I love summertime. Just thinking about the slower pace, evenings spent outside, camping trips, gardening, and ab-building laughter with friends puts a smile on my face. Looking back through my past blog posts, I’m reminded of how much has changed—three of our four children now have summer jobs! But some things remain the same. We still use these next 2 1/2 months to focus on education, character, and loving those around us. I want to share my summer goals from when my kids were young, as they grew, and now, today.
Check out “Shaping an Intentional Summers for Your Kids” podcast episode.
Summer Goals
A few years ago, the Holy Spirit led me to what became my summer Bible verse: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength (Mark 12:30).
- Heart – Character or heart issues
This involves addressing character or heart issues, guided by Ephesians 4:31-32:
“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” - Soul – Relationships with God
- Mind – Academics
- Strength – Taking care of our bodies
These four areas became the focus of our summer.
Preschool Summers Goals
Head, Soul, Mind: When the kids were in preschool, the five ABCJesusLovesMe Preschool Curricula guided our academic and Bible learning year-round. This provided “heart, soul, and mind” training at an age-appropriate level for each child. The kiddos also participated in chores around our home to grow servants’ hearts. See chores or cooking suggestions by age.
Strength: Although I hadn’t created the 100 Hour Outside Play Challenge yet, we spent as much time as possible outdoors. Besides biking, kicking balls, and playing in water for “strength” training, we took “mind” learning outside by reading under a tree, writing letters or drawing shapes with sidewalk chalk, and reciting memory verses while playing catch.
Elementary School Summer Goals
As my kids grew older, our summer goals evolved to match their changing interests and needs. Before summer began, I evaluated through prayer where we needed to focus and used the Summer Goals Printable to create a plan
Head: Chores produce character. Their contributions included making their beds, cleaning their rooms and bathrooms, picking up toys, doing laundry, and helping in the kitchen and garden. See chores suggestions by age.
Soul: We’ve used several different guides for our summer devotional times. Here are some of our favorites:
- Our Daily Bread for Kids Devotional
- Discover 4 Yourself Inductive Bible Studies
- Day by Day Kid’s Begin-to-Read or Kid’s Bible
Mind: Beyond reading together and individually, we used summer to work on math facts (e.g., addition, division) with XtraMath, as these are core to all basic and complex math problems. The kids also improved their keyboarding skills using DanceMatTyping for accuracy and speed. And finally, we worked on spelling with All About Spelling.
Strength: Our many hours playing outside provided ample opportunities for fine and gross motor development.
Teen Summers Goals
Now, with three of my four children working summer jobs, our approach to summer has shifted once again. Despite their busy schedules, we still find ways to make the most of these months.
Head & Soul: With their jobs, it’s important for my kids to learn how to balance work responsibilities with family, church, friends, and personal time with God. We have ongoing conversations about priorities, reminding them that their calendar reflects what they truly value.
Mind: Beyond reading and ACT prep, the only academic work the kids do during the summer is working through the Dave Ramsey Foundations in Personal Finance to learn money management skills.
Strength: Just as they are developing healthy habits in their personal quiet times, we also encourage them to exercise daily in a way they enjoy. This helps ensure they maintain a balanced and healthy lifestyle.
As summer unfolds, I’m reminded that each season brings its own unique opportunities for growth and connection. Whether my kids are little ones playing in the backyard or teenagers balancing jobs and responsibilities, our summer goals always center around nurturing their hearts, souls, minds, and bodies. It’s a beautiful journey of learning, character building, and loving those around us.
I hope sharing our summer goals from different stages of our family’s life inspires you to create your own meaningful plans. Embrace the slower pace, cherish the time with loved ones, and make the most of these precious months. Here’s to a summer filled with joy, growth, and unforgettable memories!
Get Your Free Summer Success Packet
Click to grab your own free copy of the Summer Success Goals and Schedule.
Read podcast transcript.
