Summer is a wonderful time for families. The pace often slows down, schedules become more flexible, and there are opportunities for more connection and fun.
At the same time, summer can bring its own challenges. Without the structure of school, children may become bored, spend excessive time on screens, argue more with siblings, or push limits in ways that leave parents feeling frustrated.
The good news is that you don’t need a completely different parenting strategy for summer. Positive Discipline offers practical tools that can help families create a summer filled with connection, cooperation, and enjoyment.
1. Hold Weekly Family Meetings
Summer schedules can change from week to week. Family Meetings are a simple way to keep everyone informed, involved, and connected.
A weekly Family Meeting gives family members an opportunity to:
- Plan activities and outings
- Coordinate schedules
- Solve problems together
- Discuss household responsibilities
- Express appreciation for one another
Children are much more likely to cooperate when they feel included in decisions that affect them.
Summer is also the perfect time to let children help plan adventures, whether it’s a trip to the beach, a family game night, a camping excursion, or simply deciding what’s for dinner one night each week.
When children have a voice, they develop a sense of belonging and significance—and that’s one of the primary goals of Positive Discipline.
2. Schedule Special Time
Many parents say, “I already spend plenty of time with my children.”
But Special Time is different.
Special Time is intentional. It is planned in advance. It goes on the calendar.
In fact, your Family Meeting is the perfect time to schedule Special Time for the coming week.
Special Time doesn’t have to be elaborate or expensive. It could be:
- Going for ice cream together
- Taking a bike ride
- Playing a board game
- Going to the park
- Getting breakfast together
- Shooting hoops in the driveway
What makes it special is that it is dedicated, uninterrupted time focused on your child.
When children know they have Special Time to look forward to, they often feel more connected and less likely to seek attention through misbehavior.
The message is powerful:
“You matter to me, and spending time with you is important enough to put on the calendar.”
3. Create a Screen-Free Block of Time
Summer often means more free time—and more opportunities for screens to fill every available moment.
Rather than constantly monitoring minutes and negotiating limits, consider creating a daily Screen-Free Block.
Years ago, our family experimented with turning off all screens for two hours each evening.
At first, my teenage son wasn’t convinced. When 6:00 p.m. arrived and the screens went off, he looked at me and asked:
“So now what do we do?”
It turned out that was exactly the right question.
We took the dog for a walk. We played cards. We laughed through a game of Pictionary. My son showed us card tricks. My daughter read a book. I picked up my guitar for the first time in months.
Something surprising happened. Once the screens disappeared, we naturally started connecting with one another.
The goal isn’t to squeeze every possible second out of screen time before the cutoff. The goal is to create space for other experiences—conversations, creativity, movement, relaxation, and family connection.
Many families discover that they enjoy the Screen-Free Block as much as their children do.
4. Decide What You Will Do
Summer can easily become a season of power struggles:
“When are we leaving?”
“Can I have more screen time?”
“I don’t want to do my chores.”
Positive Discipline encourages parents to focus on what they will do rather than trying to control what children will do.
Instead of arguing, plan ahead and communicate your decisions with kindness and firmness.
For example:
- “When the table is set, I will serve dinner.”
- “When chores are finished, I will be available to drive you to your friend’s house.”
- “I will get out more toys as soon as the toys in the family room are picked up and put away.”
- “I have to finish this project for work, and I am really looking forward to our special time later today.”
Notice that these statements are not threats or punishments.
They simply describe what you will do.
Children learn responsibility when parents follow through consistently with kindness and respect.
5. Create Summer Routines
Many families think routines are only useful during the school year.
Actually, summer routines can be even more important.
Children thrive when they know what to expect.
Younger children often enjoy helping create Routine Charts with pictures and drawings.
Older children can participate in designing routines that balance responsibilities, recreation, and personal freedom.
When children help create routines, parents spend less time reminding, nagging, and negotiating.
The routine becomes the boss.
A Summer to Remember
The most memorable parts of childhood are rarely the expensive vacations or elaborate plans.
More often, children remember feeling connected.
They remember family traditions, inside jokes, evening walks, game nights, and moments when they felt seen and valued.
Family Meetings, Special Time, Screen-Free Time, Deciding What You Will Do, and Routines are simple tools that help create those moments.
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