Summer Child Care Tips and Activities

It’s only March, but summer seems like it’s approaching especially fast this year. And while “school’s out for the summer” is music to any kid’s ears, for parents seeking summer child care, it can be a little more complicated.

Katie Bugbee of Care.com, along with a number of other childcare experts, joined us in The Motherhood this afternoon to talk about the best ideas for free summer fun, how to start nanny co-ops, planning for summer child care and more.

Here are their 11 best ideas for keeping kids “healthily and happily occupied,” as Elizabeth of Poshbrood said, this summer:

1.) Hire a tween to help out. “Have you tried hiring a tween as a mother’s helper? Cheaper than off-site care…” recommended Cari, a certified family manager.  On the flip side, if you have a tween, consider setting up an opportunity for him/her as a mother’s helper at one of your friend’s homes. “She gets some low-cost help, while you get some peace of mind. Your child gets work experience and companionship,” added Cari.

Katie of Care.com provided tips for hiring a summer sitter.

2.) Have an ice cream night. “My kids will ask every single night if we can walk to town to get ice cream. Which would be really fun but not affordable and it makes it a lot less special. So I like doing a Friday ice cream night,” suggested Kelcey, Mama Bird Diaries.

3.) Allow ample downtime. “Love the idea of letting the kids plan a day! My older girls would have a blast with that!” said Mandi, Life Your Way.

“I don’t think everyone needs to be on ALL the time – let them get bored, let them play pretend, let them sit and draw. Downtime is when kids can really get creative!” added mkelly.

4.) Pick the right camp for your kids. “Parents often ask me about traditional vs specialty focused camps. I recommend tradition first, where kids are supervised by the same counselors and exposed to a variety of activities, helping forge friendships and more. Progressive choice and specialization can follow if appropriate,” advised Jill, Everything Summer.

5.) Start a ‘Nanny Camp Co-op.’ “The idea is that [your nanny] partners with other nannies of the kids your kids love… and each one plans one day a week. And makes a whole lesson plan around it. Whether it’s catching frogs in a creek or going to the beach,” said Katie of Care.com.

6.) Take an inexpensive family vacation. “We go camping every year. I feel like it’s a must do because The Dudes love it and it’s pretty inexpensive once you have the gear,” said Amanda, Parenting by Dummies.

Mandi of Life Your Way suggested hitting the beach, and Brandie pointed out, “Staying local is a way to save money. See if there is a program in your area to buy like a mega-pass that will get you into lots of different places at a reduced rate. See what trips your local park district has. Etc, etc.”

7.) Assign chores. “I know it’s not nearly as fun as camps or activities — or even free play — but summer can be a great time to teach kids to cook, to help them learn a new chore, etc,” said Mandi of Life Your Way.

8.) Get outside. “We go to a local park with sprinklers and pack a picnic,” said Elizabeth of Poshbrood, and Kelcey of Mama Bird Diaries plans to “start and grow a vegetable garden” with her kids this summer.

9.) Be creative with rainy-day activities. “Outdoor plans get rained out? Roast mini-marshmallows together over a candle with wooden toothpicks (soak the picks in water first, and use a stable candle in a safe area),” suggested Cari, certified family manager.

10.) Check out local workshops. “We created a whole list of free – and semi-free – activities for the summer. Things you know like the library, local farms, etc. But also places like Michael’s craft store and Home Depot have really cheap workshops for kids,” said Katie of Care.com.

11.) Share childcare duties with friends. “Depending on your needs – full-time care or part-time – swapping with another family is a great way to find free, quality care. This is especially good for work-at-home moms,” recommended Mandi of Life Your Way.

Start planning now, and you and your kids will all enjoy your summer together!  Have fun!