Practical Guide: Preparing for Summer as a Family
04 June, 2025
Summer is coming, and soon the kids will be home, with their thirst for freedom and their perfectly legitimate desire to relax. We, too, long for this freedom and these moments of relaxation. So how can we ensure that we don't reach the end of summer completely exhausted, but instead still have enough energy in reserve to calmly approach the back-to-school preparation?
The solution lies in early organization that respects everyone's needs. Here's my approach, in the form of a to-do list that you can add to Octave or your paper planner to transform this time of year into a collaborative moment.
1. School Supplies Management
The end of the school year marks the return of children's school supplies. This step, often seen as a chore, can become a moment of learning and family organization.
Empowering each child to sort their belongings develops their autonomy. Here, all reusable material is stored in a large family supply box - filled with erasers, pencils, rulers, and notebooks of all colors - which becomes the center of this smart recycling operation. The little "How-to guide for sorting and storing school supplies" can guide your children in this task.
While the children and I are busy organizing, checking and cleaning school bags and lunch bags is done by dad. This division of tasks transforms a parental chore into collective efficiency. To avoid the August rush, we prepare back-to-school supplies in June. Doing this task offers peace of mind in August. The denial of back-to-school can thus continue until the last minute, because we will be ready.
To-do list:
- Have each child sort their supplies as they bring them home
- Clean all school bags
- Clean all lunch boxes
- Check the general condition of the supplies
- Buy missing supplies and replace school bags and lunch bags if necessary
- Repack bags for next year now
2. Setting Up the Summer Routine
Summer offers the opportunity to reinvent our family organization. With more time available, it's the ideal moment to evolve responsibilities and teach new skills. I therefore take advantage of the holidays to adjust family responsibilities. It's the perfect opportunity for me to pass on new skills, in a relaxed context where learning can take place without pressure. This year, the older children will be responsible for preparing one lunch meal per week. To keep them motivated, I prepare the summer version of our "Magasin Général" (General Store), our family reward system. A survey of the children helps me understand their desires and allows me to adapt the motivations to the possibilities offered by the beautiful season. These rewards are often outdoor toys, craft supplies for rainy days, sports equipment, paid outings for the summer, extra clothing purchases, etc.
To-do list:
- Review the task routine in Octave
- Transfer new responsibilities to the children and teach them the new tasks
- Survey the children to find out their wishes
3. Preparing for Rainy Days and Managing Screen Time
Even the sunniest summer has its meteorological whims. Rather than enduring these days, let's anticipate them by creating attractive alternatives that will transform bad weather into moments of shared connection. Preparing a variety of activities in advance avoids "I'm bored" and turns rainy days into creative opportunities. Ready-to-use bins facilitate the transition to enriching activities.
Establishing clear rules from the beginning of the holidays avoids daily negotiations and maintains the balance between digital entertainment and various discoveries. Predefined limits allow for screen enjoyment without them dominating the summer. Anticipating these rules prevents conflicts and facilitates acceptance by everyone.
To-do list:
- Prepare ready-to-use craft bins
- Gather a variety of creative activities
- Organize accessible board games
- Create a list of alternative activities
- Define screen time limits at the beginning of summer
- Clearly communicate the rules to all children
- Provide alternatives to screens
- Set up a tracking system
This structured approach transforms summer preparation into an investment for harmonious holidays. Copy this list into Octave and adapt it to your specific needs. A successful summer is not one where everything is perfect, but one where everyone finds their place in the beautiful collective adventure that is family life.
Summer is coming, and soon the kids will be home, with their thirst for freedom and their perfectly legitimate desire to relax. We, too, long for this freedom and these moments of relaxation. So how can we ensure that we don't reach the end of summer completely exhausted, but instead still have enough energy in reserve to calmly approach the back-to-school preparation?
The solution lies in early organization that respects everyone's needs. Here's my approach, in the form of a to-do list that you can add to Octave or your paper planner to transform this time of year into a collaborative moment.
1. School Supplies Management
The end of the school year marks the return of children's school supplies. This step, often seen as a chore, can become a moment of learning and family organization.
Empowering each child to sort their belongings develops their autonomy. Here, all reusable material is stored in a large family supply box - filled with erasers, pencils, rulers, and notebooks of all colors - which becomes the center of this smart recycling operation. The little "How-to guide for sorting and storing school supplies" can guide your children in this task.
While the children and I are busy organizing, checking and cleaning school bags and lunch bags is done by dad. This division of tasks transforms a parental chore into collective efficiency. To avoid the August rush, we prepare back-to-school supplies in June. Doing this task offers peace of mind in August. The denial of back-to-school can thus continue until the last minute, because we will be ready.
To-do list:
- Have each child sort their supplies as they bring them home
- Clean all school bags
- Clean all lunch boxes
- Check the general condition of the supplies
- Buy missing supplies and replace school bags and lunch bags if necessary
- Repack bags for next year now
2. Setting Up the Summer Routine
Summer offers the opportunity to reinvent our family organization. With more time available, it's the ideal moment to evolve responsibilities and teach new skills. I therefore take advantage of the holidays to adjust family responsibilities. It's the perfect opportunity for me to pass on new skills, in a relaxed context where learning can take place without pressure. This year, the older children will be responsible for preparing one lunch meal per week. To keep them motivated, I prepare the summer version of our "Magasin Général" (General Store), our family reward system. A survey of the children helps me understand their desires and allows me to adapt the motivations to the possibilities offered by the beautiful season. These rewards are often outdoor toys, craft supplies for rainy days, sports equipment, paid outings for the summer, extra clothing purchases, etc.
To-do list:
- Review the task routine in Octave
- Transfer new responsibilities to the children and teach them the new tasks
- Survey the children to find out their wishes
3. Preparing for Rainy Days and Managing Screen Time
Even the sunniest summer has its meteorological whims. Rather than enduring these days, let's anticipate them by creating attractive alternatives that will transform bad weather into moments of shared connection. Preparing a variety of activities in advance avoids "I'm bored" and turns rainy days into creative opportunities. Ready-to-use bins facilitate the transition to enriching activities.
Establishing clear rules from the beginning of the holidays avoids daily negotiations and maintains the balance between digital entertainment and various discoveries. Predefined limits allow for screen enjoyment without them dominating the summer. Anticipating these rules prevents conflicts and facilitates acceptance by everyone.
To-do list:
- Prepare ready-to-use craft bins
- Gather a variety of creative activities
- Organize accessible board games
- Create a list of alternative activities
- Define screen time limits at the beginning of summer
- Clearly communicate the rules to all children
- Provide alternatives to screens
- Set up a tracking system
This structured approach transforms summer preparation into an investment for harmonious holidays. Copy this list into Octave and adapt it to your specific needs. A successful summer is not one where everything is perfect, but one where everyone finds their place in the beautiful collective adventure that is family life.