Even though unplanned summer fun for kids and parents can be some of the best times, those precious, spontaneous moments are rare and hard to come by in reality. Families must coordinate multiple summer child care options around a set of vacation dates and activities to make the most of their time away from home while ensuring their children have a good time.
Planning Weekly
For a rough draft, print out a few blank calendar pages. Begin your summer planning with events that have specific dates. Add any vacations, summer camp, day trips, and holidays you already know. Include any work-related events, such as upcoming business trips or essential deadlines. Once you are done, you will know how many days or weeks you have available for trips and other events.
Identify Your Goals for the Summer
Set some summer goals now that you have a rough idea of your plans. Work or family commitments may also be the focus of your summer goals this year.
Professional goals can be anything from completing a complicated project to simply setting aside a certain number of hours per week for work. Day trips with the family or having fun with the kids while they are young might be on your list of family-related objectives.
It would be best if you also tried to limit the number of activities your children participate in daily. Kids benefit from having time to relax and engage in free play. Unstructured playtime allows children to release stress and learn about their world.
Perhaps you and your family already have a summer “bucket list” of things to do. If you do not have any ideas, you can look up, such as berry picking, local water parks, and nature walks. Alternatively, you could work on a particular skill the kids struggled with in school, such as math facts or how to tie a shoe. Summer may be the ideal time to take a more laid-back approach to these issues.
Find a Summer Camp for Your Children.
When securing child care, the earlier you plan, the more options you will have. Making the right choices for your family begins with planning your summer and establishing goals. You need to think about what kind of care is best for you and your family’s circumstances.
Parents frequently alternate between childcare options, such as sending their children to summer camp one week, leaving them with their grandparents the next, and returning them to their own homes or hiring a babysitter for the final week of the month.
Summer camps and babysitters fill up quickly in February and March, so do not wait until the end of the school year to get started on your summer plans. However, if you are starting late, do not give up.
Reorganize Your Work Schedule
Are any days or weeks unfilled because of your childcare options and your workload? Take a look at your work schedule if you have exhausted your options for affordable child care.
Cut back on hours or re-arrange your schedule to work nights and weekends as a next step. For the summer, your partner may be able to work out a more flexible schedule. Consider if a working vacation (where you work and the kids play) is an option. Both you and your children will enjoy a change of pace from spending the entire summer at home.
Organize Your Daily Routines
A few days of summer vacation with the kids are almost inevitable unless you enroll them in back-to-back day camp sessions. If you have to work, look for simple summer activities for kids to keep them entertained while you are there.
As you plan your days, keep in mind your goals. Flex time and vacation time can help you achieve your goals, but make sure to set aside time for fun. After all, the goal is to create lasting memories along the way.
Remember that making memories does not require a lot of effort. Sitting down with your children and playing with them can have significant benefits. Playing with you teaches them an infinite number of things.
As a result, consider painting, making a craft, or playing during your lunch break. Go to the library with your kids while you work at a nearby table. After dinner, you could play a board game, tag, or even a game of basketball with your kids.
Family bike rides on Sunday evenings are a great way to spend time together. A well-planned summer helps strengthen the bond between parents and their children and creates memories that will last a lifetime.
Kiddie Castle Children’s Center
Kiddie Castle Children’s Center in Bryan, Texas can help with all of your summer vacation needs! We offer daycare options that give children learning and play opportunities. Contact us today to learn more!
