Service to others is an important part of our spiritual lives in obedience to God.  Our service:

 •  Helps provide for the needs of others

 •  Gets our attention off of ourselves and onto others

 •  Can make us thankful for God's blessings to us.

 •  Offers an opportunity to learn new skills and explore career possibilities.

Some opportunities to serve include your church, support group, rescue mission, retirement home, meals on wheels, crisis pregnancy center, animal shelter, etc.

Working together as a family ensures that your children are safe and that the family shares a unifying goal.

 1.  You may have more time this summer to serve others (neighbors or church members who are elderly, busy, or physically challenged), as in visiting the sick, doing yard work, or cooking a meal.

 2.  The chores each of your family members do for the family as a whole can also be seen as service to others.

As home educators, we realize that learning can take place at any time and any place.

 •  Formally (in class) or informally (teachable moments / discussions)

 •  By an instructor (Mom, Dad, or others) or self taught through research

 •  In a class or out in the world around us

 •  Academic or life skills

 •  The basics or electives

 •  For credit or just for the joy of learning

 •  Through an institution (in classes or distance learning) or on your own

 •  Daily or Weekly Review

Just 5-10 minutes a day of review and practice of the basic skills of reading, writing, and math will prevent your children from forgetting all they know over the summer and needing extra time in the fall to catch up to where they left off in the spring.

Educational games can make this review more interesting.

 •  Learning with a Change of Pace

 •  Credit for "Summer School"

You might assign school credit for some of the fun, practical activities and skills your children do and learn during the summer.

 •  A Head Start on Next Year

You can also get a head start on next year's lessons by doing one class with all your children for six weeks during the summer-perhaps a science class with experiments and field trips.

Besides a good use of your time, this can provide your children with an interesting activity and give you more time during your school year for breaks or a more leisurely schedule.

Planning and scheduling does not mean that you will have to live according to an ultra-strict regimen.  This false fear can keep us from fulfilling God's purpose for our lives.

It does mean that we should consider and decide how we use our time – be master of it, rather than just let come what may and be subject to circumstances around us.

You need to make time to plan:

 •  A day or large block of time once a year for major, over all planning

 •  Several sessions during the summer for next school year's plans

 •  Weekly and daily plans

Planning and scheduling (making a time budget) helps you make good use of your time, do what you really want to do, and makes your life go more smoothly.

Steps included are explained further in Newsletters #80 and #81.  Also read online articles with practical suggestions: Time Management Skills.

 •  Purpose or mission statement

 •  Goals.  Personal Goal Setting. Find Direction; Live Your Life Your Way.

 •  Master to-do list.  To-Do Lists: The Key to Efficiency. Tackling the right tasks first – Prioritized To Do Lists.

 •  Master calendar

 •  Scheduling.   Planning to make the best use of your time - Effective Scheduling.

 •  This is a great time to re-evaluate (see survey in Newsletter #243) and plan for next school year.

 •  Determine life, and next year's, goals

 •  Set up your master to-do list and calendar

 •  Schedule classes and activities that will help meet your goals

 •  Choose and purchase curriculum

 •  Plan class arrangements

Relaxation and downtime are very important elements in our lives and time should be included in our schedule for:

 •  Relaxing, sitting, and visiting

 •  Playing

 •  Following individual interests or hobbies

 •  Doing something just for enjoyment

 •  Socializing (visiting with friends, attending or hosting social events)

 •  Physical activities (outdoor games, sports, walking, hiking, or exercising)

 •  Using a computer for leisure

 •  Reading for personal interest

Taking a break is important each day and each week throughout the year.

A variety in our schedule, or a change of pace, differs from taking a break, in that something done for a change can still be productive and yet provide refreshment just because it is different.

You can divide up your summer break and spread it throughout the year by following some adaptation of one of these year-round school schedules.

 •  A four-day school week; three days off.

 •  Three to six weeks of school; one week off.

 •  Eight or ten weeks of school; two weeks off.

Vacation days can be spaced out evenly, reserved for holidays or family vacations, or taken all at once in the summer or whatever season is preferred.

Summer affords more time for greater and more extended changes of pace.

There are so many things that can be done in summer better than at any other time of year, that we need to take advantage of them.

 •  Your Family

Time spent working, playing, learning, and worshiping together with your family brings you closer together and increases the opportunity for influence upon your children.

 •  Like-minded Families

Fellowship with like-minded, spiritual Christians for needed support and encouragement for the whole family.

 •  Teaching Social Skills

Teach your children social skills that include understanding others, communication, cooperation, managing conflict, leadership, and lovingly meeting the needs of others.

 •  Summer allows more time to spend with others, especially outdoors.

Note:  Always be sure to keep your young children within your sight and hearing when they play with other children.  Do not hesitate to schedule and limit playtimes and enforce your family's rules of conduct.

 •  Go over the rules of good manners and practice with a tea party, formal family dinner, or dinner with invited guests.

Adequate rest is essential for good health. It also helps your children to learn and behave better.

Although individuals vary in their need of sleep, the recommended amount of sleep for various age groups is as follows:

Read "How Much Sleep Do We Really Need?" by the National Sleep Foundation.

 •  Sleep is something that should remain constant throughout the year.

 •  Although your bed time and get-up time may vary, it is best and easiest to keep it nearly the same.