We’ve already talked Tips for A Simpler Summer. Our expectations are in check. We have a plan, automated the boring stuff, and fun is at the top of our to-do list. Our next step is prepping the practical stuff. The snacks, the clothes, the meals.
Each summer brings a brand new two and a half months (or three if you’re lucky) full of possibilities.
My mom had a daycare in our house when we were kids so she could stay home with us. During the summer months our home was full of playmates and our backyard housed an above ground pool. Many summers of my childhood were spent swimming around that oval body of water, water wings tight around my arms, basking in the sun. My mom had to be on top of it with all the towels and snacks and pool after nap time routine. Her ship ran smoothly (most days) and it was because she was prepared.
Today we are going to get practical and prep for summer so we can prepare for all the fun that lies ahead. Every item on this list isn’t for every family. Pick and choose what works for you as you prep for summer and add or subtract as needed.
10 Ways to Prep for Summer
#1 Stock up on snacks and create a grab and go cabinet.
Snacks can make or break our summer. I know that’s being dramatic, but there is truth in it. Let’s stock up on snacks and create a grab and go cabinet where snacks are easily accessible for adults and kids (if you want that). We don’t do a lot of snacks at home, but I have a cabinet that’s ready to go when we are heading out the door for a morning playdate or trip to our local swimming hole. Stocking up on snacks will ensure we’re always ready for the neighborhood kids stopping by or an impromptu trip to the pool.
#2 Curate a summer capsule wardrobe for your kids.
Kids don’t wear a lot of clothes in the summer, at least mine don’t. A summer capsule makes dressing them a lot simpler. In our family, each kid has enough clothes so they don’t run out and that’s pretty much it. Shorts and tops are interchangeable and each kid’s sandals go with everything. If clothes are taking over your home, consider cutting back.
Each of our kids’ closets house enough clothes for about a week and a half and that works well for us. In your home it may be more or less. Laundry is inevitable, but how much laundry we have is up to us.
#3 Finally make the chore chart happen.
Chores help kids feel like part of the family and teach them responsibility. Chores also take a few things off our plate. If you’ve been on the fence about a chore chart, try one out this summer. Think through 5 chores that are developmentally appropriate for each of your kids. Check out this list for ideas. Create a chart and try it out.
Our family’s system is simple. My two oldest kids have 5 chores to complete and my four year old has three. Each morning they complete a chore and mark it off. When all the chores are marked off, they receive three dollars. One dollar to save, one dollar to tithe, and one dollar to spend. Then the chart starts all over again.
The most important thing I’ve learned when it comes to chore charts is: keep it simple. If it’s too complicated, it will get purposefully forgotten before the first week is over.
#4 Make outdoor play accessible.
We have a fence around our backyard for a reason. For the same reason, there is a tub outside housing all the outdoor playthings. Make outdoor play accessible for your kids this summer. Make it easy for them to run out the door, without you, if they’re old enough.
If you don’t have a fence and don’t want to build one, talk about boundaries and expectations and spend the first week teaching your kids what playing outside looks like without Mom. If you don’t have a place for all the outdoor toys, make one. An old bucket, bin, or tote will do the trick. House sunscreen by the door to remind them and you to apply before heading into the sunshine.
Outdoor play is incredibly valuable for our kids, so let’s make it accessible this summer.
#5 Make a list of 10 go to summer meals.
I have a love/dislike relationship with cooking in the summer. Give me all the fresh ingredients from the garden and the yummy fruits and veggies from our Old Tree Farm CSA. However, I really wish I could avoid spending time in the kitchen when I could be outside. Making a list of 10 go to summer meals that don’t require hours in the kitchen saves me in the summer. Tacos, air fryer chicken tenders and CSA veggies, crock pot pork carnitas, brats and veggies on the grill, clean out the fridge night. Make a list of 10 go to summer meals so you can spend less time in the kitchen and more time with your people.
#6 Have a swim bag at the ready.
Whether you are heading to the nearest pool, lake, or swimming hole, have a swim bag at the ready. Place towels, sunscreen, swim diapers, and water and sand toys in the bag so it’s always ready to go. After a day at our local swimming hole, I wash everything and put it straight back into the swim bag. No more searching for towels when we are trying to walk out the door.
#7 Create a laundry routine.
Is it just me or is there more laundry in the summer? Swimsuits and towels, I’m looking at you. Create a laundry routine that serves your family’s needs. I throw a load of laundry in everyday and in the summer, usually it’s two. This routine helps me keep up with allll the laundry coming at me on a daily basis. Maybe doing a load a day isn’t feasible for you. Decide what few days of the week you will do laundry and stick to it. Creating a laundry routine will ease the pain of laundry this summer.
#8 Manage the family calendar.
Summer may be slower or fuller depending on kid sports, vacations, and family and friend gatherings. With things opening back up more, we may feel a bit overwhelmed in a good way (I’m raising my hand here). Before we are in the full heat of summer, let’s look at our calendars and be sure we have all our ducks in a row. I use Apple Calendar as well as a visual monthly family calendar from Circle and Square.
My husband and I recently sat down to go through our summer calendar. We got on the same page for specific dates this summer: a second birthday celebration for Jack, a state fair visit (fingers crossed), Summer U for the kids, extended family gatherings, a possible weekend getaway for us to celebrate our anniversary. We mapped it out together and now we are both clear on what our summer looks like.
On a micro level, my husband and I also sit down on Sunday afternoons to plan the week ahead. It takes about ten to twenty minutes and ensures we both know what is going down the next 7 days.
It doesn’t matter if you are a paper or paperless kind of girl when it comes to the calendar, simply taking the time to plug things in to know what’s coming will be helpful in prepping for summer.
#9 Prep for summer and purge the school stuff.
I know it’s daunting to think of going through backpacks and bedrooms to sort alllll the things from the past school year, but I promise it will be worth it. Empty backpacks, the back seat, the dining room table, the bedrooms and recycle or store papers and projects from this past school year. When we do this, it makes space for all the fun things coming this summer. Enlist your kids to help decide what stays and what gets recycled.
And let’s remember: If everything is special, nothing is. (This is hard for me, too.)
#10 Make space.
You may love summer or you may find it incredibly hard. Whichever camp you lie in, be sure to make space to replenish your energy. I promise, you will be a better mom for it. Create a rhythm of taking time for yourself each day and each week. It could look like a morning walk or gazing at the sunrise before your kids are awake. Maybe it’s calling a friend or reading a book during quiet time in the afternoons. It might be sitting on the porch after the kids are in bed or taking a bath each night. Make space to fill your cup so you’re able to pour into your family this summer. It matters because you matter.
Let’s be sure we prep for summer so we are ready for all the fun it has to offer. What will you do to prep for summer?