A Summer Schedule for Your Older Children at Home

We know that routines are important for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers but what about your older child? Tweens have needs too. Routines are important for them and can help keep the peace in the home.

Struggling with what to do with your inbetween child during the summer months? I don't pretend to have all the answers but these ideas might spark something for your household.

With the Stay at Home Mom:

If you are a stay at home mom then most likely your child will be staying home with you. We know that a home that is used all day long can get pretty messy and there will be a lot to do. By the time they are 10 or 12 your older child can be a big help in the home. Along with their regular chores of assisting you the bigger household details can be a great teaching tool in the summer.  Take this time to teach them a valuable task. How to cook an entire meal. Sewing. Gardening from seed to canning (or freezer).  Try to also include one or two fun things to do together during the week. Such as going to the zoo, museums, the beach, berry picking etc.

Keep in mind these schedules are for perfect children that won't resist being put on such a schedule. If your child is like mine take a few days weeks to introduce new changes, especially ones where they are helping around the house. Unless these are chores your child is already doing introduce one at a time and give them them a chance to stop pouting about it.

An Older Child's Daily Summer Schedule Where Mom is at Home

• Up, Dress, Personal Time (reading, music, writing)
• Help make breakfast and clean up afterwards
• Household Chore or Project (clean bedroom, help mom with big chore)
• Help make lunch, and clean up afterwards
• Free time (play outside, crafts, etc.)
• Pick up around the house
• Help make dinner or do dinner time chore
• Hey it’s evening give your kids a break

With the Working Mom:

The summer months are probably the time when you will be looking for activities for your child to do. If you work full time (or even part time) this is important and there are several options for your tween child. Summer day camps are nice but the cost may be prohibitive. Having a grandparent or another relative watch your child during the summer is comforting but don't take the relative for granted. Some workplaces have things your child can do for the summer if your workplace is like that you can have your child nearby during the summer. I worked with both my mother and father during the summer. I organized my father's office and I decluttered some big junk room at my mother's work. Yes these activities were some odd 20 years ago but it can give you ideas. When I was older I did the babysitting for family friends and relatives and then ran the Vacation Bible School programs for many years. Some hospitals have volunteer programs that your child can participate in. Be creative. If you have the funds there are always summer day camps too.

An Older Child's Daily Summer Schedule Where Mom is at Work

• Up, Dress,
• Off to Camp or caretaker or summer job
• Back home help make dinner or do dinner time chore
• Hey it’s evening give your kids a break

Things to Note:
*Make time in your child’s schedule to keep up with new skills learned in school the past year. Have your child spend 15 to 30 minutes a day working on skill that they may be having trouble with such as reading, spelling, or math. Just a few minutes a day. Hooked on Phonics has a 30 day trial for $14.95 for their award winning product.
*More than one child? Enlist your older child to help care for the younger. Have them read to their siblings or teach them a craft or skill.