I don’t want to scare you but the countdown is on for summer. For most full time working moms, this stems the giant question, what the heck are we gonna do with the kids all summer? Since most occupations don’t come with a built in summer break, we have to plan for our kids to be cared for and hopefully have a lot of fun while we remain in our normal work routine.
For your own sanity, I hope you have already thought through this and have a plan. But if you haven’t, or if you are still needing to iron out the details, here are five tips on how to finalize a routine so you can breathe a bit easier this summer.
1. Camps! Instead of listing a bunch out, I came across this site that has done the leg work. Most camps I looked into still have openings so if you have been a bit of a procrastinator, you might still be in good shape!
Tips on what to ask when it comes to summer camps:
- What is the cancellation policy? The camp I chose this summer allows you to edit/cancel a week in advance. And if they are sick, there is flexibility around reimbursement for that too. I can breathe easy knowing that if something changes, I am not out all that money.
- (If swimming is involved)- Is there a swim test? Life guard?
- Are there options for partial weeks versus full weeks? Lots of camps offer only 5 days. Part time working moms or stay at home moms who need some relief, you may need to utilize camps that offer half days or just a couple of days a week.
- What will the kids do? You probably want a camp that will keep the kids busy, safe, building relationships and learning new and fun skills.
- What is the staff ratio to kids? My daughter will still be five until half way into summer so this one is especially important to me since I still get a bit nervous about her going to an all day camp.
2. Call in the village. If you are lucky enough to have retired parents living close by, ask if they would be interested in helping out this summer. Even if it’s just to pick the kids up from camp sometimes or maybe even take them a whole day once a week. If your family is not close in vicinity, maybe your kids are old enough to spend a whole week (or more?!) away with them.
3. Save money with a babysitter/nanny share. After you call on your village for possible help, try coordinating a babysitter/nanny share with another family. One week, all the kids at your house and the next at the friend’s house. Typically, this will run you less than many camps if you have multiple kids.
4. Take some vacation for yourself– Get your vacation days approved now to ensure you get some quality time with the kiddos during their summer break.
5. Coordinate with your spouse– Beyond just drop off/pick up schedules. Maybe your spouse picks a couple of days and you pick another couple of days to take vacation time from work. This helps to save a bit on babysitter/camp costs and also gives your kids the chance to just stay home and chill.
We’d love to hear any tips you have as well!
RELATED:
A Working Mom’s Dilemma: What Do I Do with the Kids in the Summer?
The Working Mom’s Guide to Planning Summer Childcare
Free or Practially Free Summer Ideas {2019}
50 Fun and Frugal Ideas to Banish Summer Boredom
Read more of Stephanie’s contributions to allmomdoes here.
