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You feel that?
It’s the subtle shift in the air. The scent of sunscreen, sidewalk chalk, and a tiny bit of panic.
Summer is coming and while I know you are looking forward to being done with the insane calendar that is Maycember, we all know that with the end of school comes the glorious, exhausting reality of kids at home all. the. time. No hours long breaks. No predictable schedules. Just you, the kids, and a household that will… well never mind.
Here are some ways to prep your home (and your nervous system) for the beautiful mess ahead:
1. Create Containment Zones
Designate zones in your home for the most common summer activities:
- A snack zone with easy-to-grab bins in the pantry or fridge that has the food you WANT them sneaking.
- A craft zone with washable supplies and a cheap tablecloth you emotionally detach from.
- A tech charging station (shameless plug for my Tablet Charging Station here) to help you keep mental note of the amount of screentime they’ve had, and to keep cords/ devices from taking over your counters.
- A wet towels/ suits/ socks basket in the laundry room. We don’t want that buried in kid room laundry piles.
2. Do a Toy Audit
Before new summer clutter shows up ie the summer camp carft, goggles, someone’s 4th rock collection, declutter what’s already exploded across the playroom.
Pro tip: If you find a toy with no name, no parts, and no emotional significance send it to the donation bin before the kids are around to see you load it into the car.
3. Batch the Boredom
Pre-make a “boredom box” of things they can do without you:
- Puzzle books
- Stickers
- Audiobooks with headphones
- LEGO challenge cards
- "Clean the baseboards" (okay, kidding… kind of)
Pro tip: Occasionally sneak a new, but not complicated, item into this bin. Like a new card game, or a new dollar store coloring book.
4. A Skills List
Look it’s our job as parents to get these kids ready to for adulthood in 18 short years. There is no time like the present for them to learn new skills. Make it an adventure together by showing them how to research and implement something that not even YOU have done before.
- Basic cooking, or mastering a new meal depending on age.
- Help clean the car or garage, teach them about pests and chemical safety.
- Plan a family activity and bring you the costs and timeline, or give them a budget!
- Deep cleaning with a steamer or stain removing.
- Maintenance on an appliance.
Bonus: Kids love tools that feel official, don’t be afraid to show them around the tool box.
5. Mentally Prepare for Controlled Chaos
We know that summer isn't about having a perfect house, it's about keeping our heads above the mess and soaking in the memories. That said, you deserve a plan for YOURSELF for the days the overstimulation makes you want to break things. Meditations saved on your Spotify, a rule you’ll let the kids break to give you break, a kid play zone you can doom scroll at while high school students watch for bleeding.
TL;DR: Summer is coming. But you’ve got a plan.
Contain the mess, prep the snacks, and build in buffer zones—because your home doesn’t have to fall apart just because school’s out. May the odds be in your favor.
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