With New Year’s resolutions barely set, parents nationwide start thinking about summer. The summer-camp-scramble to sign kids up begins in January. Limited spots and large demand often lead to a highly competitive environment. Many parents (mostly moms) have a summer camp spreadsheet color-coded with registration dates and cross-referenced to work calendars and vacation travel. Because it’s an art, and a science, to manage 12 weeks of no school.
A 2019 Center for American Progress survey found that securing summer care was complex for three-quarters of parents. Only one-fifth of all parents are stay-at-home, so accessibility and affordability matter – especially for working parents.
How can you stay calm and get set for summer? Here are some ideas:
- Forget the frenzy for far-away camps and check out local summer camp guides like this one from San Francisco Bay Area Moms. There may be new programs you didn’t know about that are worth checking out from a valuable resource.
- Team up with another parent, or your class, to create a list of recommended camps they may be attending. Enrolling in camp with a friend is fun for the kids and sharing the task of identifying camps and securing spots is more efficient and rewarding for you.
- Engage your child’s interests and expose them to something new to expand their skill set. While working with several weeks of camp, it’s easy to select their favorite activities and introduce them to something new. Education and enrichment, especially outdoors, deepen their experience.
Growing comes from challenge, so look for camps that create a “safe container” to explore and make new connections. And definitely try our Presidio camp if you live in San Francisco.
