SALT LAKE CITY — It's the paradox of summer. You want these months to feel laid back and easy, but with all the kids at home, they can quickly become chaotic, even stressful.
KSL Lifestyle Contributor Jenny Layton said you can have both structure and slowness. She said it's less about strict schedules and more about relaxed routines.
“If we let go of all the routines, it's like throwing the baby out with the bathwater,” Layton said. “We don't wanna do that.”
Everybody wants the freedom and flexibility that comes with summer, but without a plan, those free summer days get scattered and stressful. Layton shared three things that will set you up with a flexible structure and help you enjoy your summer days.
Grab & Go Summer Station
First on Layton's list is setting up a grab-and-go station. You might often find yourself running out the door and when you get to the pool, you've forgotten the sunscreen.
“Think ahead about some of the challenges that our family's going to have getting out the door,” she said.
Set up your station to have all the supplies you'd need for a summer day out. Here are some of Layton's suggestions:
Have an always-packed pool bag
Create a park bag with extra snacks, sunscreen and bubbles
Ask everyone to leave their shoes in a shoe basket
Stock your car with basics
“We don’t need to spend a lot of mental energy finding things or trying to remember everything,” she explained.
Start & End Your Day With “Anchors”
Instead of building out a full schedule, Layton suggested focusing on anchor points at the beginning and end of the day.
“If we can anchor down our days at key moments, then we can go have fun and enjoy our families without having the whole house turn upside down,” she emphasized.
Morning anchors can be as simple as getting the kitchen ready to go. One of Layton's favorite morning anchors is starting the day together as a family.
“The teenagers I might need to pull out of bed, the little kids may have been up for a little,” she said. “We'll get together… go over the day so everyone knows the schedule, and then the cherry on top is everyone starting breakfast about the same time.”
She explained that this helps lunch and dinner land at the same time for the whole family as well.
“Look for anchors like that at the beginning and the end of your day,” Layton said. “[They] are just going to help you eliminate some of the chaos and confusion that happens because everyone's just doing their own thing.”
Make a Summer “Yes List”
One of the biggest summer frustrations for parents can be saying “no” constantly. Whether it’s snacks, activities or screen time, setting boundaries is necessary, but the repetition gets exhausting. Layton said to create a “yes list.”
“Think ahead of time of what are some things that are going to make this a wonderful summer?” she said. “How can we be intentional and call it a yes list and tell everyone, ‘What are we gonna say yes to today?'”
Popsicles after lunch
Library days
Going to the pool
Camping
Cousins
Backyard dinners
She emphasized that those will be the things you really remember and love from your summer.
“I think you’re gonna do those things anyway,” she said. “But if you create that and with some intention, it means a lot more.”
Find more advice from Jenny Layton on Instagram, @jlthehappygal.
This story was adapted from a TV broadcast script using artificial intelligence. Every story, including those adapted with AI, is reviewed by a human editor before publication to ensure that KSL's editorial standards are upheld.
