Looking at the title, you might ask, “What schedule?” Many families who have children home from school for summer vacation have no real household routine during the summer, at least not one comparable to that which they follow during the school year. I’ve asked some and observed others, some who seem to have no routine in place at all.
In some families, the changes aren’t as drastic. Mom and/or Dad still get up and go to work each day, and the kids may leave the house and return around the same time they usually leave and return home from school. They go to a different location, but the rest of the routine is basically unchanged.
For work at home moms and dads or stay at home parents, things might be different. Do you still wake your children up at the same time each morning? Do they have a different bedtime than during the school year, or any set bedtime at all? What about meals? Chores? Laundry? Are these things scheduled or more random?
At our house, it’s a combination. I don’t make the kids get up at the same time each day, although I’m not for sleeping all day either. The younger two girls have a bedtime, although it’s later than the school night bedtime. We still have regular chores and I insist that they read and practice other academic skills at least some of the time, to keep them from getting too rusty over the summer.
We do try to keep things fairly casual and relaxed however, since it is called summer “vacation.” This year, it’s been a little different since I’m working so much, but we still try to make sure everyone has plenty of time to relax and we try to squeeze in some fun.
So, what’s your summertime schedule like? Do you have one?