Visual Summer Schedule Printable

Ah…it’s time for those relaxing summer days. Except that only happens in my dreams. When you have kids at home together a lot, it’s not always so relaxing! This year, I have created a visual summer schedule that I hope will help, especially with the sanity level.

{Grab the freebie at the end of this post.}

 

Why a Summer Schedule?

In reality, it will be more of a summer routine than a schedule because I don’t want to be too rigid. It is summer, after all. But the plan is to create a little more structure than in past summers.

Why?

Part of it has to do with the fact that I have no more napping babies. This was my reason for creating our visual quiet time rotation stations last summer, which we will use again.

The other part is that my oldest son {age 11} does best with structured environments. And while I don’t want to schedule or structure every single second, I do want to provide a somewhat predictable framework for him.

We also have some camps, Vacation Bible School, and vacations planned weeks this summer. So the summer schedule won’t be in play every day, but it sure helps to have a plan for our at-home days!

I highly recommend Reading Eggs to prevent that summer slide! I love the variety of activities as well as the range of ages that can use it. They have a free 2 week trial so you can try it out!

Visual Summer Schedule

In this free pack {download link is found towards the bottom of the post}, you’ll find free printable cards for clocks and various activities.

The clock cards have analogue and digital clocks on every hour and half hour, from 7:00 AM to 4:30 PM. I would not recommend using ALL of the clock cards in your visual display. Just pick the start time for each one and keep it simple.

And I also don’t recommend over-scheduling your day. You want a schedule that doesn’t stress you and your kids out!

There are cards for over 25 different activities and routines. Also included are three pages for summer camps, summer fun {likea fun activity from a kids’ activity book}, and chores. You can fill in the blanks. Print as many as you’d like. Or laminate them and write on them with dry erase marker.

 

Our summer schedule is moveable because it’s on a pocket chart. I added magnetic clips to the top, but you can use the pocket chart hooks to hang it on a door. If you don’t want to use a pocket chart, try adding magnets to the back of each card. Or use Velcro strips on a poster board. The key {no matter how you display it} is to make it flexible and moveable.

Our schedule will go something like this:

8:00-9:30 Breakfast / Free Time to play / Outside Play / Extra Chores / Clean up

Once breakfast has been eaten, these are options for this time. I highly encourage outside play before it gets too hot. My younger ones often are awake by 7:30-8:00 AM and I told my 11 year old that 8:30 is the latest he can sleep in this summer. Part of it is because he struggles with migraines and sleeping in too long can trigger them.

9:30 – Devotional – I go between Jesus Calling for Kids and Jesus Today, both by Sarah Young

10 Snack & Read Aloud – This summer, we’re starting with Pippi Longstocking.

10:30 Quiet Reading Time & Learning Activities

I have our Summer Book Log that kids can color in a spine for each book they read. My oldest two will use our NEW Time to Read Logs. Instead of coloring in books, they color in minutes they’ve read. Our goal is 1,000 minutes this summer, but you can print multiple if you want higher numbers!

For learning activities, I bought some Summer Bridge workbooks. We’ll also play learning games, like our Print & Play Phonics Games. And we’ll use our educational apps and learning websites.

12:00 Lunch

12:30 – 1:00 Free Time

1:00-3:00 Afternoon Rotation Stations & my work time 

3:00 Snack

I don’t have anything scheduled after 3pm, but the printable clock cards go all the way until 4:30pm, if you want them.

So, here’s to a relaxing summer…

 

 

 

Enjoy!
~Becky