Family Summer Bucket List: Making Fun a Happy Priority!

Happy Summer my friends! All the kids are home! What will we do now? 🙂

Every summer I have big plans of things I am going to accomplish with my kiddos! We are going to clean out drawers and closets sorting clothes into ones that actually fit and are suitable to the child. We will also work on math facts and non fiction reports choosing various topics such as super foods for nutrition or the latest in robotics. These and many other are definitely my plans and my kids know I am dedicated to these plans. However, happily my kids also know, I am dedicated to fun! So while we will definitely read books, organize closets, and tidy rooms; we will also do a family service project, have a movie marathon and invite people over to swim every Friday we are in town. I have found that when my kiddos know I am just as committed to the fun as to the work, we can accomplish both with a pretty amazing attitude! 🙂

At the beginning of summer, I sit down with my kids and we write a summer bucket list. Everyone’s ideas are encouraged and we write a rather lengthy list of fun things we like to do in the summertime. There is such great energy in this little meeting, because anticipation of fun is nearly as exciting as the fun itself! The ideas get boisterous and we write it all down! After we jot down all the ideas that surface, we post this fun list on our refrigerator to look at everyday. Honestly, the first summer we did this, I thought we would never get to it all! However, now after many summers of doing this, I can confidently tell you—we can do it! We are dedicated to fun and somehow whittling away at that list a little at a time makes it possible.

Let me share with you how a summer day looks in our house full of five kiddos spanning 10 years of age. We all wake up pretty early to go to swim team and synchro team through our local parks and recreation. There is a 6 a.m. start for the older kids. Then when the kiddos come home, they need to do their normal chore charts. (On Fridays I often shorten the chore charts to: piano, chore, scriptures…although everyone needs to make their bed every day). During the summer we also do homework. Every summer I do it a little differently, but Monday and Wednesday are often Math & Science days. Tuesday and Thursday are creative writing and special skills days (Special skills are ones they want to learn like calligraphy or robotics). Every day I do a lunch lesson, you can find out more about that here. These are systems that we have in place that help our kids learn responsibility, values, education and etc. Don’t be overwhelmed! Most of this is finished in time for lunch if not slightly after depending on the child. Now comes the fun…

Usually after lunch lessons I ask the kids what do they want to do fun today, (if we already do not have a plan in place, we are often planned out for fun a day or two in advance!) If we are open, we look at our summer list and choose something! Perhaps we choose to visit the library, go swimming and then follow it with a cooking class. Or maybe we invite friends to come swimming tomorrow and start the first movie of Harry Potter for our Harry Potter movie marathon. (Perhaps Wild Kratts or the like for younger kiddos) Are you seeing this goodness? Fun built in everyday!! Often Fridays are pool and popsicle parties with whichever friends, cousins and neighbors can come. One year in Florida, Friday was our beach day with friends!

Getting ready for a Synchronized swimming competition

My kiddos know just like they can rely on me to have math facts printed out and ready to go, they also rely on me to help make the fun happen. It turns out to be a good balance. 🙂 During the school year between piano lessons, youth activities, dance, soccer and etc., it is challenging to fit everything in! Whereas in summer we love to rest, recharge, continue learning and have some serious fun! After all play is a beautiful way to learn and make amazing memories! When we have done something off our list, we just place a check mark next to it leaving it visible to remember the fun!