Five Things to Consider Before Planning Your Family's Summer

Deanna Bartalini suggests asking yourself a few questions about how your year has been going before you move into summer fun. 

Are you ready for summer? Honestly, this is a question for all of us: parents with school-aged children, teachers, empty-nesters, grandparents, and all those who look forward to beach weather. June is month number 6, the middle of the year. I think it is a good time to access and plan for the summer or even the rest of the year.

For many of us, summer is a time to slow down a bit and enjoy more leisure time. Before we get to the fun though, take some time to process your life before moving forward. 

Are you ready? 

Answer These Questions 

FYI: the year can be calendar or school year. 

• What were the high and low points of the past year?
• Which extracurricular activities had a positive impact, and which had a negative impact? Look at these activities for both the individual and the family. 
• What was the greatest challenge? How did I/we face it?  
• What is changing in the next 6 months? 
• What is already on the schedule for summer? 

Think About Adjustments 

As you look at the answers to these questions, what would you like to be different next year? If a certain activity was a huge stressor, can you not take part in it again?  Were days spent with family or outdoors the most memorable? How can you repeat those?  

Is your summer schedule booked up with camps and trips and sports? Obviously childcare is needed when parents are working, but we all need down time to just be. Doing nothing is good for us. Not all day, every day — but learning to be still and quiet is healthy. Let your mind wander; have space in your calendar. Leave your children to think up things to do on their own. (As is age appropriate and safe, of course.)  

What to Do for Summer 

I think simple plans are best. If you are able to be home with your children in the summer, spend time with them doing family activities. And make the usual things you do different. Meals always need to be prepared and served. Why not have lunch or dinner outside? Instead of driving to the park, can you ride bikes to get there? 

Take advantage of free events at the library. Many museums have free days during the summer. Sometimes you want to be inside where the air conditioning keeps you cool.

Institute a quiet hour, maybe after lunch or before dinner. Everyone goes to their own space and does a quiet activity. Reading, Legos, napping, coloring, or nothing at all.   

Start a new family practice to grow in your faith. Walk around your neighborhood and pray a Rosary. Read one of the Gospels, one chapter at a time. Depending on the age of your children, keep a journal of what you learned from each chapter. Read up on the day’s saint. Memorize a new prayer together. Choose a virtue a week to learn about and improve upon. 

Summer Will End 

As the summer fun winds down, be intentional about planning for the new school year or last quarter of the year. Go back to the questions about what worked and what did not work well. In my own life, I have lived with two contradictory thoughts far too often: It is all in my control, and I have no control. The more chaos and confusion, the more I believed those statements and spun around in circles, trying to get a hold of my life. It was only when I stopped believing those things that I was able to understand what was and was not in my control. Then I could focus on shaping my life rather than chasing it. 

I pray we each receive the grace we need to live according to His purpose and plan.  

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Copyright 2025 Deanna Bartalini
Images: Canva