Learn how to have a summer camp at home!
You can have a summer camp at home and have all of the fun right in your own backyard!
Over the past few years, we have done this at home. It started because I had little ones at home and doing activities at home was a lot easier. With a little planning, you can have a summer camp at home too!
Try out the At-Home Summer Camp Kit with the FREE sample pack! Sign up here to get it!
How to Have Summer Camp at Home
Pick a weekly theme.
We have loved having a weekly theme. In the past, we have done Heroes of the Bible and this year we are doing a variety of themes using this kit. There are 24 different themes to choose from!
Do one activity a day.
Instead of packing a ton of activities into one day, pick one activity a day to do. This helps eliminate overwhelm and exhaustion. Our kids do not need every minute of summer planned.
A helpful thing is to be upfront with your kids at the start of summer. Tell them that you will have 1 planned activity a day. It will give everyone something fun to look forward to!
Head here to learn all about the At-Home Summer Camp Kit!
Include some screen time, free time, and reading time.
Screen time does not have to be a bad thing. I have found that telling my kids upfront when their screen time helps us have some structure in our days. It also eliminates the need for them to constantly beg for screen time. They already know it will be happening.
Free time is essential in summer. It is when they play with their toys, get creative, play in the sprinkler, and so on. If your child is not used to free time, it will take time but remain consistent. Soon you will see it is one of the best parts of the day!
Reading time is a daily part of our summer camp at home. Last year we started using a “Mom Shop” that was for reading time only. It became a hit! During their reading time, they could pick a snack from the “Mom Shop.”
Give yourself grace.
You do not have to follow any specific rules with this. Do what works best for your family! Everyone’s summer is going to look a little different and that is okay.
Check out the Kit!
This year I have put together an At-Home Summer Camp Kit with 24 weeks of themed activities! It also has a weekly family devotional. There are reading bingo cards, conversation cards, and tons of fun and simple activities. Everything is already planned for you and you can pick what themes you want to use this summer. Learn more here!
I agree — some structure with a lot of flexibility is a good summer plan.
This is awesome, Keri. I like that you have a “plan” but that you mention it’s okay to give yourself a little grace when things don’t go the way you want. It’s summer…no need to put too much pressure on yourself!
Love this idea! My girls are definitely going to need some structured activity this summer since camps are most likely canceled – thanks for sharing this!
This is amazing!! So creative!
Thanks so much!
So excited to get started on the Ocean week! I really like how there is 1 activity per day. That is totally doable for me!
Yay! I am so glad you are doing this!