Summer Family Connections Calendar - Creative Home Keeper

Draw closer as a family this summer with the June and July Family Connections Calendar and Scripture reading plan. Each month includes simple and easy ways to connect as a family as well as a Scripture plan to read aloud together.

The summer months bring fresh opportunities to connect with your family in meaningful and intentional ways. June & July ushers in plenty of activities with summer weather appearing and more time spent together as a family outdoors.

Each month, you will receive a calendar with thoughtful, yet intentional, activity ideas for your family that doesn’t require much preparation and are almost always free!

You can view January’s calendar here, February’s calendar here, March’s Calendar here, April’s Calendar here and May’s calendar here.

You will also receive a Scripture reading plan to read aloud one chapter from a specific book of the Bible together.

Let’s take a closer look at each of these calendars:

Family Activity Calendar

Included in the activity list are seasonal appropriate ideas as well as conversation starters to have at mealtimes.

These are simple and easy activities to do with your family no matter what season or stage you are in. They can also be adapted to meet the needs of your specific family.

Don’t have kids or are an empty nester? Connect with your spouse with some of these ideas!

Have itty bitty little ones? Older children or teens? There are plenty of ideas that appeal to all ages!

Are you single? Grab a friend or serve your neighbors and family with some of these ideas!

The best part of this calendar is that it is designed to help you and your family better connect this year. So whether you do 2 things off the list or all 31, the point is that you are being intentional!

How to Use

Print off the list and stick it on your refrigerator or place near your family command center. Go through the list today and pick at least 5 activities and schedule them on your family calendar.

Almost all of the ideas are free or require things you probably already have on hand in your home. Some do require a little bit of preparation and making room in your calendar but get your family on board to help with the planning!

You can also just pick and choose the activities that best fit into your family’s schedule and routine. Maybe this list even gives you some new ideas!

Make this connection calendar work for your family and watch how just a few simple activities can really draw your family closer together!

Family Scripture Reading Plan

Perhaps the best way you can connect as a family this year is to spend time reading the Bible together.

Last year one of my favorite books I read was a simple account of a mom starting the practice of reading aloud her Bible to her young kids.

Not a children’s Bible but the actual Word of God.

The results were profound and it seriously convicted me to read the Word aloud to my kids too. But sometimes the hardest part is knowing where to start.

This family reading plan makes it simple for you!

Each day you only have one chapter to read aloud. That’s it!

Five days of chronological Scripture reading with a selected Psalm or Proverb for the weekend and a built-in Grace Day because we all know life is unpredictable and busy!

How to Use

Print off the Family Scripture Plan and place in your family Bible, your Bible book basket, or somewhere you and your family will see every day.

Pray together as a family before you read the Bible aloud and then just read.

If your children are old enough, take turns reading aloud or you can even use the YouVersion Bible app to listen to Word if reading aloud is hard.

Both the Family Connections Calendar and Scripture Reading Plan are free to download when you sign up for the email list and then once a month, the new calendar will be delivered straight to your inbox!

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I pray these simple ideas and passages from the Bible help draw you and your family closer together this year as well as water those seeds of faith.

Here’s a peek at June & July’s calendars:

Summer Family Reading Plan

This summer, we will finish Joshua then head into the New Testament to spend time in Paul’s letters of 1 Corinthians through Ephesians on the weekdays with Psalms 23-31 on the weekends.

June Family Activities & Discussion Questions

Sit down together as a family to make a bucket list of activities each member wants to do during the summer months. You could create one family master plan, where each person has 2 to 3 activities represented or each member could create their own personal bucket list.
Spend about 30 minutes sitting down with your calendar making sure all activities from the bucket list are planned out and assigned dates. Don’t forget to include camps, vacations, pre-scheduled appointments, birthdays, weddings, or any other important events you have planned.
Make a super simple summer meal plan. This will save your sanity and save you lots of time. If your children are older, assign them dates when they are responsible for making meals. And give yourself grace to stock up on paper plates and use them on busy days.
To prepare for large library hauls, purchase inexpensive book totes for each member of the family. Decorate them with paint and markers to make them each personalized.
Head out to the library to pick up summer reading logs and to check out the first round of summer books. If you have a child who is old enough and hasn’t already done so, have them sign up for their first official library card.
Mealtime Discussion Question: What is your summer reading goal? How do you plan on reaching that goal? How can we help you?
Make homemade popsicles. Our super simple favorite go-to recipe is 1 large ripe banana (or 2 smaller ones), about 15 strawberries (fresh or frozen, or any berry you have on hand), 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract, and 1 TBSP lemon juice. Puree all together in a blender and pour into popsicle molds and freeze.
Write in one child’s memory journal or write a letter to a family member.
As a family, mow and take care of an elderly neighbor’s lawn or friend who can’t get out.
Plan a family day trip to a nearby local attraction.
Cool off and spend the day at the pool!
Pick out Father’s Day cards to mail to grandfathers, uncles, friends, or the men in your life.
Research nearby berry patches and go and pick berries together as a family. Freeze them for popsicles, smoothies, jams, or other delicious treats.
Mealtime Discussion Question: How can we show God’s love to our community this summer?
Host a family game night under the stars! Make sure to spray some bug repellent or diffuse an oil to keep those pesky bugs away.
Grill hamburgers, hotdogs, or favorite summer grill meal and then eat outside on the patio or on a picnic blanket.
For Father’s Day, treat dad to a day at the ballpark watching baseball, eating peanuts, and sipping ice cold lemonade.
Spend the day intentionally taking real-life photos to capture those precious everyday moments.
Visit the library to check out more summer fun books. Check their calendar and events page to add their free story hour or other family events, to your calendar.
Mealtime Discussion Question: What is your favorite summer memory so far?
In honor of the first day of summer, visit a local waterpark, new-to-you pool, or splash pad.
Take it inside on a hot day with a free game of bowling. Be sure to register at Kids Bowl Free.
Wash the family car, inside and out, then volunteer to wash a neighbor’s car too.
Serve together as a family in your church nursery, Sunday school classroom, on the hospitality committee, or wherever your church has a need.
Sign up to attend and/or volunteer to serve at your church’s VBS.
Mealtime Discussion Question: What have you been learning about in your personal Bible reading time?
Enjoy a day at the movies, find cheap family-friendly movies near you.
Write in one child’s memory journal or write a letter to a family member.
Head to the beach if you live near the shore. If you are inland, visit a local lake or river swim spot.
Sort through all the photos you took this month and print off the best ones to place in a photo album or digital photobooks like Chatbooks or Shutterfly.

July Family Activities & Discussion Questions

Review your summer bucket lists you created at the beginning of summer. Make sure activities are being crossed off and add some to your calendar to make sure you do them the last month of summer.
Visit the library to check out some Patriotically themed books in honor of Independence Day.
Write in one child’s memory journal or write a letter to a family member.
Reseach local firework displays. Pack a cooler, some lawn chairs, and head out to view them at dusk.
Mealtime Discussion Question: How are we free in Christ?
Invite a family, neighbor, or friends over for a BBQ and some yard games.
Make root beer floats. If you have an ice cream maker, make your own ice cream!
Explore a nearby local attraction together as a family day trip.
Take it inside on a hot day with a free game of bowling. Be sure to register at Kids Bowl Free.
Mealtime Discussion Question: What is your favorite book you have read so far this summer?
Build a slip-in-side in your backyard (Or buy one if you’re not into DIY project) 😉
Take a local train or bus ride to explore what your city as to offer.
Plan a summer date night with your spouse. Arrange for childcare and hit the town with your favorite person!
Spend the morning exploring your local Farmer’s Market. Load up on plenty of fresh and seasonal produce.
Serve together as a family in your church nursery, Sunday school classroom, on the hospitality committee, or wherever your church has a need.
Have a popsicle party outside and invite your neighbors over for a cool treat.
Have your children pick out cards or write letters to friends they haven’t seen since school got out.
Mealtime Discussion Question: How has God worked in your life so far this summer?
Have a pool day! Pack the cooler and spend the day soaking up some rays and dipping your toes in a cool pool.
Play a game of miniature golf together as a family.
As a family, mow and take care of an elderly neighbor’s lawn or friend who can’t get out.
Visit a local new-to-you pool, splash pad or waterpark.
Enjoy a day at the movies, find cheap family-friendly movies near you.
Catch lightning bugs in the yard in glass mason jars or bug catchers.
Mealtime Discussion Question: What is your favorite memory of the summer so far?
Enjoy a lazy day at home reading, crafting, or playing board games.
Make homemade Cherry Icees or visit your local Q-Trip for Slurpees.
Write in one child’s memory journal or write a letter to a family member.
Visit your local zoo.
Head to the library to turn in your summer reading log.
Sort through all the photos you took this month and print off the best ones to place in a photo album or digital photobooks like Chatbooks or Shutterfly.