Summer Systems: Chores, Zones, and Checklists + FREE Editable Printable!
Summer is in session! Use our summer chore chart to help your kids stay accountable for everything they need to accomplish before earning screen time or playdates. Plus, we’ve got a FREE chore checklist printable that you don’t wanna miss out on!
Happy Summer, Freebs!
*Eye twitch while double-fisting chocolate cake*
Anyone else…struggle (for lack of a better word) with summer? Keeping kids entertained, being productive, and saving your sanity (and wallet!) can be a SERIOUS challenge when you’ve got a house full of kids. Have no fear, Mama J is here!
Today I’m sharing my most effective Sanity-Saving Summer System (say that 10x fast…) that has changed our summer around for the better. I have no doubt it will help your household as well! I’m going to cover our chore checklist, allowance, screen time, exercise, and even keeping the house clean! It pretty much does everything but teach you French, I’m telling you.
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But wait, there’s more! I’ve also included a FREE PRINTABLE for our summer chore checklist.
*Jordan crowd surfs into raging, excited fans*
Make sure you subscribe to our YouTube channel, we release new videos weekly and you don’t wanna miss out on that party. Watch the video online HERE or watch below, then keep scrolling for the summer chore chart deets!
Not too shabby, right?? Let’s go over that summer chore checklist and make sure you’re using it to the best of its ability!
WHY YOU SHOULD USE A SUMMER CHORE CHECKLIST
Do your summer days sound anything like this? “Mom, I’m bored, can I watch TV?” “I have nothing to do, can I play on the iPad?” “Mom, I’m bored, can I play on the Xbox?” “Mom, Mom, Mom…” Ahhhhh!!!
Kids tend to “get bored” quicker during the summer when they don’t have schoolwork and activities to keep them busy. So I finally wised up and created a system that gives all the kids autonomy and responsibility for whether they get screen time or not, it keeps the house clean, and it keeps everybody doing those daily tasks that have to be done. Whhhaaatttt?!?
Everybody is less stressed since we instituted our summer chore checklist and it takes the pressure off of Mom and Dad. We are no longer “in charge” of if they can have screen time. The kids know they’re in charge of completing their chore checklist before they’re allowed to have screen time or playdates and it has literally changed. our. world. Now, when they come and ask if they can watch TV, all we have to do is ask if their chore checklist is complete! Seriously, it’s the best.
That being said, we are still in charge of when they get screens. Just because they finish their clipboard by 10:30 in the morning doesn’t necessarily mean that they get a screen right that second. We usually give them 30 minutes unless there are special circumstances that gives them more time.
ALL ABOUT OUR SUMMER CHORE CHART
Much like our daily checklist for kids during the school year, the summer chore checklist is the perfect way to keep up with their daily responsibilities. Each kid has their own clipboard to keep up with and they check off the boxes as they complete them.
CHORE CHECKLIST TASKS
Here are the main responsibilities that make it on most of our kids’ summer chore charts:
- Get Ready for the Day
- Make Bed (Beddy’s makes this super easy for them! Use code JORDAN for 20% off.)
- Pray/Read Scriptures
- Clean Room/Bathroom
- Reading
- Laundry/Put Away Clothes
- 2 Chore Sticks
- Clean Zone
- Piano/Voice Lessons
- Exercise
We switch up some of the tasks based on our kids’ ages and what they’re able to do. For younger ones who aren’t reading yet, we have them spend 15 minutes on a reading app or listening to stories on a story player (like a Toniebox or Yoto). They do it in the same room as us so we can keep an eye on things.
Our kids are able to do the top few items by themselves, and then they have to come to us to do the bottom items. This lets us know they’re actually getting them done and we can help guide if they need help. We suggest that they complete their chore checklist as soon as they get up and are finished eating breakfast, but it’s up to them if they want to knock it out quickly or take longer to finish.
GREAT FOR EARNING ALLOWANCE
The summer chore chart is also how they used to earn allowance in our house. You could say that the clipboards must be completed by the end of the day in order to earn any allowance. It’s a great way for them to visually see the work that they’re doing and getting paid for!
We’ve since updated that (in an ever-changing way to find what works best with our growing family and kids) and now the clipboard responsibilities are just part of the “norms” in living in our house. If they want to earn extra money, then we do something a little different, that you can learn all about in my allowance 101 post!
HOW I HANG MY CLIPBOARDS
We love using clipboards because we can easily hang them where everybody can see and reach them. I got my clipboards for $3 from the Target Dollar Spot, but I’ve also seen them at Walmart and Amazon for pretty cheap.
I hung the clipboards on my wall using Command Hooks for keys. They are just slim enough to fit in the clipboard hole, but strong enough to hold them up on the wall. And the hooks won’t damage your paint!
SUMMER CHORE CHECKLIST PRINTABLE
Alright, I know this is what you really want! Since the video, we’ve updated our summer chore chart printable to make it editable and easier to use. Simply download, print it out on an 8.5×11 piece of paper, and stick it in a clear sheet protector so they can easily wipe the dry erase markers off.
If you really liked our old summer-themed printable, no worries! You can still get it. 🙂 You can either write the tasks on the paper and stick it in a sheet protector or use a wet erase marker to write the tasks on the sheet protector, itself.
SUMMER BUCKET LIST
Sometimes our kids need a little motivation to get their clipboards finished during the day in a timely manner. We like to use the summer bucket list activities as a way to help them get through those clipboards quicker! We’ll pick an activity that we’re working towards and they’re much faster at getting those things knocked out. We have LOTS of summer bucket list items as well as a free printable that we print out and hang up for everybody to see and try to complete that during the summer.
SUMMER SYSTEM – ZONES
The video also went over zones and how we work that into our daily chore checklist. They have been so beneficial at keeping our house tidy on those long summer days, as well as during the school year. So much so, I thought it was best for them to get a brand spankin’ new post of their own! Grab your free printable and our best zone cleaning tips and start working them into your day today.
There you go! Hope this summer chore checklist helps save your sanity(ish), like it has mine. Do you do something similar? Let me know in the comments!
Want even more great ideas?!
- Have bored kids? Bored sticks to the rescue!
- Use these 35+ boredom busters to unplug your tweens and teens!
- Help your kids to learn about money and save it properly with this fun money-saving chart!
Enjoy!