Finding Summer Daycare
Our kiddos’ summer vacation starts today.
I’m sure there’s hundreds (ok, probably thousands!) of students that would disagree, but I’m not a fan of summer vacation. It’s horribly stressful and complicated for dual-working parents and their families. And it’s a horribly inefficient way to educate–you spend half of next Fall reviewing last Spring. I totally believe in breaks and vacations. I just think 3 solid months of…nothing…is too much.
My kids hope to spend most of their summer being outside getting dirty!
But summer vacation is a reality for us right now and finding summer care is an annual issue. I know everyone has to do what works best for their family, but here’s a few of my thoughts on the challenges we face as our family cobbles together our summer daycare plan. (and this post doesn’t even touch on the issue of finding Christian care–that’s a post all by itself!)
First, consistency. Most summer “camps” run for a week or two at the most. Even if an organization like the YMCA offers care all summer, you have to sign up for each one or two-week session separately and you have new care providers, a new routine, and sometimes even a new location each session. I, personally, find the lack of consistency and routine frustrating and stressful and at least two of my children are the same way.
It was hot for our Memorial Day weekend!
Second, age-integration. This is a super-big deal to me and I think it’s a huge missing element in the majority of our modern school and daycare settings. Huge. There is so much children learn from interacting (under supervision!) with different age groups. I think this constant age-segregation is unnatural at best, and actually harmful to socialization skills as they grow.
Not to mention that it inhibits family bonds by separating siblings for the majority of the day–even when they’re in the same place at the same time.I always say that even if Mr. Fix-It and I can’t be there all day, at least they can still all be a family together.
Since our house faces west a good portion of the backyard is shaded by the house and porch for the hottest part of the day.
Third, continuing education. Most summer programs are just week after week of endless recreation and entertainment, with only the slightest veneer of superficial educational components. We saturate our children in the idea that summer is a time for them to do nothing but enjoy themselves and that our job as parents is to endlessly hunt up more and more ways for them to do so and that any education that we do think needs to be conducted needs to be hidden beneath layers of water parks and craft supplies and IMAX theater shows.
How completely artificial is that, really? They’re in for such a rude awakening when they enter the working world! Not to mention the harmful precedent we set that learning only happens between September and June, and only from 8:30 am to 3:15 pm, and only Monday thru Friday. (Or that learning is not fun and we need 3 months to “relax” from the school year.)
I’m not saying that recreation and entertainment are bad–I’m just saying balance, balance, balance. And spending three solid months being endlessly shuffled from soccer camp to art camp to swimming camp to zoo camp to basketball camp…isn’t it.
And the animals move around so much that there's usually a field open to go play in.
Up until last year, we used a Home Daycare Provider (HDCP) for childcare. She was our consistent daycare provider year round for 7 years. During the school year, the children when to school and then went to her house after school, or on holidays, and all summer. All of the children were together all day (along with 2-4 other children their ages), and they were in a busy, highly-verbal environment where they were exposed to everyday life as well as having access to learning materials, workbooks, videos, and story time.
It was as ideal as anything I can imagine outside of being home myself and homeschooling year round–and I could go on for pages about the blessings the Lord heaped on us when He sent us to Mrs. Benita.
And, of course, there are shaded porches to play on. We even having ceiling fans out there to make it more enjoyable!
Last year we had the Ladybug at our children’s Christian school camp for the whole summer and used our HDCP for the boys. Although everyone had a good summer, I don’t think this was ideal.
This year we’re trying something different. We have hired a church youth (rising senior) as our home daycare provider for the summer at our home. The children will have routine and structure, they will be together, and she will be incorporating any educational elements we request. They’ll also be home to do their chores (along with some extra jobs) throughout the summer and have an energetic leader to share in taking hikes, playing soccer, and being secret agents. I have high hopes!
This year I’m also creating a “learning plan” for the summer for the first time. I’m setting some specific goals for us as a family, and for each of the children, about what we’d like to do or know by the end of the summer.
I’m looking forward to sharing it here on Thursday, but I’d love to hear what your plans are too!
Wow – what a great idea! I totally agree with so many of your points. While we haven’t had to face the school age and “what to do for summer” questions, I know many people who totally get stressed out by having their kids with them at home – and it makes me sad.
can’t wait to hear your plan! We are taking june & july off and then will be easing into K in August 🙂
I like the idea that a longer school year gives you room to take your time and explore your school subjects differently too. No need to rush and no need to worry if you get a little sidetracked, you have time to make up for it. I also think it’s great that you could change what school “looks like” as the seasons change. Summer would be more hands-on and physical, spring and fall would be more nature-based, and winter would be more book and seat-work focused.
I remember those days! Now I am dealing with an issue that you brough up. My college age daughter thinks that the summers are still for goofing off! We have had here take 1 or 2 courses each summer. Play time is over WELCOME to the real world. It was a hard hard lesson for her. How do I keep the other two from suffering the same hard lesson? We try to keep them busy with chores and learning new things. But like you I am not at home to over see these activities. I would like to see school year ’round. The program I have heard some schools choose has them off a couple weeks at a time several times a year. That is far better than 3 months! I am with you on this issue.
I agree–I think year round school, but having real breaks throughout. I also really like the idea that learning time is ALL the time–not just during school. I don’t want them to shut off their brains when the school doors are shut, or when they walk across that stage. You can be a life-long learner WITHOUT the need to constantly obtain a degree in something.
Soounds like a good plan. Having learning plans is also a great idea.
Our summer plan is to finish up a few books that didn’t get done because of travel and then starting a few things early because I can’t wait. 🙂 We will probably do a few different things to just not sure yet!
Amy @ Missional Mama