little girl doing housework in room

Daily Summer Checklist Template and Free Printable

Many schools are already out for summer; lucky you! We are on our last week in Charlotte, NC. Summer means a lot of fun and probably some sleeping in. And while we want our kids to have fun and enjoy their summer, we also want them to retain at least some of what they learned in school and to be productive here and there. It’s good for them to know that while you can enjoy downtime, there are still responsibilities. This is where a summer checklist can help.

BTW – if you’re reading this and it’s July or August, no worries. Just give your kid a heads up that it’s being implemented a day or two before you start, and hand them the clipboard on your chosen morning.

fStock Photo with two little boys with their backs to the camera and watching TV. The older boy has his arm around the younger one.

I am not the best schedule enforcer, especially since her little brother requires so much hands-on attention. It can be the afternoon before my daughter gets anything done. Thus, I created a printed task sheet that she is responsible for many days over the summer. The weekends are still lenient, especially if we go to church, and I don’t expect much when visiting my parents at the lake. Most days at home, however, we use this sheet. And I thought I should share it with you since this works well for me.

First, give your kid a heads-up that you’ll use this over the summer so they don’t feel taken off guard. After that, simply hand over the sheet, and they are responsible for checking off the items before they can have screen time or go out to play. So, when they come to you asking to go out and play or have screen time, you have just one question to ask, not ten. To keep this list going all summer, I use it with self-adhesive laminating sheets from Amazon. I put the laminated sheet on a clipboard with a dry-erase marker (you can get both from the dollar store) and viola! They are responsible for their own time.

Alright, enough backstory. Let’s get to the sheets. There are 3 easy templates so you can choose the best option for you.

1. An Example – Our Summer Checklist Template

I wanted to show my daughter’s responsibility sheet, and I’ll explain some of the tasks. She is in Spanish Immersion school and has Spanish magazines to read. Adrian is her little brother, and I need her to play with him for a little bit so I can get a few things done. Don’t worry, she loves playing with him most days, so it’s not too much of a chore. COTD is Chore Of The Day. This is something simple like dusting or letting Tzu (our dog) out to potty.

Any other questions about this sheet? Shoot me an email (kstrickland704@gmail.com) or comment on this post.

A photo of an example of my daughter's daily summer checklist

2. Free Customizable Summer Checklist Template

Want to customize your tasks? Click the button below where you can customize your printable.

A photo of the customizable download of the daily summer checklist template.

Tips and Notes:

  • You can purchase math workbooks online, and they are often categorized by grade. 
  • Insert your Pet’s name (our dog’s name is Tzu. Yes, he’s a Shih Tzu LOL)
  • Keira has an item to play with Adrian. Adrian is her little brother, and they love playing together. But this is an item on her to-do list because I need her to play with him for a little bit while I get some work done. Just 15-30 minutes helps me out so much, and it gives him someone else to play with besides me all the time!
  • If your child doesn’t yet read or needs a visual, simply click the “elements” tab on the left and search for graphics. Here’s an example of what that might look like:
A photo of the printable with icons on the task, like beside eat breakfast, there is an icon with pancakes.

3. Print and Write Blank Summer Checklist Template

If you’re thinking, I ain’t got time for that! No worries. Just print this version and write in your tasks as you wish.

I hope one of these summer checklists helps you keep the learning and responsibility momentum going for your kids, at least a little bit. Don’t worry too much about checking off all the things every day. Give yourself, and your kid, some grace and use it as a framework. They will be happy, and you will be happy. And that is a parenting win.

What chore is missing from the sheet that I should add? What’s your Pet’s funny name? I’d love to know!

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