Practical guide: getting ready for summer as a family

The solution lies in planning ahead in a way that respects everyone's needs. Here's my approach, in the form of a to-do list you can add to Octave or to your paper planner to turn this time of year into a time for working together.

1. Managing school supplies

The end of the school year brings the big return of the kids' school supplies. This step, often seen as a chore, can become a moment of learning and family organization.

Giving each child responsibility for sorting their own things builds their independence. Here, all the reusable supplies go into a big box of family reserves – filled with erasers, pencils, rulers and notebooks of every colour – which becomes the hub of this smart recycling operation. The printable How-To for Sorting and Storing School Supplies can guide your kids through this task.

While the kids and I busy ourselves with sorting, Dad takes care of checking and cleaning the school bags and lunch bags. This division of labour turns a parental chore into collective efficiency. To escape the August rush, we get the back-to-school supplies ready as early as June. Doing this task means giving yourself peace of mind in August. Our back-to-school denial can then carry on until the very last minute, because we'll be ready.

To-do list:

• Have each child sort their supplies as they bring them home
• Clean all the school bags
• Clean all the lunch boxes
• Check the overall condition of the supplies
• Buy any missing supplies and replace school bags and lunch bags if needed
• Pack next year's school bags right now

2. Setting up the summer routine

Summer is a chance to reinvent our family organization. With more time available, it's the ideal moment to evolve responsibilities and teach new skills. So I use the summer break to adjust family responsibilities. For me, it's the perfect opportunity to pass on new skills in a relaxed setting where learning can happen without pressure. This year, the older kids will be responsible for making one lunch a week. To keep them motivated, I'm putting together the summer version of our General Store, our family rewards system. A survey of the kids helps me pin down what they want and lets me match the incentives to what the nice weather makes possible. These rewards are often outdoor toys, craft supplies for rainy days, sports equipment, paid outings for the summer, extra clothing purchases, and so on.

To-do list:

• Review the chore routine in Octave
• Hand new responsibilities over to the kids and teach them the new chores
• Survey the kids to find out what they wish for

3. Preparing for rainy days and managing screen time

Even the sunniest summer has its weather whims. Rather than just enduring those days, let's plan for them by creating appealing alternatives that will turn bad weather into moments of connection. Preparing a variety of activities in advance heads off the “I'm bored” complaints and turns rainy days into creative opportunities. Ready-to-go bins make the transition to enriching activities easier.

Setting clear rules at the very start of summer break prevents daily negotiations and preserves the balance between digital entertainment and a variety of discoveries. Limits defined ahead of time let everyone enjoy screens without letting them take over the summer. Putting these rules in place in advance prevents conflict and makes it easier for everyone to accept them.

To-do list:

• Prepare ready-to-use craft bins
• Gather a variety of creative activities
• Organize board games so they're easy to reach
• Create a list of backup activities
• Set screen time limits at the start of summer
• Clearly communicate the rules to all the kids
• Plan alternatives to screens
• Set up a tracking system

This structured approach turns summer preparation into an investment in harmonious holidays. Copy this list into Octave and adapt it to your specific needs. A successful summer isn't one where everything is perfect, but one where everyone finds their place in the wonderful collective adventure that is family life.