Summer mode: kid chores, screen time, and work / family balance

The last day of school always comes with equal amounts JOY (!) and PANIC for me. What will my kids do while I work from home? How will we manage screen time so they don’t fry their brains on YouTube Kids all day? How will we encourage outside time, active play, and summer reading while I have Zoom calls and deadlines to meet? How can we keep some sort of rhythm and structure to our days while still enjoying ALL the fun, making amazing memories, and relaxing?

(As I’m typing this, a child is standing behind me in my office asking if we will “do anything today.”) 🫠