Ah, summer. The bonfires, fireworks, and cookouts are what we remember most, but let’s be honest—the fun doesn’t just happen. Behind every beach day and late-night s’mores session is a parent running a balancing act of kids’ camp schedules, swim lessons, and chill time. If you’re feeling like a full-time rideshare driver, you’re not alone! Here’s how to have a fintastic season—without burning out.

Think Outside the Lunch Box

It’s easy to stay in school-year mode and pack lunches like clockwork for camp. But summer is the perfect time to break the routine and give kids some ownership over their day. Try this: once a week, let them choose their lunch—anything that can be packed or prepped ahead. Unless it truly can’t be done without a personal chef, say yes! This small bit of freedom adds joy and breaks up the monotony.

Throw In the Towel

Balancing swim days with safety and relaxation is tricky. It might be tempting to multitask poolside or answer emails while the kids splash around. But when water is involved, your full attention matters—even with lifeguards present. So throw in the towel and jump in! Be the o-fish-al water watcher and make memories that won’t include you scrolling your phone.

Managing a busy summer schedule can be a lot. We have tips to help make this summer swimsational!

Listen to the Backseat Drivers

Managing a busy summer activity schedule often means hours in the car. Instead of relying on screens, turn drive time into quality time with these fun car games for kids:

  1. Give me directions to… Challenge one of your children to give you turn-by-turn directions to a familiar location. You’ll be amazed how well they will do! (You can have the kids each take a day if more than one wants to try!)
  2. Find the landmarks… Challenge your kids to tell you how to know when to turn based on what they see. As you are turning to go to camp, have them each notice something that they can keep track of for the ‘Give me directions’ game. Each day on the route see if they can guess the next landmark before it comes into view.
  3. Spot the strange… Ask your kids to find the strangest, funniest, silliest thing they can on the drive as a team. It might be something they see, hear, or even smell! Once the oddity is announced, dive in with a short made-up story about the goofy discovery.

Final Splash

Making the most of summer doesn’t mean filling every second. It’s about creating space for connection, building routines that work for you, and letting the little moments shine. Whether you’re navigating the camp-swim-chill shuffle or just trying to keep it together in the car, a few simple tweaks can turn chaos into calm.