10 Ways to Encourage Family Chores this Summer

Summertime is busy! No getting around it. We love traveling to visit family, the beach, and love getting outside to enjoy all things nature. But with the transition into a summertime routine, daily family involvement in chores can suffer. Here are several ways to help your family work together with family chores this summer!

Summer is in full swing for many of us. School is out and kids are finding their way into the summer routine. It’s a great time to talk about summertime chore schedules and practical life work for your kids.

This is our next edition to the 12 Months of Montessori Learning series. Find all the participating bloggers’ practical life post at the bottom of this post!

10 Ways to Encourage Family Chores this Summer

I hope this list gives you some inspiration, but don’t limit yourself! What can your family do for your community this summer? What about teaching your children something new that is on their practical life skill level. Here are 10 ideas to get the creative juices flowing!

1. Be the example. As always. We know kids watch us, so try your hand at learning a new way to clean more effectively or try speed cleaning!
2. Ask a spouse to pitch in more than usual. With the transition to a summer schedule it may be a good time for Dad or Mom to take time to help kids learn something new! Maybe Dad helps the kids learn how to clean the grill or Mom can work with kids on gardening.
3. Encourage clean up routines even when visiting family. This is a tough one. Help kids remember to clean up their dishes and make their bed even when they are visiting grandma this summer!
4. Encourage extended family to participate in chores. Ask grandma to teach the kids how to seal a deck or have a cousin help clean windows!
5. Focus on cleaning the car. If you are putting a lot of miles on the family vehicle, now is a great time to teach children how to take care of that amazing traveling machine!
6. Clean up while you are out. Throw trash away while eating out and (safely) pick up any litter you encounter while in parking lots. It’s a great way to keep your community clean and tidy.
7. Talk about litter clean up while on a hike or walking trail. Bring an extra bag on your walk for litter pickup.
8. Outdoor clean up. Summer is a great time to help children learn more about gardening. It’s also a great time for age appropriate children to learn lawn care and how to take care of bushes and trees.
9. Help a neighbor out! People are out and about this summer so lend a helping hand by mowing a neighbor’s lawn or help them haul off a load of trash.
10. Summertime is a great time of year to teach kids how to do the laundry. Summertime laundry loads are so much smaller as shorts and t-shirts are less bulky. Folding takes less time too. If your child knows how to work an iPad or smartphone they can learn to work a washer and dryer!

We would love to hear your summer chore plans in the comments below!

Raising Independent Kids – Practical Life Skills (Printables) | Natural Beach Living

Montessori Practical Life Ideas – Dressing Frames & Folding {Printables} | The Natural Homeschool

Favorite Montessori Practical Life Activities for Toddlers and Preschoolers | Living Montessori Now

Practical Life Skills – Recycling for Kids | Mama’s Happy Hive

Montessori Practical Life Checklist | Sugar, Spice & Glitter

Montessori-inspired Shark Themed Practical Life Activities | Every Star is Different

Practical Life for an Older Child | Grace and Green Pastures