Smart Systems to Tame the Summer Break Chaos
The summer break is an exciting time for your kids and the whole family. It's a time to relax, rest up, and enjoy a break from school routines. This can also create extra chaos, however; with restless minds, extra mouths to feed, and more people in the house all day, there’s more to plan around and prepare for while the summer months roll by. Staying organized means having smart systems in place to prepare yourself and your kids for the vacation can help everyone in the family prepare for new routines and enjoy their time off.
Smart Systems: Tools to Organize
More time at home means more time to play, and that can lead to disorganization when you don’t have good methods for keeping up with the chaos. Whether your kids are pulling out toys, video games, or cleats, having a smart system for summer organizing that your kids will participate in can save you clutter and stress. There are lots of fun storage methods that you can choose from to work with your space, and they can be as elaborate or as casual as you like. You can use things like bookshelves, corkboards, or labeled bins to give everything a designated home that everyone agrees on.
For example, if you’re trying to organize sports equipment, you can designate a closet or a shelf specifically for those items, or you can invest in an equipment organizer to leave in your basement or garage. Organizing doesn’t have to look a certain way; it just has to work for you and your family. Making a plan that works will help you keep things clean and prevent the chaos of having everything underfoot.
And with a simple rule that says anything that comes out goes back in before something new is started, you can get your kids in the habit of keeping clutter to a minimum.
Build Routine and Structure
While the summer is a great break from the normal routine, it’s important for everyone in the family to still have structure in their day. While the adults in the household might still have work, the kids will benefit from having responsibilities and a loose schedule to help navigate their days. For kids going to summer camp, this might already be built in; if not, it can be helpful to create some routine. The routine doesn’t have to be hyper-specific, but it should give your kids a sense of the flow of the day. This structure can include times they should be getting their chores done, times to spend with the family, and down time. You’ll want to tailor this to your children’s interest and their ages, but having a plan overall can help create a sense of purpose during the day and prevent unnecessary stress.
Create Dedicated Spaces
Having dedicated spaces throughout the house for different activities can assist in creating structure and providing a mental guide for your kids while they’re home. This is especially important in encouraging kids to avoid spending all their time in their rooms or on digital devices. Again, this will look different for every family - do what works for you! When you’re creating a smart system to organize your summer, you might designate the dining room table as family time for meals or to play board games. The living room is often the entertainment space for music, TV, and video games. Your kids’ bedrooms can be a good place for quiet time. A craft room or space can give the kids a place to be creative. The important thing is to find balance; this includes giving your kids some alone time if they want it. Letting them know that they’re welcome around the house, even if they want to do their own thing in the company of others, will help create an atmosphere where kids will participate in family activities and be there for group adventures.
Include Everyone in the Decision Making to Build Your Smart Systems
When deciding how to implement smart systems to plan your summer structure, it’s important to include everyone in the family in the process. Everyone will have different interests, ideas, and things they want to do, and giving everyone a voice in the family plans will help create a summer everyone wants to be a part of. Including the kids in the planning can also give you an idea of what your kids want out of the summer and inform your decisions about structure and planning.
The summer break comes with a lot of change for everyone in the family, and it’s important to plan for that change to mitigate the impending chaos. Having smart systems in place to keep your kids engaged and involved can help prevent boredom and keep your house full of joy instead of chaos.