Summer and the Family Calendar
I love the anticipation of summer break. Counting down the days is akin to New Year’s Eve, when we have a built in opportunity to reflect and plan for the future. Despite this natural transition, many families opt to “wait until the fall” to start new routines when it comes to organization and time management. This is actually an amazing time to finally jump on creating that family calendar considering the excitement of summer plans, a break from the overwhelm of the typical afterschool schedule, and the ability to establish routines before the chaos of back-to-school time. While there are certainly options out there with a plethora of bells and whistles, a successful family calendar doesn’t have to be high-tech, or even low-tech for that matter!
Low cost, no tech
The tried and true whiteboard calendar! This is one of the easiest, yet most effective, approaches to organizing family time. Pick up a two-pack of calendars that has a weekly and monthly version so that you always have a chance to see what’s coming up. Don’t hide it away somewhere, though. You want your family to cross its path naturally many times a day, especially the kids! Each family member should be assigned a different color dry erase marker so that they can easily see what’s on the schedule for each person and identify the conflicts. Depending on the age of the children, parents can choose to update the calendar themselves, or begin to involve the younger ones in the process by having them help set up the calendar or, when they are ready, add their own events to the calendar in their color.
Mid cost, mid-tech
Families can opt to use a more affordable tablet to display Google or Outlook calendars. In this situation, parents benefit from taking time with each child to add events into the calendar from their phone until students are old enough to have their own devices. From that point, they can add their own events. Same rules as the whiteboard apply, though! Everyone in the family is assigned a different color while family calendar entries can have its own hue. THis is helpful in identify which outings require EVERYONE’S attendance. You can also build out the tablet with additional apps to track chores, rewards, shopping lists, and meal plans. There may be an additional charge for those, but each family can individualize based on their needs.
High tech, high cost
In this digital age, of course there are devices that have been designed specifically for the purpose of helping families organize themselves and their time. They will definitely cost a bit more, but come inclusive with built-in features that you would have to explore separately in the lower-cost alternative. Skylight is an increasingly popular option for many families, but its price point of $300-$500, depending on model, definitely makes it a luxury item. As a disclaimer, we do not receive any sort of benefit from mentioning Skylight. Our families that use it find it authentically effective! If you find digital options to work especially well, this might be a benefit for you and your family. Honestly, though, a whiteboard calendar works just as well as you establish daily check-ins and routines. For families that find creating, implementing, and maintaining organizational systems like calendars challenging, we are also here to help. Our Family Reset package can help busy parents (or professionals) set up effective tools to make life easier for everyone. Let us know if you’d like to create some change in your household this summer!
Summer Learning Slide isn’t Just for Elementary School
When people talk about the “summer slide,” they’re usually thinking about elementary school students practicing reading and math facts. But the truth is that skill loss over the summer doesn’t stop at third grade. Middle schoolers forget routines, high school students lose academic momentum, and college students can feel rusty returning to structured learning after months away. The impact just looks different at each stage.
The good news is that keeping skills sharp doesn’t require turning summer into school. A few intentional habits can go a long way, and they can still leave plenty of room for rest, fun, and flexibility.
For elementary students, the focus is on building and maintaining foundational skills. Reading regularly is one of the most powerful things they can do. Let them choose books that genuinely interest them, even if they seem too easy or a little silly. Writing can be woven in naturally through journaling, letters, or even making lists and plans. Math shows up in everyday life, from measuring ingredients to counting money, so it doesn’t have to feel like a worksheet.
Middle school is where independence starts to grow, and so do executive functioning demands. Summer is a great time to lightly practice organization and time management without the pressure of grades. Encourage students to set small goals, manage a simple schedule, or take ownership of a project they care about. Reading still matters here too, but it helps to connect it to their interests, whether that’s graphic novels, sports articles, or fantasy series.
High school students benefit from staying mentally engaged, but also from reflecting on how they learn best. This might look like reading a book tied to a future class, exploring a personal interest in more depth, or doing some light review of challenging subjects from the past year. Summer can also be a time to build real-world skills such as communication, planning, or problem-solving through jobs, volunteering, or independent projects.
For college students, the “slide” often shows up as a loss of structure and academic stamina. After a long break, it can be tough to jump back into sustained focus, reading dense material, or managing multiple responsibilities at once. Keeping a light routine during the summer can help. This could include reading articles or books related to their field, staying curious about current topics, or even setting aside short periods of time for focused work. Just as important is maintaining life skills like managing time, balancing commitments, and following through on goals.
Across all age groups, consistency matters more than intensity. A little bit of engagement, done regularly, keeps skills accessible and reduces the stress of starting from scratch in the fall. Just as importantly, summer offers a chance to reconnect learning with curiosity and choice, which is something students of all ages benefit from. Have your learner of any age choose one thing to do everyday that benefits their mind and one that benefits their body! The goal is not to replicate the school year. It is to keep the brain active, the habits intact, and the transition back to learning a little smoother for everyone.