Every year when we’re about to approach summer break, a familiar burden falls on my shoulders. Parents know this summer scenario too well: the dreaded unstructured free time characterized by excessive screen use, sibling fights, and the inevitable complaints of “I’m bored.” The guiding question for our summer plans often becomes: How can we steward this season without falling into unproductive idleness?
Our children may be tempted to kick back after a long year of hard work, which feels hard-earned and well-deserved. But without purposeful direction, our children can fall into idleness—characterized by laziness—that can lead to harmful habits, a turning inward (selfishness), and spiritual apathy. While many parents fight this by enrolling their children in summer programs, keeping children busy is not necessarily the solution. What if we filled that time with purpose that carries eternal value?
Summer is a prime opportunity for intentional discipleship since most students get a break from academic responsibilities. Consider helping your child grow spiritually this summer through these rhythms: rest, work, and play.
Rest Redefined (Sabbath)
During summer break, children may default to certain slothful habits disguised as rest. Movie marathons and endless screen time leave them more drained and unmotivated than before. The heart of rest is soul care—remembering God when our work ceases. If Jesus, the Son of God, withdrew from the crowds to a “quiet place” to pray (Mark 1:35), our children need that too. Beginning in the home, parents can help children swap idleness for intentional restorative habits that renew them.
One of the habits that has blossomed in our home is daily journaling. What started as a simple homeschool copywork task has turned into a spiritual discipline of interacting with God’s Word. Each day, my children read a devotional, copy Bible passages, and write reflections that we discuss during family worship.
Beyond journaling, there are other ways to weave Scripture and prayer into your children’s daily lives. You might try nature walks followed by prayer, or sitting in the yard to quietly take in the beauty of creation. Incorporate Bible verse copywork into their daily routine. Or perhaps you can initiate worship through playing and singing together. Many simple activities can help us reconnect with God.
What are some ways you can redefine current routines to have a spiritual focus? It’s never too late to teach new rhythms to your kids, especially if you’re learning together!
Purposeful Work (Service)
Summertime is a wonderful opportunity to shift the focus from academic studies to intentional spiritual work. We can teach our children to steward summer free time with a heart for God’s mission: sharing his love with our neighbor and pointing them to Jesus. This stewardship views time as a gift to invest for God’s purposes, not our own.
Parents, I encourage you to invite your children into this work this summer, whether at home, in the church, or in the community:
- At Home: Beyond helping with the household chores, perhaps you can ask them to assist with a family project. Encourage older children to serve their younger siblings by playing a game, baking together, or creating art.
- In Your Community: Start small by serving together at a local food pantry, visiting the elderly at an assisted living facility, or organizing a clothing and toy drive for a foster care agency. Inviting your neighbors over for a meal would be a large act of hospitality or simply writing thank-you cards to community helpers. Delivering them with baked goods would show appreciation.
- At Church: Encourage older children or teenagers to volunteer in the nursery, assist with the multimedia ministry, or help set up classrooms. Teens can volunteer in Vacation Bible School (VBS), or participate in short-term mission trips.
The apostle Paul calls believers to adopt Christ’s mindset of humility (Phil. 2:5). Teach your children to be servants of the Lord by focusing on others, avoiding a life that is shaped entirely by their own interests. God is honored with any act of love offered to him.
Intentional Play (Recreation)
Lastly, be grateful that summer grants us time to play. It’s a season to slow down and honor God by enjoying his creation. From toddlers chasing each other at the playground to adults engaging in recreational sports, we all hunger for connection through shared leisure activities. Play is a blessing that fosters connection. It brings people together and connects us with the Creator.
Too often, this blessing is overshadowed by our fast-paced, technology-driven lifestyle. Our kids tend to define slow moments as “boring,” missing out on the pleasure of real interactions and the wonder of the outdoors where God’s fingerprints are everywhere.
As a child, I didn’t learn to fully enjoy the outdoors, so now as a parent, I want my children to have this appreciation. When our kids were ready, we joined friends for our first tent camping trip. Living the ‘unplugged’ life—long conversations, learning basic survival skills, enjoying communal meals, cooking, and cleaning—provided true fellowship without our usual distractions. Best of all, we watched our kids connect with each other and enjoy God’s creation.
Let’s encourage our kids to put away devices for a period of time, and (re)discover the beauty of shared laughter, nature hikes, water fights, and lots of outdoor adventures! By returning to the simple things, we can appreciate God’s good gifts and the time to enjoy them this season.
Live as God’s Children
Let this summer be a season of spiritual growth for your family. Create space to refocus on God, serve others, and enjoy God’s gifts. Cultivating a balance of rest, work, and play allows us to embrace who we are in Christ: beloved children of God. God desires for us to enjoy him (rest). He gives us purpose (work). And he wants us to celebrate his goodness through leisure (play).
As God’s children, we don’t need to strive for the perfect summer break. These rhythms are meant to renew us, not burden us, so have a wonderful summer!
Looking for resources to help you disciple your family and lead devotionals with them this summer? Check out our Family Discipleship/Devotionals resource page for articles, podcasts, and books to help you set the spiritual tone for your family’s summer.
