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.
*Note: When you click the links in this post, we may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
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 do change out some of the tasks based off how old our kids are and if they're able to do those. For our younger kids who can't read, they do 15 minutes of our favorite reading program, ABCmouse. They have to do it in the same room as us so we can supervise.
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!
For WAY more time-management and productivity system ideas, check out my new productivity program, Productivity Boot Camp. I put all of my best tips like this in it to give you everything you could need to become a productivity ninja! This online video program won't disappoint.
I promise, you're going to LOVE it! Use the code FCFBLOG for 10% off, just because!
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!
Jordan you’ve helped me so so much from make up to cleanup! Thank you for keeping it real. Life gets messy and we get tired and you dont sugar coat things. Im glad you love and worship the Lord too!
God Bless you & your family!!
Joann
Hi Jordan,
Could you make Winter Printable versions aswell?
We are in Winter here in Australia and I’d love to try this method out! 🙂
Since my kids are 17 & 15 I don’t need the chore charts, those dang teenagers better know what they’re doing by now, but I am definitely using the bucket list one! Since we are redoing our budget, thanks to you, we can take some cool day trips. I LOVE Lava Hot Springs! My husband and I go every year for Valentine’s Day ?(We live in the Pocatello area) Hopefully I will get a chance to hi, if we happen to be there at the same time. I’m hoping that didn’t sound to stalker like. Lol! Thank you so much for everything you do, you’re AWESOME!!!
I love the print outs! How do I edit them? It’s opening in a PDF but I can’t type on it.
When i opened the pdf there was a drop down menu and the top center and one of the options was “doc hub” and I could edit it that way and add my own text 🙂
Ok, I am clearly technically challenged. Is there a way to type out my items on the list and then print? I don’t want to handwrite them.
Thanks for sharing Jordan!!!!! I can’t wait to implement this system!!!! It looks like it will be very effective.
God Bless!!
These are some awesome ideas to keep kids busy! At what age do you introduce your kids to the clipboards?
Interested to know what tasks you give your 3 year old.
Also – can you provide a version we can edit?
Hi Jordan, loving the free printables but the summer bucket list seems to be missing some parts to it. I only see 4 pages on the PDF file?
This is so great! Thank you for always sharing your ideas with us, you’re the BEST!!
LOVE these free printables for the summer. we’re getting a SUPER late start on this (but participating in your ‘back to productivity month long challenge’ and super excited to get.something.done!) BUTTTT just wondering if you have a different printable for the kids chore charts that doesn’t have SUMMER on it??
Can I do this for my 2 year old as well? What can I give her to do?
HI JORDAN,
DO YOU USE THE SAME SUMMER CHORE CHARTS WHEN SCHOOL STARTS?
THANK YOU
School year charts coming soon! Stay tuned!
Wow. Jordan, what an inspiration you are! Thank you for your enthusiasm and fun but effective ideas. I don’t have kids but I am
Oops I clicked on ‘post comment’ too soon! Just to reiterate, I thank you for your inspiration and fun tips, I don’t have kids but your videos help me get a grip, stay positive and take action. I am amazed you have energy to do all of the things you show us and run such a large family! Sending lots of love and good wishes to your growing family x
How do you handle when one kid wants to watch a show, but another child hasn’t completed their clipboard for the day or wants to do electronics instead? Do you have a designated time and make the others go somewhere else? How do you manage different kids watching different shows? We only have one TV and it is in the main living area, so we struggle to find a time when one child can watch something.
Ugh that so hard. We have the same issue! Sometimes I’ll let the child watch on my phone or on an iPad. Otherwise maybe they earn the screen time at night and they get to stay up a little later than the other kids. I hope that helps!
Love the charts but we have tried every way to Sunday to try and edit. Any help would be appreciated.
I’m so glad that you love them! These charts aren’t made to be edited, they’re just made for you to print out and write on. I hope that helps! 🙂
Do you have any of these printable’s or even a video on year round chores?
The printables are in the post! You just have to fill them in yourself. Here’s another post that may help to give you more ideas, just click HERE.
I LOVE these sysytems! A couple of months ago, I was able to find and print off the summer bucket list and the zone cleaning. I am now having a hard time finding them. Is there somewhere else I should be looking?
Thank you!
We are working on updating those posts and getting NEW posts for those, as well as new printables! So keep checking back for those 🙂 BUT if you’re needing them now, you can find the zones printables HERE and HERE, and the bucket list printable HERE.
I would love to see a version of this for the rest of the year. I really like being able to see how my kids are doing during the week, rather than just a daily list that has to be erased for the next day. I also like that the PDF is writeable!
We have a school year clipboard printable that you can get HERE! Since it’s in a different format, it may be a little difficult to make it into one that you check off for the whole week. But I’ll put it down as a request and see what we can do! 🙂
Wanted to share… this works for iPad and iPhones. If you turn on “guided access” in your settings you can “lock” down an app to where your child cannot leave the app. You can even set a timer. The timer will go off and the app will stop working! Really great for the younger ones that like to call your boss and text your pastor faster than you can smash a taco!!! It’s really one of my favorite things about apple products!
Such a great Apple hack! Thanks for sharing!!