Question for working parents of young children

[Minnie824]

Who watches your kids during the summer and vacation times? My mother watches our DDs now, but I know when my father retires, they'll want to be free to do things. So, I was thinking of hiring someone. But once they're in school, and still too young to be on their own, what do you do? I know for summer I could hire someone, but what about other vacations...schools get a lot more vacation than DH & I would be able to take. Just wondering. Thanks.

 

[jrydberg]

My daughter's daycare just charges higher rates for summer/vacation weeks.

 

[Kimberle]

Brittany has been in pre-school. She's about to start kindergarten. Our school has a before/after school program (7 am - 6 pm) every day. On snow delay days or early scheduled closings, the program runs. Scheduled holidays and snow days (other than the actual main days), it runs a "vacation camp". Summers, there are many different camps (most run 7 am - 6 pm). The YMCA runs our program.

The only time the program does not run is during early closings due to bad weather.

 

[CEDmom]

DD's school goes up to kindergarten and is year round. Right now they're doing a camp program. Once school starts they will be opening a varsity room for school aged children - grade 1+. It will be available for before/after care, school holidays and vacations. I know the center at my office and DH's offer programs as well for school aged children.

 

[Bob Slydell]

DS' preschool offers a summer camp. On his off days (he goes three days a week), either his babysitter watches him (she's home from college during the summer), MIL watches him or DW takes a day off.

 

[snoopy]

My kids go to summer day camp.

 

[Cthia]

My oldest DD attends the schools after school program. If there are holidays. snow days, school cancelations, vacations, etc. they are open all day, I just have to pay a little extra for the long day. During the long vacations (February and April )and during the summer she attends our local community center. She can go swimming there.

Youngest DD stays home with my mom. Too young in my opinion for daycare. (7 months old.)

I am sure if I knew of a person to watch my children in my home I may consider it. I would just have to plan on if they get sick or something and I have to have a back up plan for someone to watch the kids.

 

[Pin Wizard]

A day care center. DS actually has made better friends there than at school! And he started with one as soon as he could walk. They had an infant program, but it was full and I couldn't get him in.

 

[mickeyboat]

Home day care. When the kids start Kindergarten, the bus picks them up and drops them off in her driveway.

But when they get a little older we will probably have to make some other arrangement. I think the girls will get bored there all summer. There are some camps, but most activities are catered to children whose parents don't work (ie they open late and close early). There is definitely a lack of quality before and after school care in our area.

Denae

 

[Mskanga]

I work in the school and I have the same schedule they have.We had to do it this way because we have no family near us but even when we did , they never watched my kids even if I paid them.
The pay at the school is not the best, but for me to be able to have the same schedule is better.

 

[aprincessmom]

DD went the daycare/private kindergarden route year round until she entered 1st grade. The summer between 1st and 2nd grade she went back to the daycare because they run a camp for children ages 6-10. She liked it but most of the children were younger so this year we did the YMCA camp one town over and she LOVES it!

It's geared for children ages 6 and up and they have a ball. They go one two field trips a week, have arts and crafts, swimming, sports, and the like. It's a full day with camp going from 9-4 and before and after care sessions from 7-9 and 4-6 respectively.

For the school year, I juggle. I try to take a few days off for each school vacation and then she either goes to spend a few days with my mom or with my sister. She also has some friends from school whose moms ask her to come and spend a full day with them during vacation time and don't mind that I need to drop her off at 7. They are really awesome and it's wonderful that they invite her.

The 1/2 days and random days off I have to juggle as well. Sometimes I can take her into my work, sometimes a friend will invite her for the afternoon until I get home, sometimes my mom or dad will come up for her. This year she will be in the school's aftercare program a few days a week and they allow you to use them for 1/2 days and school vacation but since the days she's there aren't typically 1/2 days (she's not in the program for Monday or Friday) I won't be able to take advantage of it.