Before this summer I just signed them up for the school’s camp for all the weeks except the weeks we were traveling for our summer vacation. It was fine. The kids tolerated it.
This summer we are doing something different because my 8 year old DS (only kid who needs care still) does not like the school’s care anymore and has a strong preference to not go there this summer.
So he will do 4-6 weeks at a local Rec summer camp, 1 week at a specialized outdoor camp where they rock climb and mountain bike and kayak and 1 week of overnight camp at the YMCA camp his sisters have went to the past few years.
My 11 year old DD will spend the summer at home with my 14 year old. They will mostly go to the neighborhood pool and babysit/mother’s helper. The 11 year old is doing a 2 week drama camp at a performing arts center and a week of overnight camp. And my 14 year old is doing 2 weeks of overnight camp. We will be in Japan for 2 weeks also. I think it still works out to what we used to pay for 3 in full time care even with all the pricey specialty camps.
Post by lolalolalola on Feb 21, 2020 11:51:05 GMT -5
We don't have any option of "all summer camp" . Our camp options are exclusively 1-2 weeks in duration.
We do travel quite a bit and usually take 3 weeks off in the summer. We would usually do separate week-long camps for the rest of the summer, across a number of different locations, and themes based on what each kid was interested in. It was a true pain in the ass to do it that way, and expensive, but my kids enjoyed (most ) of the camps and the variety.
I have friends who hire high school or college students to nanny their kids, which works out well for them.
As my DD's have gotten older, we have reduced the number of camps and they stay home alone for part of the summer. They are 12 &14 and this will be the first summer they are both home alone all summer with no camps.
The 14 year old is going to apply for some volunteering jobs at the local rec center so hopefully that works out.
My 7yo attends the summer camp run by his daycare, so it's very seamless to us. They do a lot of field trips, go swimming, etc.
Next year will be my first school aged kid summer (2021), between K and 1st for DD. Our daycare does a summer camp for school age kids and I'm really hoping she will be amenable so I can have her and her then-2 yo brother in the same drop off.
It doesn't sound like you had any resistance from your son to going "backward" to where he did daycare? That was the only part I was worried about her protesting. Ours does swim lessons, tennis, etc. with the school age kids, so it seems nice. And obviously we're comfortable with the program after sending 2 kids, and being there for 4 years at this point.
Not at all. Most of my son's friends are zoned for a different elementary, so he loves spending the day with the daycare buddies during school breaks. He has two great sets of friends as a result. They're in a school age room, take bus trips, and get to do so much more than the little kids, so I think he views it as a different thing than daycare. I think he will want to move on in 3rd or 4th grade, but definitely not now.
Basically it is all one camp and one family trip. My younger one has a compressed school year so he has an extra week where he's doing a shoulder camp program since most camps aren't open.
I plan summers loosely the August the year before because camps offer really deep discounts if you book 11 months in advance. I plan vacations around the best camp options.
My kids (12, 8, 4) will go to their grandparents 3 days a week. The other 2 days, I work from home half the day, so the first half (9-12) we are going to let them stay home alone. Our neighbors are all either teachers or retired, so lots of adults nearby in case something comes up. This is the first time we are doing this, so we will see how it goes. Having my nephew babysit is our back up option in case this doesn't work out.
Has your 12 year old taken an sort of sitting class? I'm sure a 12 year could stay home alone but a 12 + and 8 and 4 gives me pause. I would also google your local area rules if you haven't. While our area has no rules some do have minimum ages for sitters.
Mostly camps - we usually do four different camps with most offering different themes so DS will do two weeks of a certain camp. DS2 is four so there aren’t as many camp options so last summer he did extra swim lessons and gymnastics classes. DH will take some long weekends for camping. We usually do a 10 day trip in early August before school starts.
My kids (12, 8, 4) will go to their grandparents 3 days a week. The other 2 days, I work from home half the day, so the first half (9-12) we are going to let them stay home alone. Our neighbors are all either teachers or retired, so lots of adults nearby in case something comes up. This is the first time we are doing this, so we will see how it goes. Having my nephew babysit is our back up option in case this doesn't work out.
Has your 12 year old taken an sort of sitting class? I'm sure a 12 year could stay home alone but a 12 + and 8 and 4 gives me pause. I would also google your local area rules if you haven't. While our area has no rules some do have minimum ages for sitters.
She has. She did a class through the Y last year with some friends. I am comfortable with her keeping them for 3-3.5 hours, but I want to make sure SHE is comfortable which is why I have my nephew on standby. She keeps her sisters for a few hours at a time now, and it's always been fine, but this just seems more "official" - so we will see how it goes.
My kids (12, 8, 4) will go to their grandparents 3 days a week. The other 2 days, I work from home half the day, so the first half (9-12) we are going to let them stay home alone. Our neighbors are all either teachers or retired, so lots of adults nearby in case something comes up. This is the first time we are doing this, so we will see how it goes. Having my nephew babysit is our back up option in case this doesn't work out.
Has your 12 year old taken an sort of sitting class? I'm sure a 12 year could stay home alone but a 12 + and 8 and 4 gives me pause. I would also google your local area rules if you haven't. While our area has no rules some do have minimum ages for sitters.
The Red Cross babysitting certification class starts at age 11. My now 13 year old has been babysitting other people’s kids, including infants, since she was 11. When she was 11, she also stayed with her younger siblings who were 8 and 5 on occasion. I think this is likely kid dependent, but also even more so parent dependent on what they are comfortable with. My state doesn’t have rules, but their guideline is that children under 14 shouldn’t be left alone. That’s so far beyond ridiculous I can tell you that very few people actually follow it.
Has your 12 year old taken an sort of sitting class? I'm sure a 12 year could stay home alone but a 12 + and 8 and 4 gives me pause. I would also google your local area rules if you haven't. While our area has no rules some do have minimum ages for sitters.
The Red Cross babysitting certification class starts at age 11. My now 13 year old has been babysitting other people’s kids, including infants, since she was 11. When she was 11, she also stayed with her younger siblings who were 8 and 5 on occasion. I think this is likely kid dependent, but also even more so parent dependent on what they are comfortable with. My state doesn’t have rules, but their guideline is that children under 14 shouldn’t be left alone. That’s so far beyond ridiculous I can tell you that very few people actually follow it.
I admit that 14 to be alone is very conservative but I've seen states with rules/suggestion that you have to be 14 or 15 to watch another child even if they can be alone at a younger age like 10 or 12.
I haven't used a sitter under 14 myself. It is very child dependent I am sure but 12 feels young to me to watch a 4 year old. It doesn't mean it won't work it just gives me pause.
The Red Cross babysitting certification class starts at age 11. My now 13 year old has been babysitting other people’s kids, including infants, since she was 11. When she was 11, she also stayed with her younger siblings who were 8 and 5 on occasion. I think this is likely kid dependent, but also even more so parent dependent on what they are comfortable with. My state doesn’t have rules, but their guideline is that children under 14 shouldn’t be left alone. That’s so far beyond ridiculous I can tell you that very few people actually follow it.
I admit that 14 to be alone is very conservative but I've seen states with rules/suggestion that you have to be 14 or 15 to watch another child even if they can be alone at a younger age like 10 or 12.
I haven't used a sitter under 14 myself. It is very child dependent I am sure but 12 feels young to me to watch a 4 year old. It doesn't mean it won't work it just gives me pause.
My then 11 year old regularly babysat for my nieces who were ~6-12 months and 3. Honestly she was probably a better babysitter at 11 than she is now at close to 14 (and she’s still a good babysitter, but 11 year olds are probably more willing to play more if that makes sense). Now at 13 she regularly babysits for our neighbor’s 1 year old and has been for the past 8 months or so. She was 12 when she started watching that baby.
Post by cherry1111 on Feb 21, 2020 13:40:39 GMT -5
My son will go to summer camp where he attended daycare from birth to kinder. He still goes with me daily to pick up his sister so he’s very comfortable there. Not looking forward to paying for it but 1 drop off and pick up is soooooo nice.
Post by carolinagirl831 on Feb 21, 2020 14:22:57 GMT -5
Last year I sent my 6 yr old to the same camp and this year she expressed interest wanting a mix. I really prefer now to send them to camps. The camp she did last year does one activity/ field trip a day, swimming, park, $1 movie at the theatre, put putt, roller skating, gem mine, ect. It gave her so many different experiences! This year we are also going to do a few 1/2 day camps art and gymnastics and my parents will have them the rest of the day. She also will go with my parents to FL for a week and another week at home with the other grandparents. I think she’ll like a mix of it all
Post by cincodemayo on Feb 21, 2020 16:07:54 GMT -5
DS will go to the Extended care through the school district like he did last year. They do close two weeks before school starts and that is so annoying. This year my DH is going to take them on a trip one of those weeks.
We really liked the programming last year- at least one field trip a week (sometimes just a walking one to the local bakery etc), have tons of activities to choose from, options to pay a small amount for cooking class and the like. The problem is that DS just has such a hard time with shyness and gets terrible anxiety about not having his best friends there. I think this summer will be better because he knows more kids.
I am attempting to get DS into one day camp as well for kids who’s parent has cancer- it looks amazing and is free! I’ve heard wonderful things about this camp but once again DS will be so shy! I hate to add to his anxiety.
DD will go to her daycare, they also close 2 weeks prior to school starting. I’m not in love with their programming but it is what it is.
Post by sometimesrunner on Feb 21, 2020 16:33:24 GMT -5
We do a bunch of camps. I have a few friends with kids the same age as DS, so we arrange to send kids to the same camp. We have a ton of options here; zoo, children's museum, rec camp through the local university, city rec camps, etc.
Our daycare runs on the same schedule as the public school, so I have to find care for DS2 as well (he'll be almost 2 this summer). DS1 is 8. Last summer they both went to an in home daycare that DS1 used to go to for 3 days/week and to grandma's 2 days/week. We'll do a similar schedule this year. DS1 also did a soccer camp one week. I feel like it was so boring for DS1 though so I want to get him into more camps this summer.
My other complaint with camps around here is that most run from like 9-3.
Post by Patsy Baloney on Feb 21, 2020 17:05:28 GMT -5
My mom is our childcare provider and this is her favorite time of year, because they do EVERYTHING - go to the pool, movies, library, etc. and don't have to worry about any school work. But, DD is getting older, and we have a little baby again, so this summer will be a little different.
DD (will be 7 next week, omg!) will go to a total of 4 week-long camps throughout the summer - 2 through scouts, 1 at the zoo, 1 at the library. We have a few family long weekends planned over the summer, too, that will eat up some time. And then the rest of the time will be an at-Nana's-free-for-all.
DS (will be just over a year) will be with Nana, soaking up all the attention and air conditioning and splash pad life he can.
Question for you all. I have scratched bike camp off my list. But just thinking about it again. If you were to do it, would you send your child to a special needs bike camp (he has hearing loss and balance issues) or a pedal heads type camp? Special needs camp is only offered every 2 years. Pedal heads just opened up a closer location to us, but both are still pretty inconvenient location wise. Special needs camp is 75 minutes per day. Pedal Heads is 9-12 or 9-4, but all day biking for someone that cant bike seems like a lot.
He has done 2 REI bike riding classes, and still hasn't mastered the balance part.
Post by steamboat185 on Feb 21, 2020 19:16:03 GMT -5
My kiddo will be a rising 2nd grader and our current plan is 2 weeks of camp put on by her school (unfortunately they don’t announce this until April). One week visiting family, one week at overnight camp, 2 weeks at a local fitness club where she went last year for a bit, and a week of gymnastics camp. It’s sort of a mess. Thankfully we are are traveling for 3 weeks of the summer so we have less to fill than normal.
The Red Cross babysitting certification class starts at age 11. My now 13 year old has been babysitting other people’s kids, including infants, since she was 11. When she was 11, she also stayed with her younger siblings who were 8 and 5 on occasion. I think this is likely kid dependent, but also even more so parent dependent on what they are comfortable with. My state doesn’t have rules, but their guideline is that children under 14 shouldn’t be left alone. That’s so far beyond ridiculous I can tell you that very few people actually follow it.
I admit that 14 to be alone is very conservative but I've seen states with rules/suggestion that you have to be 14 or 15 to watch another child even if they can be alone at a younger age like 10 or 12.
I haven't used a sitter under 14 myself. It is very child dependent I am sure but 12 feels young to me to watch a 4 year old. It doesn't mean it won't work it just gives me pause.
Definitely kid dependent. When my middle was 4, she was a handful. There’s no way I would have left her with a 12 year old. But DD3 is super chill, and my girls all get along very well. DD2 is now 8 and she does a great job of listening to her sister when she’s in charge.
I’ll also say that I have a very low bar for expectations when I’m gone. Since it’s just mornings for 2 days, if the 4 year old and 8 year old ate snacks and watched cartoons the whole time, that would’ve just fine. They do have permission to go across the street to play with the neighbors (moms home) though. So I imagine they will spend a lot of time over there.
We’ve done different things. One year we hired an 18yo babysitter, last year she went to day camp through our local parks & rec. They went swimming twice a week and on a “big” field trip once a week (movies, bowling, water park, etc). She went those days and to my mom once a week and home with my husband once a week.
We’ve since moved. This year she’ll do a camp similar to last year’s but through her school district. She’ll likely go all 5 days. We may do one week of zoo camp the week between the end of school and the beginning of camp. We’re lucky that in a pinch, my husband can just take her to work with him.
Post by Shreddingbetty on Feb 21, 2020 23:20:05 GMT -5
My DD will be 10 in May. She’s been doing sports camp at the local university since kindergarten I believe (going into 1st) because most of the camps start at 9 and even tough I only work part time I start at 8. She loves it though because they do lots of different activities and a lot of her friends go too. It goes from 730-530 and she usually wants to stay 8-5 or 530 even if she doesn’t need to. 2 summers ago she started going to camp in France for 3 weeks, then travel with her dad for 10 days and then with me another 3-3.5 weeks to visit my friends and family in Europe. A lot of schools here start mid August so no more camps but she doesn’t start until after Labor Day so it works out well we’re gone all of August. We will be doing this schedule for the foreseeable future.
We mix it up (E will be 9 this summer). He'll have about 10 weeks of summer break.
2 weeks vacation to Alaska/Canada/Seattle. 1 week vacation to Yellowstone . 1 week sleep-away camp (about 2 hours away). 3 weeks of local themed-day camps [local rec center]. 2 weeks of local "regular after-care" [the place where he goes before and after school on occasion--it's drop-in] has a summer camp program and he likes going there. They have field trips and activities scheduled. We do that when I go back to work, 2 weeks before the school year starts. Maybe a week of vacation to see my parents. If not, then he can choose a day camp or Tae Kwon Do camp for that additional week.
Yes in our area there are 2 main camp choices that fit a working parent schedule and they don’t offer anything the 1st or last week of summer. Our rec center has some options to fill those gaps but DH and I just would alternate days off. Or we tended to use one of the weeks for a family vacation. We always did the whole summer with one camp and then 1-2 weeks at 1 other specialized camp. Last year DD went to an overnight STEM camp at our local university that was awesome. She can be shy at first so that is why I limit the number of new starts. This year she is a rising 7th grader and we aren’t 100% sure what we will do. We are definitely doing the STEM camp again but we are also going to allow her to stay home some portion of the summer.
My daughter always goes to a local theater camp for 6 weeks. that usually leaves another 3 weeks of summer break, but this year it is 4 weeks. One week we're taking a cruise and one week we're going to visit my mom. I'm not sure about the other two weeks. DH is always off on Thursdays and I'm always off on Fridays, so we just have Mon-Wed to worry about.
We do full time camps all summer through the YMCA. I’ve always thought about mixing it up with different camps or some babysitter time, but that makes things so much more complicated, and my kids are fine with the Y because there are tons of options. We already went through the catalog and planned each week - they’re doing stuff like water play, Star Wars, cooking, etc. The Y also has extended day care so camp doesn’t end at 3 pm like a lot of others. I’ll be on maternity leave this summer, so I thought about mixing it up and having them do some shorter camps from different providers, but ultimately decided ‘if it’s not broke, why fix it?’ So we’re sticking with the Y.
Post by redheadbaker on Feb 23, 2020 15:22:19 GMT -5
We choose one camp, and he attends 3 days a week. The remaining two days a week (as well as the weeks between when school ends and camp begins), he spends at my parents' house -- my mom is retired.
Post by secretagent on Feb 23, 2020 21:42:44 GMT -5
My elementary kids do camp at the Y with aftercare and my daycare kids stay at daycare. Summer stinks for parents without flexibility schedules IMO. Daycare only closed for a couple of days but there’s no camp the last two weeks of summer for us so we piece meal it with a trip to see family, and sometimes grandparents visit, or we get a sitter. $$$$$.
We do YMCA camps but they are weekly and there are a variety of different themes to choose from each week. You can reserve them with a small deposit in March if you are a member (and also get a discount). I try to have our summer plans figured out so I can know if I can skip a week or two, but if we are unsure, I usually just sign up for all of the weeks and pay the deposit. Camp fees are due a week ahead of time, each week. I’ve done this at 3 different Ys in our county with two of our kids over the past decade and 2/3 have put on amazing camps and are very well organized (and long enough for working parents). Most of the camps go on field trips. I joke I wish I could go to camp. They didn’t have options like this when I was a kid and our city has tons of stuff for kids to do. Examples of camps are explorers who go on a different field trip each day, cooking camp, Pokémon camp, minecraft camp, sports camp, water sports camp, etc. They have them every week that school isn’t open (only closed on 4th of July if it’s a weekday with camp the other 4 days and also some random days off during the school year).
ETA: I’ve debated about flying in a teenage relative and we’ll try to get in on 4 weeks of free summer care through the school district, but it’s a lottery, so I’ll sign up for the Y camps just in case.
I SAH so don't need camps (except for my sanity, lol) but we do a mix. She has 11 weeks off.
Three Girl Scout camps (total of three and a half weeks with two nights being sleepover!!) One county camp (for K-3rd grade) for a week (unless I decide on one more)
The county camp is great because it's relatively cheap and goes from 7-5:30 if we wanted to utilize the entire time. GS camps are great because it's outside and she learns a lot.
She'll also go to my mom's house (15 mins away) for a couple sleepovers. And we are taking a one week vacation in there.