Summer Survival Tips for Parents
Summer with kids is one of those things that feels magical… until everyone is suddenly hungry, bored, overstimulated, and asking for screens by 9 AM.😅
As much as I love slower summer days, I’ve learned that our days go SO much smoother when I prepare a few simple systems and activities ahead of time.
No strict schedules.
No elaborate outings every day.
Just simple rhythms, realistic expectations, and easy activities that help summer feel fun, calm, and manageable at home.
Over the years, I’ve found that the biggest keys to surviving summer at home are:
having simple activities ready to go
setting screen time expectations early
building in quiet time
creating intentional connection time
providing goals and incentives for things like reading, being active, and/or helping around the house
Here’s what has helped our family the most:
1. Keep Simple Activities Ready to Go
One of the easiest ways to make summer feel smoother is to prep a few low-prep activities ahead of time.
This is exactly why I love using morning bins during summer.
Having simple, screen-free activities already prepared helps:
reduce boredom
minimize constant messes
avoid the “what can I dooooo?” cycle
and create calmer, slower mornings at home
It also helps kids know what to expect each day, which makes summer routines feel much less chaotic.
Our morning bins are usually filled with things like:
coloring pages
sticker activities
simple learning journal activities
puzzles
sensory bins
hands-on printables
or open-ended quiet play activities
You can read more about exactly how we have used morning bins during summer here:
2. Create a Flexible Daily Rhythm
One thing that has helped our summer days tremendously is having a loose daily rhythm.
Not a strict minute-by-minute schedule — just predictable routines and expectations throughout the day.
One area this especially helps with?
Screen time.
I’ve learned that when screen time expectations are unclear, the constant:
“Can I watch TV?”
“Can I have my tablet?”
“How much longer?”
becomes exhausting for everyone.😅
Having a simple visual checklist helps kids understand:
what needs to happen first
what responsibilities they have during the day
and when screens fit into the routine
Things like:
getting dressed
helping with simple chores
playing outside
reading
quiet play
or completing independent activities
can all become part of your family’s summer rhythm before screens are introduced.
Simple structure honestly makes summer feel SO much calmer.
3. Use Quiet Time to Your Advantage
Quiet time has become one of the most helpful parts of our summer routine.
Even kids who no longer nap still benefit from:
independent play
books
coloring
quiet activities
sensory play
puzzles
and intentional downtime during long summer days
And honestly? Moms/parents/caregivers need that reset too!
Quiet time gives everyone a chance to recharge before the second half of the day.
If quiet time has been a struggle in your home, I shared more about how we gradually built independent quiet play into our routine here:
I also wrote and created a Quiet Time Reset Guide if you need extra support introducing or re-establishing quiet time in your home.
A flexible, step-by-step guide to creating a quiet time routine that actually works (ages 3–7).
If naps are ending — or quiet time just isn’t working the way it used to — this guide is for you.
The Quiet Time Reset Guide walks you through how to build (or rebuild) a calm, predictable quiet time routine that supports your child and gives you the break you need during the day.
This isn’t about forcing sleep or expecting perfection.
It’s about creating a structure you can stick with — even as your child grows and changes.
And if you want a super simple place to start, I created a:
FREE Summer Quiet Time Challenge
It includes:
15 simple quiet-time activity ideas
easy low-prep printables
screen-free independent play inspiration
activities specifically designed for toddlers and preschoolers
4. Don’t Feel Pressure to Leave the House Every Day
One thing I constantly remind myself during summer:
kids do not need elaborate outings every single day to have a fun summer.
Some of my kids’ favorite summer memories are actually the simplest things:
popsicles outside after dinner
scooter rides and snacks
backyard picnics
sprinklers and water balloons
movie nights in the living room
building forts
bubbles and sidewalk chalk
reading books outside on a blanket
Simple connection moments matter so much more than we realize.
This is exactly why I created our:
At-Home Summer Bucket List
It’s filled with easy, low-cost summer activities families can enjoy together without needing to leave the house or spend money.
There are two different printable checklist versions to choose from (both of which have the same content) and I even included printable activity cards you can:
place in a jar
let kids choose from
or use anytime you need a quick boredom buster
The goal is simply to make summer feel fun, memorable, and manageable at home!
5. Prep a Few Summer Tools Ahead of Time
One thing I’ve learned over the years is that preparing a few simple tools ahead of time can completely change the tone of summer.
That’s exactly why I created the: Summer Survival Bundle
This bundle was designed to support the entire family throughout summer and includes:
Summer Quiet Time Challenge Part 1 + Part 2 (30 total simple activities you can do with things you likely already have at home)
10 printable quiet-time activities
printable summer bucket lists
printable activity cards
a screen-time checklist (list and visual version)
reading incentive charts
and a printable reward menu
The Quiet Time Challenges are especially helpful for toddlers and preschoolers who need simple independent activities and quiet play ideas.
The Summer Bucket List is perfect for family connection time and creating easy summer memories at home.
And the reading incentive charts are great for early elementary children or siblings who need a little extra reading motivation during summer break.
My goal with this bundle was to create realistic, low-prep support that helps summer feel:
calmer
more intentional
less overwhelming
and more fun for everyone.
30 PAGE PRINTABLE SUMMER SUPPORT BUNDLE!
Simple tools to help make summer feel more calm, more fun, and less overwhelming at home!☀️
If you’re looking for realistic ways to:
encourage independent play
reduce constant screen-time requests
make summer feel fun without leaving the house every day
encourage reading
and create calmer daily rhythms…
this bundle was created for YOU.
The Summer Survival Bundle is filled with low-prep, screen-free activities and printable tools designed to help support toddlers, preschoolers, and even young elementary-aged children all summer long.
Whether you need:
✔ quiet time ideas
✔ a quick printable activity
✔ boredom busters
✔ reading motivation
✔ simple family connection activities
✔ or visual routines for smoother days at home…
This bundle includes a little bit of everything.
Final Thoughts
If you’re heading into summer already feeling overwhelmed, just know:
you do not need to entertain your kids every second of every day to create a meaningful summer.
Simple routines.
Simple activities.
Simple connection.
These are often the things kids remember most.
And honestly? The slower, simpler days at home usually end up being the sweetest ones too!☀️
Be sure to share and tag on Instagram and/or Facebook @ohheyletsplay if you use any of my printables or resources and follow along for more parenting tips and easy activity ideas!
