How to Stay Sane when Your Kids Are Home for Summer Vacation

Worried about your sanity with the kids home for the summer?The countdown is on for when my older kids are officially out of school and home for the summer and I'm stuck with the job of constantly entertaining them 24/7. Although it's awesome to get to spend more quality time with your kids in the summer, there's also a ton of pressure to make sure they're staying active, continuing to learn new things and not turning into couch potatoes! And there's a lot less time for the things you usually get done while they're at school, like cleaning, grocery shopping, laundry and relaxing! If you're anything like me, I bet you're a little nervous about how you're going to keep them busy (and maintain a functional household, and hold on to your sanity) for the next three months. That's why I've put together this list of 7 things you can do to stay sane while your kids are home for summer vacation:

Create a summer bucket list1. Create a summer bucket list
At the start of the summer come up with a big list of things you and your kids want to do. Fill it with easy day trips, places in your town to visit, rainy day craft ideas, moives to see, yummy snacks to make, and anything else you can think of! That way when boredom hits, you can just turn to the list and will have a quick fix.














Related: 20 fun (mostly free!) activities to do with your kids this summer






Ship them off to sleep away camp2. Ship them off to sleep-away camp
There are a lot of parents who swear this is the perfect way to break up those long summer vacations. It is especially helpful if you still have to work while the kids are off. Sleep-away camp encourages your kids to be more independent, develop social skills and interact with nature. They'll come home with a ton of new friends, funny stories, and useful skills.









Sign up for day camp3. Sign up for day camp
If your kids (or you!) aren't quite ready for sleepaway camp, this is the perfect alternative. It gets them out of the house for a few hours a day so you can get some work done (or just steal a little alone time) and your kids can socialize or even learn a new skill. Most communities have tons of specialized programs like swimming lessons, art classes, and drama or sports camps. Let your kid choose their new hobby and get ready for some "me" time!





Related: 9 inexpensive "staycation" ideas kids will love






Hire a helper4. Hire a helper
Remember, summer means everyone's out of school, so find a college or high school student looking to make some extra cash and invite them over to look after your kids for a few hours a week. Even if they just take the kids to a local park for a few hours, it will give you some much-needed alone time to run errands or complete some household chores.







Set goals5. Set goals
Set goals for each of your kids of things they want to accomplish during the summer - I'd recommend something academic and something physical to encourage well-rounded development. Have your kid learn to tie their shoes, shoot a lay-up or read a certain amount of books. It allows the them to to focus on something that will ultimately help their development and gives you a ready-made suggestion for when they complain of boredom.












Related: 25 genius ways to host an outdoor movie night






Stick to a routine6. Stick to a routine
Don't go crazy and get out of a routine just because it's summer. Get up at the same time every day, go to bed at the same time, and continue to eat meals and snacks at approximately the same time. Include your kids' goals (see #5, above!) in their routine so they're sure to meet them and reward them for small accomplishments. Be sure to make playing outdoors and physical activity a part of their daily routine as well.






Stock up on wine7. Stock up on Wine
It's summer. No matter how much you prepare, life is bound to be a little more hectic. You know you will have more days than average you're going to want a glass or two, so stock up in advance!












- By Devan McGuinness
Follow Devan on Babble

For more tips for staying sane while your kids are home for the summer, visit Babble!

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