Take an active part in shifting your schedule.  When the final bell rings, you’ll have your kids with you for seven more hours every weekday. Filling that time with productive and educational activities while keeping things fun can be a tall order. So if you aren’t shipping your kids off to summer camp, here are some ideas for transitioning into summer.

Summer forces you to change not only your schedule, but to manage the schedules of each of your kids. Left to themselves, you can bet that they’ll find things to do (or more likely, things not to do).

So as summer begins, pick out a calendar and have a family meeting about things you want to do this summer. Get everyone involved – you might want help in the garden, your older kids might want swimming lessons and trips to the waterpark. Whatever you end up deciding on for your summer activities, put them down on the calendar, alongside any household responsibilities that need to be done. When your family can see your plans all blocked out, it helps them keep on task.

What are some of your big plans this summer?