I’m a list-maker. I love new calendars and don’t even get me started on the feelings I have for my day planner! For me, schedules show me exactly what we can get done in a day, and keeps me efficient with my time. For kids, schedules let them know what to expect next, help them with transitions, and teach them to plan ahead. My kids will tell you that having a schedule when they were younger better prepared them for keeping their own schedules for work, school, and activities.
In my family, we have basic daily routines and weekly schedules that stay pretty consistent throughout the year. I’ve learned this is important for our mental and physical health. My family needs consistent downtime to recharge. I need to know who will be home for dinner. While summertime allows us to be more flexible and participate in different activities, we keep to a schedule every day. With so much canceled/closed/partially reopened, I am happy to have that schedule to keep me going. I am also happy to discover that while some traditional activities have been temporarily removed from the calendar, I can find new ways to fill that time.
Here are my basic building blocks for a family daily schedule.
- Pick a time to get up. While we might sleep in once in a while, we are pretty consistent about waking up at the same time every day. Along with getting up and out of bed, we each have our own morning routine to get dressed, make beds, and have breakfast. My daughter says having a scheduled time to get up helps her be productive instead of laying around all day. When not mandated by a school or work schedule, my family is naturally up around 6:30-7:00 am.
- Pick a time for meals. I believe in eating when hungry. At the same time, this house is not a 24-hour diner and I like to have dishes picked up and the counters clean. My kids are older so they typically make their own breakfast and lunch but there is an expectation these meals will be consumed around a specific time. Keeping a meal schedule, even when everyone is eating separately during the day gives me far better outcomes for dinner which we usually eat together. As a side note, take time one day a week or month and plan meals even if you’re busy. Then you will have what you need without extra work. I post my meal plans on the fridge.
- Pick or assign one chore a day. It’s so easy to keep the house clean (even with everyone home) if you have help. I love assigning a daily, age-appropriate chore for each family member. Block off time so you can all work simultaneously.
- Plan time for fun. Definitely put fun on the schedule. It will make everyone feel good. You can set one day a week for the park, pool, or playdates, etc. When my kids were little, we had Thursday Funday which involved going someplace far enough away we had to drive. Check out this post if you need more ideas for fun. Don’t forget to be flexible in case of weather or someone is in a mood.
- Have a scheduled bedtime. Sleep is important regardless of the season. If we stayed out too late when the kids were little, we paid dearly for it over the next two days. Now that they are older, they say getting to bed on time means they are more focused in the mornings and at work (important since they are lifeguards!). The same is true for me. My kids were not deprived of their summers even though they were put to bed by 9:30 most nights when they were younger. In fact, we all enjoyed summer more because we were rested.
Extras: My personal schedule includes time for movement as well as time for reading/study/meditation. I included that on a family schedule when my kids were little. They still stick to it today. Don’t forget to schedule time to get bored! And it’s definitely okay to leave some blank space on your schedule to allow for spontaneous activities.
Alternatives: If you have young kids and you want to get them more involved, scheduling your day with time for inside, time for outside, and time for away is a great place to start.
Now string seven of these together and you’ve got a weekly schedule, four weeks and you’ve got a whole month! Don’t forget to identify your motivation for schedules. I’m not always motivated to go to bed on time, but I know disaster awaits if I don’t.
Happy planning!
