Just prior to summertime rolling around, parents scramble to get their children enrolled in various activities.  In schoolyards, I often hear conversations between parents, comparing their summer plans.  The most desired summer camps book up fast, so if you want your child enrolled, you must plan early.  I think it’s natural for all parents to feel this pressure.

I am writing this blog as the best blog resource for busy working moms with kids and for time-management for the best summer scheduling.  

Planners and Non-Planners

There are two kinds of people in the world: planners and non-planners.   I’m a mix of both.   “Planners” do not like to walk through life without knowing what is coming their way.  Anxiety builds if there is too much uncertainty.  These people need to organize their lives and the lives of their children through a planner.  The “non-planners,” on the other hand, become anxious when they see too many things scheduled for them.  Like a boa constrictor, plans choke the life out of them.  They prefer to walk through the day with an open agenda, which allows them flexibility to decide on activities based on energy and mood.

Unfortunately for the non-planners, most summer camps book up and are tailored to the planners out there.  There are some great camps that always have space for last-minute additions.  But, if summer camp is super-important to you, be sure to sign up early and get your spot reserved.

Opinion on Camps

I have mixed feelings about committing my children to camp.  I have made the mistake in the past of signing my children up for too many weeks of camp, only to find out they weren’t wanting to return.  What a pickle!  I paid for it (dearly), but forcing a child to go and not have fun seems like a terrible parenting decision.  I now only sign up for any given camp for one week at a time, and if they really enjoy it and there are spots available for any other weeks in the summer, we take the chance and hope for availability. 

Camps are exhausting. This is a good thing, as it allows for early bedtimes and a great night’s rest.  In our household, over-exhaustion creates its own set of issues.  I find my tired cranky children fight more, and there are often tears in the morning as I force them out of bed.  Parents who work may need to sign their children up for full-day camp, as it is a form of childcare.  Some families are fortunate to have grandparents who can help with the daycare, so camp is solely for fun.  I decided a few summers ago that the full day camp was too much for my children.  I send them off for three-hour increments, and that is plenty of time for them to have fun and not run themselves to the ground.  The outside temperature plays a direct role in helping me gauge how quickly they’ll tucker out.  I strategically plan for shorter camp days during the hotter summer months.

One of the biggest cons to summer camp is the cost.  Sending children off, even for a half day, can really add up.  In many ways, camp can be regarded as a luxury.  For this reason, it really stings me if my children complain or resist returning the next day to camp.  If they only knew how much it was costing me!

Other more Unique Venues

It is important to know that there is no need to feel the pressure of sending your child to camp.  There are many other activities that can keep your child entertained over the summer.   Of course, these activities require your time and energy.  Parents who work are more limited in their freedom.  

When devising ideas for keeping children entertained over the summer, I recommend choosing unique venues and activities.  Keep it fresh, and keep it new. 

Here are some ideas:

• Operation Recycling: get some big garbage bags, some gloves, and take your children on hikes through well-traveled areas to do some aluminum can reconnaissance.   When I was a pre-teen, my cousin, my brother, and I did this, and we made some good cash over the summer!  Please keep an eye on your children, though.  If they find the mother stash of cans, be sure dangerous animals and vagrants are not near-by.
•  Operation Ice Cream: you and your child should sit down and jot down the locations of the local ice cream spots.  Create a check list. Over the summer, make it a point to visit each spot.  Rate them as you go! If you turn each ice cream visit into a “research project”, you will be guaranteed to have a wonderful and educational experience. 
• Swimming!  Join a local pool.  Children who are not yet 100% water safe will become proficient swimmers by simply spending more time in the water.  Swimming is great exercise, and even a small amount of time in the pool will wipe them out.  If signing up for a summer swim membership isn’t possible, look into an app called swimply.com.   This site allows you to “borrow” other people’s pools for an hourly rate.  It isn’t cheap, but it is an option. 
• Bicycles: give your children the task of mapping out routes.  Turn each bike ride into an adventure.  Pack food and allow yourself a destination picnic.  You can also create a scavenger hunt along the way.  Discover new routes and places that only can be reached by this mode of transportation. 
• Garbage Art:  Instead of tossing your recyclables in the disposing can, save them.  Throw some paint shirts on your child, provide them with egg cartons, cardboard, and all other odds and ends to create masterpieces.  You will need packaging tape to hold it all together and some paint.  I suggest Tempura, as you probably want everything to wash out of your child’s clothing.  
• The Library:  This resource is often underutilized during the school year.  It can be a wonderful haven during the summer for both children and their parents.  Without feeling the need to be anywhere by a certain time, everyone can have time to fully explore the racks of books and pick out their favorites.  Let your children sign up for their own library card so they can take responsibility for their rentals.  My children love handing their books and cards over to the librarian to be an active participant in the check-out process.   Libraries often have resources and advertised activities over the summer.  Look up scheduled “special visitors” to the library, as well as local walking tours and other events.  Your local library may provide you with new ideas!

Many More Options

When it comes to planning your summer, there are many options.  Not all of them cost a fortune.  If you are feeling the pinch of needing to make plans because you work, then consider pairing up with another parent for turns in care.  It is possible to cover childcare without committing your child to camps all summer long.

And, never feel bad about letting your child be bored.  Boredom is healthy.  Children need to learn to figure out for themselves what to do when they are feeling idle.  In this day and age, where everything is go-go-go, it’s okay to pump the brakes a bit and allow your child to do nothing.  It’s quite nice, really.

Laura D