Use Summer to Build Habits

Oh summer is for fun! Summer can also be opportunity. See, without all the regular ‘have tos’ of school and extracurricular activities, there is time. That wonderful, empty space on the calendar. But sometimes having more time can be a challenge. So we have found a balance. Summer is when we work on those basic ‘bones’ of our days – all the while having fun and taking an official homeschool break. We use summer to build habits. I encourage you to use summer to build habits as well. Here are a few ideas for you.

Use Summer to Build Habits

There are a few, long-standing habits that have blessed our family and our homeschool. These particular habits have built both independence and focus. See, in the summer we like to head to the library about once a week and simply choose books for pure reading pleasure. These habits give us a couple of designated times for reading. We use summer to build habits in reading!

Summer to Build Habits: Morning Room Time

All of my children have outgrown this habit. But I continue to see the benefits. Especially being able to play independently and to focus. More in How Morning Room Time Building Learning Skills for Later.

Summer to Build Habits: Afternoon Quiet Time

Are you ready to put your feet up and relax? I am! Afternoon quiet time is our longest running habit at over a dozen years. Today’s layer gives a spot of quiet for all ages. Back when my first toddler outgrew her nap I wondered what to do. See, I needed that time. Why did she outgrow her nap when I had an infant? Afternoon quiet time was the answer.

Guess what? As we head into summer time and leave the morning schedule of school work, afternoon quiet time becomes our anchor. It’s the structure of the day that is always there. Even when summer refreshingly changes up our days with outside activities and other opportunities.

(Afternoon Quiet Time this week!)

There are so many benefits that come with afternoon quiet time that I have three posts written on the subject. If you don’t know about this habit or if you need some new ideas, please start here: Afternoon Quiet Time for All Ages.

 

Summer to Build Habits: Bedtime Reading

When the days are longer and there is more sunlight, a few times a week the children go to bed a little earlier and read. More ideas for building the habit of reading.

More Habits to Build in Summer

It also helps to simply have a check list of ideas. That’s why I created this list last year to use summer to build habits…

Chalkboard of Summer Prompts

I love chalkboard. I also appreciate a good list. And so we created a chalkboard of summer prompts. A combination of the two! Simple. Actions verbs. Encouraging us all to be creative! Chalkboard of Summer Prompts.

100+ Helpful Homeschool Habits for All Ages

I’ve featured a few of our habits today. But maybe you would like to focus on something else over the summer? Well, I have a few! 100+ Helpful Homeschool Habits for All Ages. Our habits help us accomplish a basic school day and get food on the table. We leaned on one or two habits more heavily when all our children were age 10 and under. And we’ve tweaked habits to meet our needs with growing children.

1. It was a great weekend of Aladdin Jr. What talent! | 2. D O N E with Math 1! 2nd grade here we come. But first, it’s time to play in the sprinkler! (He wanted to do that last test this afternoon so he could be finished!) | 3. Third grader said, “notice there is no ‘Go to the next lesson’!” And she is DONE with Teaching Textbooks. Fourth grade here we come! | 4. A little afternoon computer time for the brothers.

Last Days of Homeschool!

Here’s very short wrap up of our homeschool year, along with some celebrations! And I’ll share a few more of our favorite basic summer habits at the end as well.

We are in the homeschool countdown! You too? Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as for the Lord. Colossians 3:23 and Run in such a way as to get the prize… 1 Corinthians 9:24 Last days of 11th, 10th, 7th, 3rd and 1st grades!

 

This week I have been tying up loose ends. That will continue into next week. One way is by writing Narrative Report Cards following Barb-Harmony Art Mom’s excellent example. We’ve done these for several years. It meets our state requirement for a yearly summary report. Plus it helps us reflect on the year of learning. And the children really like getting them!

Fun Last Day of School Printables – Pause for a moment to recognize that we now have…

• Second Grade
• Fourth Grade
• Eighth Grade
• Plus a high school Junior and a Senior!!!

Summer Wish List – When we move away from the regular rhythm of studies, there happens a simpler way of learning. I like to plan summer learning in wish list form.

 

Don’t miss our Atlanta Summer Fun Wish List (lots of fun things and some ideas even if you aren’t in Georgia)

Use Summer to Build the Habit of Art

Of course we know this is GREAT use of summer freedoms! More on using summer to build the habit of art.

I’ll still be sharing art tutorials, helpful habits and more through the summer. Have you subscribed to Hodgepodge?

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. 3 John 1:4

How about you? Will you use summer time to build some basic habits?

-originally published 2015