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!

clipboard with printable summer chore checklist, from Fun Cheap or Free

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

summer chore chart, from Fun Cheap or Free

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

clipboard with summer checklist, from Fun Cheap or Free

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

sisters sitting on a dock with feet in the water, from Fun Cheap or Free

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.

Image that reads "summer systems: chore checklists, zones and free printable", from Fun Cheap or Free

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?!

Enjoy!

Jordan F. Page signature, from Fun Cheap or Free