But some kind of loose rhythm to the day will save your sanity. Kids, even the wild ones, like knowing what’s next. So you want just enough structure to keep the chaos contained without turning your house into a prison yard.
Start with anchors – something predictable in the morning, a chunk of quiet time midday, and a set bedtime even when it’s still light out. You don’t have to be militant, but keep some kind of flow going. After breakfast, maybe it’s backyard time. After lunch, maybe it’s reading or screen time. After dinner, maybe they can run laps in the yard like caffeinated puppies until they collapse.
And if the day goes completely off the rails? Hit reset. Go outside, change the scenery, or throw them in the tub like it’s a water park. Kids don’t need perfection. They need consistency, love, and at least one adult who hasn’t totally given up.
Embrace Boredom, Even If It Feels Unnatural
If you feel guilty when your kids say they’re bored, congratulations, you’re normal. But don’t fall into the trap of thinking it’s your job to entertain them 24/7. Boredom isn’t bad. It’s actually where creativity is born. You don’t have to rush in with a list of crafts or activity bins. You just have to outlast the whining.
Give them space to figure it out. It might take an hour. It might take three. But eventually, they’ll start building a fort or drawing capybaras or turning a cardboard box into a spaceship. If you need a little backup, stock a drawer with art supplies, sticker books, and free printables for coloring. For a little inspiration, point them toward some cute drawing ideas they can try on their own. Keep the TV off for a bit and resist the urge to “fix it” for them.
Yes, the first 30 minutes of boredom look suspiciously like a mutiny. But hold your ground. Kids need time to sit in their own thoughts. You’re not a cruise director. You’re a parent. Your job is to raise humans, not run a never-ending carnival.
Dress Them Like It’s A Job You Take Seriously (Because It Is)
Let’s talk about clothing for a second. I know – it sounds minor, but hear me out. When your kids feel comfortable in what they’re wearing, and it’s actually built for running, climbing, getting wet, and going feral all summer, your day goes smoother. That’s why I swear by good boys shorts for active kids who act like they’re training for a stunt double job. Look for ones that don’t ride up, wash easily, and dry fast after a surprise sprinkler attack. It makes a difference, I promise.
The fewer complaints about itchy tags or sweaty fabric, the fewer meltdowns you’ll endure. When they feel good, they move better, fight less, and you might even get a full grocery store run done without someone stripping down in aisle five. Consider it your unsung summer survival hack.
Find One Thing That’s Just Yours (And Guard It Like a Dragon)
It’s very easy, during the long hot days of summer, to completely disappear as a person. Suddenly you’re not someone with hobbies or thoughts or taste in music. You’re just the snack-bringer, the towel-folder, the mosquito-bite-remedy-applier. So before you lose yourself to the chaos, make sure you’ve got one thing that is just for you.
It doesn’t have to be fancy. It could be reading trashy novels after bedtime. It could be waking up early to sip coffee in silence. It could be walking laps around your yard with headphones in pretending you can’t hear them fighting. Just find something that reminds you that you exist beyond their needs.
Let them see you doing your own thing, too. It teaches them boundaries and shows them that adults have lives. And it helps you stay grounded, which keeps the whole household from going off the rails. You’re allowed to take up space. Even in summer.
Before The Sunscreen Fades Out
Summer break doesn’t need to break you. It’s messy and loud and sticky and sweet. Some days you’ll crush it. Some days you’ll cry in your car. Both count as showing up. You don’t have to love every minute. You just have to keep showing up. And when all else fails, water play fixes most things. So does bedtime.
The great thing about summer is it offers plenty of outdoor family bonding activities to choose from, making it the perfect time to create lasting memories together.
Thanks for stopping by!
Magda
xoxo