Time flies when you are having fun, and the summer can slip by all too quickly if you don’t take advantage of the period when you can. If you’re worried about your kids being bored or not making the most of their time out of school, making plans and using creative ideas will keep them engaged and entertained.

But, keeping your kids from being idle doesn’t have to be a full-time job. Summers are for parents too, and the tips and tricks below can help you enjoy your time as well.

Where to Start – Vision Boards

Start by creating visual aids like calendars or vision boards with photos and words. Keeping a household calendar or poster is the easiest way to make sure everyone in the family knows what to expect today, next week, and for the rest of the summer. It’s also the best way to make sure you don’t double book! This can be one of the most exciting parts of the planning process. 

Talk to your spouse and kids about how to use the calendar and incorporate them into the decision process. Making decisions as a family is a bonding experience and makes the planning process more comfortable than formulating plans alone.

Set summer goals. If you want to have fun this summer, make it a goal! Setting objectives are the framework for efficiency, even when those objectives include smiles and laughs. Summer goals for the family can include:

• Trying a new hobby.
• Reading books.
• Learning a new skill.
• Knocking an item off your bucket list.
• Doing a DIY project.
• Take the kids to a new place.
• Spend more time outdoors.

Use your goals to plan the summer’s activities. You can set a small one for your time on your vacation, like catching up on a classic or trying a new dish in the in-suite kitchen. Vacation shares are the perfect place to do something new!

Goal-based summer planning is a sure-fire way to capitalize on your time with your family. By the season’s end, you and your family will feel like they made the most out of the summer!

Must-Do Events – Holidays & Celebrations

Although summertime is a time to be carefree, keep must-do events in mind when setting up activities. Weddings, birthdays, and anniversaries parties can mean travel, new outfits, gifts, and more. Make a list of the upcoming summer events to set time and tasks to prepare for them, such as packing or picking up supplies.

Using your timeshare resort for a special day or celebration week is fun and very memorable. Commemorating a milestone at a resort makes it memorable and lavish. It bumps it up while also giving you an affordable way to celebrate.

Combining your vacation share with a holiday is a two-for-one when it comes to expenses. It effectively merges your vacation and party budget while making the trip and holiday twice as exceptional!

Summer School Projects 

If your kids have summer reading lists or assignments to complete before the school year, set a deadline on the household calendar. Using your family’s annual vacation to the resort can be a significant marker, especially when you have a thrilling adventure ahead like a theme park or local attractions as motivation.

Vacations are excellent subjects for summer essays, and keeping a daily journal of each day’s activities helps kids keep track of what to write about. Kids can re-appreciate their adventures by recapping the day’s events before bedtime. If your kids are too hyper after a fun-filled day, it can calm them down and establish a routine.  

Create Plans on a Set Basis

Week to Week

It can be challenging to think of something to keep the kids entertained each and every week between work and other responsibilities. However, coming up with a list of ideas when you are rested and creative (or have time to do some research) and mapping them out in the weeks ahead will save you consistent frustration later.

Half the excitement of an activity is the anticipation before doing it. Your family will love looking at the household calendar of what to look forward to next.

Not all activities need to be big, epic vacations to resorts. Set small events like going for ice cream, having a family movie night, or playing a board game. You can also use these mini-events to encourage good behavior like rewards for keeping rooms clean, toys picked up, and chores completed.

Day to Day

If you want to make the most of your summer, plan out each day at your vacation share. Start with the big moments, like full-day trips to theme parks or stops to local attractions, then space out outings with activities at the resort and on-site amenities to keep your budget balanced.

If your family needs to wake up early in the morning, make sure to plan for the entertainment the night before to end early. Spend the evening watching movies, playing games, and catching up with one another in the living area.