What are you doing this summer?

At the end of a busy school year, it’s easy to daydream about a freewheeling summer.

Lazy mornings, endless afternoons in the sun, staying up late to do absolutely whatever you want — what could go wrong?

Summer should be a time to relax and recharge. But in time, having no routine or zero expectations can become stressful in its own way. The long weeks of summer might seem to go on forever, and without things to do or a schedule, it’s easy to feel bored.

Families can take several steps to make their own successful summer schedule. Research shows kids thrive with routine, and consistent expectations help them feel safe and even develop self-discipline and independence.

Sit down as a family and make a plan for your summer. What time should everyone wake up? Go to sleep? When’s lunch, and who’s in charge of making it? Scheduling wake-up and bed times and meal times can go a long way in setting kids up for a positive and productive summer.

Don’t let the end of the school year mean kids’ quit flexing their brains. There are lots of fun things to do that encourage complex thinking and provide opportunities for kids to practice skills they’ve built at school.

Prevent students from losing their hard-earned academic skills over the summer by trying activities like going on a nature scavenger hunt to find native plants and animals, measuring ingredients for homemade ice cream, or engineering a super tall tower of Legos.

And when those bored afternoons do roll around, be ready. An easy fix is to have a handy list of activities kids can do at home when they just can’t think of anything to do. Invite your child to make their own “I’m bored” list below.

My ‘I’m bored’ List

Fill this list with fun activities you can do whenever you feel bored this summer. Put it somewhere you’ll see it often, like on the fridge.

Think: What are your favorite things to do inside your home? Outside in your neighborhood? By the end of summer, what do you want to have accomplished?