Summer break can be a time full of conflicted emotions for many parents. It is an exciting time where there is a break from homework, getting up early, catching the bus, and full schedules. It is also a time when filling the summer break with magical moments and things to do can feel overwhelming.

Regardless of how you approach the summertime, there is usually a shift when school ends. Many parents start to get anxious about how they’ll be solely responsible for helping kids fill their free-time (without TV or video games) and still manage the household and work commitments that they may have.

Check out these tips for what you can do to help with summertime stress and approach it with a more relaxed mindset.

Keep Routine with a Family Calendar

A routine is the first step to lowering summertime stress as a caregiver. Stress seems to show up most when there are no plans, and the day is completely unstructured. Try to create a plan for how each day during the summertime will go. This doesn’t mean you have to plan every minute, or even every day, but have a few things that happen each week. A family calendar can keep organized what will happen each week and at what time. This can include visits to the library, park outings, family dinners, camp sessions, and anything else that happens daily or weekly.

Create a “Free Time” List

Come up with some ideas of what the kids can do with their free time. Can they head to the park, a neighbor’s house, or the backyard? Are there items that they can color or create? Add them to a list on the side of the calendar. This helps to give a visual for your kids to look at when you’ve had enough of them asking what they can do.

Maintain a Sleep Routine

During the summertime, many parents get lax about bedtime. It is natural! You don’t have to be up as early, so it is easy to let bedtimes slide. Unfortunately, this can lead to some overtired kids who are now crankier and more overtired throughout the day. Try to maintain a sleep schedule that allows for you and your kids to get enough sleep to survive the summertime days more peacefully. Some parents will establish a summer reading or quiet play time where everyone spends time before bed with no electronics. 

Get Support from Friends

Many parents are dealing with summertime struggles, so reach out to friends. Create a weekly playdate swap so that you can give another parent a break and vice versa. The kids will have a friend to hang out with and the parents get a needed break and some time to breathe. 

Take Some Time for Yourself

When there is no school in session, it can be tough to carve out a few moments for yourself. The weight of household and work responsibilities sit on your shoulders and there is always something else to be done. Make it a priority to find a way to give yourself a break. Carve out time to take a walk at the beach, draw a bath or meet a friend for coffee. Summer is a marathon, not a sprint, so you need to find ways to prioritize your needs too.

Summertime requires managing time and emotions differently than during the school year. Pay attention to your stress level so that you aren’t overwhelmed with whatever the kids throw at you this summer. Take it one day at a time and remember that summer is a time for you too – so splash in the water, swim in the ocean, blow some bubbles… and belly laugh with your kids every chance you get!