Our Fun And Relaxing Summer Homeschool Schedule

I will start off by saying that as a homeschooling family, our summer homeschool schedule is very relaxed! We do not homeschool year-round, so when it comes to curriculum, we do very little or none at all during the summer months. However, there are a few things we like to carry throughout the summer, as well as some habits I encourage my kids to continue throughout their summer break. My main focus is fun, sun, and lots of play time! In this blog post, I am sharing our fun and relaxing summer homeschool schedule, in hopes that it will give you some ideas you can try out with your own kids!

What Summertime is For!

I want to address the fact that for us, summertime is a time of rest and relaxation! We have a large garden which definitely keeps us busy, but I let the kids sleep in a little bit, stay up a bit late, and play the day away! Because we are a homeschooling family, we have a tendency to see the educational side of things when others sometimes don’t. However, we do not schedule strict “school time” during the summer. 

Summer Schedule Vs Summer Routine

During our homeschool year, we do try to stick to a routine as much as we can. We really aren’t big “schedule” people, but rather rhythm and routine people. Our summer homeschool schedule is also more of a routine than a true schedule. 

I find that for our family, what works best all year-round is creating a routine that is easy to follow. During the school year, we don’t attach any of our subjects to specific time slots like a schedule would call for. Instead, we know what comes first, and then what comes next each day. We work our way through what we need to do, and usually end up being done around the same time every day, but it’s not a strict schedule. 

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Our summer homeschool schedule is much the same in the sense that we still follow a basic rhythm, but we’re not “on the clock” by any means! Our morning routine stays the same in the summer time, and that routine consists of:

• Morning chores
• Breakfast
• Free play/Outdoor play

I still view the summer fun we have as learning time, simply because I believe that we are always learning! Life is full of amazing wonders that are just waiting to be discovered. And during our summer break from homeschool routine, our favorite way to learn is to get outside and enjoy the world! When my kids come inside at the end of the day with dirt crusted under their fingernails, I consider that a very productive day!

Summer Homeschooling

Because we are a homeschooling family and view learning the way we do, there is always a level of “homeschooling” happening – no matter what time of year it is. This is because we try to take advantage of what’s around us, and allow ourselves to be inquisitive about pretty much everything! So when it comes to our various different summer activities, it’s no different. 

Here are a few examples of how our summer homeschool schedule can be fun, relaxing and educational all at the same time:

• Nature studies: Summer is the best time for this because everything is in bloom! At the beach we examine seashells and seaweed. In the garden we learn how plants grow, their life cycle, and the role we can play in that. On a bike ride we stop and watch a squirrel or bird, or notice a really cool looking tree. Nature studies abound in the summer time, and we try to be purposeful about noticing all the beauty around us. 
• Yard work: I know yard work may not sound like “play”, but it can be made into a fun and even educational experience! This past summer, we taught our daughter how to drive the ride on lawn mower and she loves it! She quickly learned how to maneuver it, and mowing the lawn is one of the life skills that can easily be learned in the summer. Our youngest who is 6, loves to help pick up rocks and sticks around the property and then build things with them. He also enjoys picking cabbageworms off of the broccoli plants in the garden. In doing those things he is being helpful, using his imagination, and learning some basic skills as well.  
• Field Trips: Another thing we enjoy in the summer is continuing to get together with other homeschool families and go on some fun field trips! Summer is a great time for this because the weather in our area is perfect for outdoor activities and adventures. Our summer field trips have very little structure to them, but are always fun and educational!

Summer Activities We Enjoy

Here is a quick list of the summer activities we enjoy every year. As a homeschool mom, I really enjoy the routine of summer and being able to spend the time with my children doing so many relaxing, unstructured activities. 

• Beach days
• Going to the local outdoor swimming pool
• Gardening
• Hikes and bike rides
• Late nights around the bonfire
• Family trips 
• Library days

Fun Ideas for the at-home days

Sometimes during the summer months, we just want some quiet, inside and at-home days to rest and recover from all the sunshine! Rainy days are great for this, and we welcome them from time to time in the summer. 

One thing I encourage myself and my kids to do on those quiet days is to read. Reading a good book is the perfect way to rest your body and your mind. I don’t set any specific summer goals when it comes to reading, I just promote it as the perfect opportunity to get lots of reading time in. Whether it’s inside on the couch, or outside under the shade of a tree – reading is something we do a lot of in the summer. It’s also great family time, because we really enjoy curling up together and reading a good book aloud. We do this a lot the rest of the year, and we are purposeful about including it in our summer homeschool schedule as well. 

Other activities that occupy our quiet summer days at home are things like crafts, baking, backyard play, sitting on the porch, and watching our chickens! (If you’ve never just sat and watched chickens, you’re missing out! They are quite entertaining!)

Summer Homeschool Ideas

If you like the idea of a relaxed summer homeschool schedule, but you want to have a little bit of structure to your summer plan, here are some different activities you could consider:

• Nature Journaling: If you want your child to be practicing their printing or spelling skills throughout the summer, consider adding nature journaling into your child’s routine. Give them a notebook and have them spend a little bit of time each day observing nature around them, and journaling their findings. Encourage them to notice all of the senses in nature – what they see, hear, smell, touch, and even taste! This is a great way to not only learn about nature, but also to stay on top of some basic writing skills. 
• Summer Reading Program: If you have a child who loves to read, or perhaps a child who is struggling with reading and needs a little motivation, a summer reading program may be a great option. Often times, your local library will host these, but you can also find some online. Here is a really good resource to help you find some great online summer reading programs! Creating an incentive for reading can add a whole new element of fun, and it’s a fun way to encourage your children to try new books or genres to expand their reading skills.
• Summer Camp: Summer camps don’t have to be sleep away camps, they can be things such as day camps or weekly programs. There are so many wonderful summer camp options to choose from, and we have taken part in many different ones over the years. Lots of churches host Vacation Bible School throughout the summer months, which is basically a day camp where kids learn about different Bible stories, make new friends, and do lots of fun activities. There are also day camps offered by local Rec Centers, as well as countless others that are often based on specific themes and topics of interest. 

Preparing For The Upcoming School Year

Usually around mid august, my summer homeschool schedule includes preparing myself and the kids for the upcoming school year. This involves setting goals, choosing the best homeschool curriculum for the coming year, and more. I don’t change a whole lot at that point, but our daily schedule does tighten up just slightly.

Things like going to bed a little bit earlier, getting up at a certain time and having them help me organize our school supplies, all begin to shift their minds towards September. Although we technically remain in our summer vacation mode until just before school starts, I do find that gradually transitioning everyone back into that routine is beneficial. It always helps our September homeschool days start off a bit smoother. 

Make It Fun

Above all else, we try to have a relaxing and fun summer together as a family. We don’t go on elaborate trips, just a few smaller things here and there. For the most part we stay close to home and just enjoy the great outdoors! 

Whatever your summer style is like, encourage your kids to notice the simple things – a bird singing, a flower blooming, a bee pollinating, etc. And don’t just encourage your kids, try your best to slow down and appreciate those things with them. The best summertime memories are the ones made together – so don’t overthink it and just have fun. That’s what we focus on in our summer homeschool schedule, and we love it! 

Blessings!

~Maryann