5 Ways to Prep for Summer Fun
Summer inherently instills excitement for freedom, adventure, and fun. Summer can also be hectic and chaotic when you want to get to the fun stuff, but logistics aren’t going smoothly.
I’ve put together a list of 5 ways, in order, to make summer vacation and time-off more enjoyable, by organizing everything in advance. When it’s time to have fun, the stages are set; We can maximize enjoyment by minimizing potential logistical snafus.
1. PLAN
AHEAD – Calendar Organization
Before you start heading out on those adventures, and before the kids go into free-for-all-summer-mode, it’s wise to put together a detailed calendar of what will be going on for several months when the normal structure is not there to follow.
Things
to Add to The Calendar Might Be:
- Vacations
-
Activities
- Chore
schedule for all members of the household
- Vehicle
preventative maintenance prior to and during summer months to avoid any
unforeseen breakdowns
- Kid’s
activity commitments (sports, camps, playdates, etc.)
- Down time (recovery time for everyone)
Once
you have the schedule mapped out, mark which ones are confirmed, and which ones
are tentative.
Then, post the calendar for all to see. Or, if everyone that needs to know is on digital devices, share the calendar through an app so everyone has the information and can be accountable for acknowledgement of and participation in the plans.
Check out these dry erase calendar and digital wall calendars, to help keep everyone in the know, on track, and ready for what is coming up!
2. PACKING
LIST TEMLPLATE(S) – Know What You Need, and Plan it in Advance
Dangit, I forgot the battery pack to recharge my electronics!
We’ve all forgotten something we wanted or needed on a trip, and sometimes it can really throw a wrench into the fun flow logistics.
Maybe just before you go you make a quick list and do your best to follow it, but things get hectic, you’re distracted, etc, etc.
Get ahead of it!
While your mind is in early planning mode (not taking-off-in-a few-days mode), dial in a packing list template for each type of trip you plan to take; overnight, weekend, multiple weeks, month+, kid’s overnighters & camps.
Whatever kind of trip(s) you intend to take, you can get a template put together for quick, no-item-left-behind packing when it’s time to get ready.
If you
don’t have the time or interest in creating your own packing list templates,
there are a lot of free ones out there online. Here are a few I’ve come across
for various kinds of trips:
Super
Detailed Packing List for Any Trip!
For the Lucky Girls Headed to Camp (Downloadable)
For the Lucky Boys Headed to Camp (Downloadable)
Remember to follow the list
and don’t mark an item off until you know it’s been packed, and it is ready to
head out the door with you!
3. HOME
– Set-Up the Home and Yard Layout for Ease
Once you’ve got your plans outlined for the summer, you’ll have an idea of how you need to prep your home and yard for the upcoming months of activities and relaxation.
Creating ease of movement for coming and going from trips, setting up for kids to be at home more, and having the yard ready for a nice hang out in the good weather.
Spots
to Organize and Prepare:
- Entryway: Organize shoe area inside and outside for summer kicks and quick in and out! It can be helpful to have some shoe organization indoors and outdoors: tray for indoors, rack for outdoors.
- Go bags: Have bags/packs ready in the entry way for quick outings. Things you’ll want to include will be snacks, water bottle, hat or sunscreen, light jacket, & a phone charging cord with wall plug (I think we’ve all learned that this has become a critical item to take with us anytime we leave home, and an ICE (In Case of Emergency) card).
Restock these bags regularly and
show the kids where they can find the items to restock their own bags after
their adventures.
- Yard: Clean-up and set-up
lawn/patio furniture & BBQ station.
- Outdoor Activities: Pull out, set up and organize any lawn games and outdoor activities planned to be enjoyed throughout the summer. Try this outdoor storage chest to keep activities in an organized space.
4. KIDS
– Set Them and You Up for Success, and Structure
With
kids spending a lot of time at home, and often while you are working, it’s
helpful to have some structure in place that they are accountable for
following, whilst still enjoying the extra free time of summer.
As much as they want to just have a free-for-all, keeping some structure will help them, and help you have some peace of mind and less stress knowing they are taking good care of themselves and the shared space.
Ways
to Prep for Kids Staying Home:
- Chore and Caretaking
Calendar: Set-up a routine list for them to follow, from waking up and getting
dressed, to free-time, to helping with the household by way of chores (my mom
called these “contributions” 😉). Try this interactive daily kid’s chore checklist
- Activity List (what is safe
and fun for them to do while you’re gone): Get outdoor activities set-up and
ready for them to use, stations set-up in the home, and an activity jar where
they can put in an activity to get approved and/or set-up by you. These are
some great collapsible storage bins to
have activities designated and available.
- Quiet Time Area: Designate a
corner or area of the house where they can head over to during quiet time, to
read a book, draw, take a nap, and listen to some music quietly.
- Prep the Fridge and Pantry: Put snack and lunch items in an easy to get to area that is labelled, and organized, for them to be self-sufficient and maintain preferred eating habits. This will also help you keep inventory of what they’ve eaten and what is needed to restock. If you don’t already have organizing containers for your fridge and pantry, check out these clear storage containers for easy viewing and access to snacks and lunch items.
For parents whose children have devices, you probably already have in place some kind of parental control app to manage screen time for your kids. But if you don’t, there is a great Wirecutter Article sharing their top options out there for each device type, so you can know your kids are safe online and that they’re not spending too much time on a screen.
5. VEHICLE PREP – Get Road Trip Ready!
If you’re planning some road trips, whether short or long, make it easy on yourself and feel confident when it’s time to go, by having a car box ready with some items that you know you’ll want and need.
You’ll not only want items for the folks travelling in the vehicle, but also for the vehicle itself. There is a lot more to consider when taking a trip, whether in a car, truck, or RV because there are several more elements at play that could throw a wrench *pun intended* into the trip.
Plan to get a vehicle inspection and any preventative maintenance done on the vehicle prior to taking off on a road trip.
- Tire Pressure: Check that
tire pressure is correct on all tires, and that you take a tire pressure gauge
with you on your travels to check pressure periodically.
- Lights: Check that all
lights are working and carry a spare bulb for head and taillights.
- Oil: Check the level and be
sure to take with you at least a couple of quarts for the trip, particularly if
you’ll be driving far from towns.
- Transmission Fluid: This is
to be checked on level ground while the vehicle is running. Make sure your
vehicle is in park/neutral and parking brake set!
- Wiper Blades: Check for
wear. You never know when you might catch a warm summer torrential downpour!
- Spare Tire & Jack: This is a very commonly forgotten item to check, because it’s out of sight and out of mind until it is needed. Make sure your spare tire is inflated and in good condition, and that you have a jack on-hand.
It’s also a good idea to get hooked up with a roadside assistance program. Several insurance companies offer this, as well as reliable entities like AAA and Good Sam, both of which cover various types of vehicles travelling in the US & Canada. The annual pricing is very affordable and can really save the day. I have used the various roadside services (towing, lockouts, battery jumps & exchanges) several times in my life, and therefore, never go a year without it!
If you’re planning to car camp, or take a lengthier road trip, there are many more items to bring than would be for a day trip. To keep a more extensive number of items organized in the vehicle, I like to use labelled storage containers. They are uniform in shape and are stackable, to maximize space in the trunk, hatchback or truck bed. My favorite kind are these heavy duty storage containers that come in 5-, 17-, and 27-gallons sizes to accommodate all the things I need to take on a road trip or car camping trip. *I also use these a lot for home storage.
Aside from what’s been mentioned, there are many helpful resources online to help you get and be ready for any type of trip you may be taking in your vehicle.
Check out these links for lists and items for next-level readiness and organization:
Collapsible Car Trunk Organizer
Backseat Organizer (Travel Accessories,
Kid’s Backseat Items)
I am so excited for you all to enjoy some well-deserved time off from the grind, find some sun, play in some water, hike some mountains, and just relax.
You will be able to head into it with confidence that the organization and logistics have been taken care of and things should go smoothly.
Have Fun and Be Safe!
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