How to Survive Summer Holidays at Home With Kids (Without Losing Your Mind)
The holidays are a wonderful time for a mommy to connect with her kids. You're not in your usual stressful position of carpooling, keeping up with school to-dos, packing lunches and snacks, and assisting with homework. Your kids too are finally free from hours at school, homework, and extracurricular activities. Summer becomes a beautiful time to refocus on your family life and reconnect with each other.
And then reality hits.
Maybe your short getaway is over, and you've tried all the summer activities you can afford. Then there you are. Stuck at home. With the kids. And summer is not yet over.
The lack of routine and structure is making your kids bored and making you feel like each day is a mission. The house gets messier by the hour, and you can't seem to get out of the kitchen. You're a watchful mommy, so you don't want your kids on their devices or watching TV all day long, yet it's the only time you get a breather from the constant "Mama...!" (you know the one).
So you're caught between the guilt of raising your kids well and the very real need to keep your sanity. Your usual restrictions on screen time become somewhat lax, and now, on top of feeling overwhelmed, you also feel like a terrible mom for giving in.
My dear fellow mom, you are not alone. Most mothers are going through the exact same thing during summer. Unless, of course, you're one of the blessed moms on a long, well-deserved vacation, mashallah! Or maybe you have family to visit, mild weather, or a well-budgeted summer that lets you take the kids places. As for the rest of us, and I am firmly in this camp, we're pretty much at home with the kids most of the long hot days of summer.
I feel you. I have six kids, so trust me when I say I really relate. Don't feel glum. Get up, dust yourself off, and pat yourself on the back, because you've got this, Mom. Firstly, lower your expectations and breathe. Make the best of a tough situation and let's survive this summer together. Here's what keeps my head above water.
How I Survive Holidays With Kids
1. I remind myself it's a temporary situation. There are only a few weeks left, so I look to the future rather than staying stuck in the frustration of the present. This too shall pass, alhamdulillah.
2. I remember that the last stretch of summer takes care of itself. The last week or two always gets busy with school supply shopping and prepping, so we're occupied anyway. The end is closer than it feels.
3. I take full advantage of our community pool. Swimming tires kids out like nothing else, and it gets everyone out of the house. If you don't have a community pool, find your nearest recreation center—family swim sessions are usually very affordable. A tired child is a peaceful child.
4. I let my kids experiment in the kitchen. I give them free rein to find a recipe on Pinterest or YouTube and make it themselves. Yes, it's a messy kitchen to deal with, but the rule is you cook it, you clean it. And honestly, even if they don't clean it the way you'd like (which is basically always), it's still better than bored, nagging kids. Plus, you get to eat something you didn't have to make. Win-win!
5. I encourage them to redecorate their bedroom. With DIY ideas from stuff already in the house, plus a Dollar Tree run for cheap supplies, an older child can be happily occupied for an entire afternoon. Pinterest saves the day again!
6. I push my kids into workout routines. My boys do push-ups, lift dumbbells, and run up and down the stairs. My girls jump rope and bounce on the trampoline. If you set up a challenge with a small prize for the most laps or push-ups, you will be amazed at how motivated kids get. Bonus: they sleep better at night too!
7. We have quiz and riddle tournaments. We find riddles online, give points for the correct or closest answer, and end up in fits of laughter every single time. After the riddles, we move on to quizzes of the human body, Islamic history, and geography—it always sparks the best conversations. This one costs nothing but creates beautiful memories.
8. We bring out the board games, but not the same old ones. We research new games or let the older kids pool their spending money to buy something new. They look after it so much better when they've contributed to it. With more complex games that take longer to finish, kids stay engaged, and you get some peace of mind.
9. We do living room sleepovers. All the kids sleep in one room or on the living room floor in their sleeping bags, tell stories, and use glow sticks and a star projection light on the ceiling. It costs almost nothing, and they absolutely love this.
10. We use the library smartly. Not just to borrow books, but to attend the free kids' programs many branches run during summer. I research what's available in advance so it's one less thing to think about on the day. And there is something about sitting in the children's section of a library that makes even reluctant readers want to pick up a book.
11. We go window shopping in the cool evenings or grab a cheap ice cream in the afternoon. A change of scenery does wonders for everyone's mood, even if you're not spending much. A picnic at the park when it's not too hot is another easy one.
12. On rainy days, we watch short educational videos and then try to make whatever we just learned. Crafty DIY videos are great for this. My son once spent an entire rainy afternoon building a homemade chess set from screws and wood he found in the garage, all from a YouTube video.
13. When all else fails, I allow devices, but with conditions. My kids have a list of things they need to accomplish before they get their screen time. It removes my guilt and teaches them that leisure is something you earn. I also ask them to balance device time with reading a good book.
14. And last but never least, make dua. Ask Al Waliy, the best of Helpers, to make our difficulties easy and put barakah in our days. No summer survival plan is complete without turning to Allah SWT.
"And whoever relies upon Allah — then He is sufficient for him." (Quran 65:3)
These are the ideas that have genuinely helped me keep my sanity through many summers with my kids. I'd love to hear yours, so share your thoughts in the comments below.
O Allah, put barakah in our time and in our homes. Ameen.
Salam, I’m Zakeeya!
A Muslim wife, mother of six, author, and mentor dedicated to helping Muslimas find peace, purpose, and barakah in their everyday lives. Since 2011, I've been sharing practical Islamic guidance on wifehood, motherhood, homemaking, and spirituality to help women like you navigate life's challenges with more faith and less overwhelm. If this post resonated with you, I'd love to have you join our community and say salam, grab free Islamic resources in the Member Vault, and explore my books, journals, and mentoring—visit my About Page. May Allah bless your journey! 🤍
