7 ways for your kids to have an unscheduled summer
There’s almost nothing as trying for a parent as when you’re working from home (especially in the summer) or attempting to get something done around the house, and hearing your child complain to you that they’re bored. When they tell you about it, it generally means they want you to fix it or solve it for them.
And in the summer, when kids have many weeks of freedom from school, unless they’re in summer camps, they likely have a lot of free time on their hands. Enter: boredom. Which can be a good thing. Just not for us parents.
I remember the worries I had in 2020 when I thought about an entire summer ahead of me with three school-aged kids, but no camps running, zero activities, no travel—and I was working full-time from home.
What did I do? I told my kids to enjoy the gift of an unscheduled, unplanned summer. And they did. Not because they’re perfectly well-behaved children, but because there wasn’t much else to do, so they were open to the idea.
Since that one unique but oddly magical summer, I’ve been thinking about how we can recreate it. Here are a few ways I’m going to try.
1. Get them to go outside
It sounds simple enough, but like many things in life, the key is the follow-through. If they’re old enough, try suggesting that your kids go outside and let them explore or find something to engage with on their own, rather than arranging something for them or giving them ideas. If they’re still young, it’s a good idea to go outside with your kids, but allow them to engage in unstructured free play. Unstructured free play means all forms of play where children are directing their own play without adult interference. This is when their imaginations can run wild. Maybe they’ll make a mud kitchen, maybe they’ll turn their bike upside down and spin the wheels, pretending it’s something other than a bike, like we did as kids. Who knows what their minds will create and how far their active play can go. Outside is a vast playground for kids of all ages. And I find that even older children can appreciate free time outdoors.
2. Plan to be unplanned
Let your children know ahead of time that you’re planning this kind of a day or week—the type where they will need to make up their own ideas. When my kids know what to expect or what’s coming, it’s easier for them to adapt to the idea. You can even try creating some excitement around the idea. You could let them know that tomorrow will be a “no-plan” day, and after a day of fun, they could even choose what to have for dinner that night, for example.
3. Take away screens
It doesn’t have to be for the entire day, but for a large portion, try making screens off-limits. I think most of us parents don’t enjoy it when we see our kids scrolling through feeds, watching endless videos, or texting non-stop. It’s hard to deal with the drama of a phone or tablet being taken away, but it’s a short-term pain for a long-term gain.
If you need a new tactic to try, start small. For example, set a timer. When you set a timer and clearly lay out the rules that their set amount of time for the day is over, kids may be more receptive to the “screens away” request. Here are some more helpful and creative tips for managing screen time without fighting.
4. Find a friend
One of the nice things about the summer of 2020 was that all kids were in the same boat in our neighbourhood. Everyone was home with nothing to do. So the kids all met up. And when kids meet up, fun is sure to ensue. There’s nothing like a day with a friend. And while I know my children’s friends won’t be around all summer long, my plan is to pre-arrange some days for my youngest and ask my older two to make their own plans with friends. Even if they’re hanging around my house, I know they’ll come up with some kind of play.
5. Start an idea jar now and keep adding to it
Sometimes a thought starter is all my kids need. For example, if I tell my youngest to see how many jumps she can do on the trampoline, she’ll often run out back to our yard and try it out. Before long, my other two might join in. This takes a little pre-planning, but it can be as simple as writing “Trampoline jumps” on a piece of paper and tossing it into a jar or bowl. Keep adding little ideas throughout the summer, and when your kids tell you they’re bored, you can direct them to the jar full of ideas. You can also try this list of 100 summer boredom busters for kids to get you started.
6. Put a box full of games out
My children love board games, but sometimes they forget. They’ll almost always choose their phone or TV over a game. But if screens aren’t happening, board games are a great way to keep busy while also having many hours of fun. Here are some great board games that get your children moving at the same time.
7. Focus on balance, rather than perfection
One of the gifts of the summer of 2020 for me was that I learned to give myself a break if I wasn’t a perfect parent. I just wanted to make it through that tough time with relatively happy, healthy children. If we made it to dinnertime and everyone was still intact, we were doing just fine. Same goes for this summer. If my children spend a rainy day watching a movie, so be it. My goal is to find the balance between unscheduled fun and some pre-planned activities or even simply a “chill day” as my tween likes to call it.
