Are you looking for summer childcare for your children? Choose or combine these childcare options for the times when you aren’t covered.
Yay! The summer break is upon us … and for you and your children. And for you? For you? Not so much. Parents everywhere, once the school year is over, it signifies it’s time to search for the best summer child care & daycare near.me. The two most popular options that pop up in parents’ minds are summer camps and hiring the services of a Nanny (and for a good reason, they’re excellent alternatives). However, based on your timetable and budget, these options might be a bit off or not be the best fit for you.
“Every year, I sign up for a handful of camps, and suppose I’ll work by enlisting sitters and grandparents to assist with the rest,” says Nora Esposito, mother of three kids in Huntington, New York. “Every year, I’d like to be more prepared. .”
If you require care throughout summer long or are looking for affordable options to fill the gaps, the following 11 summer childcare choices (or the combination of several) will have you all covered.
- Hire a summer nanny
Find a summer Nanny
Finding a summer nanny to hire is among the most convenient alternatives for parents and will require the least amount of coordination since nannies usually visit your house. An educator or a student may be searching for seasonal work; however, summer is also the ideal time to find a nanny to provide care for your child throughout the year. Certain nannies might be interested in participating in a camp for nannies, where they’ll work with other nannies in planning regular activities for children all through the summer.
Benefits:
- Convenient.
- Personalized care.
- Daily activities are planned to meet the child’s interests and development.
According to 2021 Care.com information, The national average price of a nanny per child was $694 per week, around $17.35 per hour. It was $715 for a week with two children, about $17.88 for an hour. The rates vary depending on the location you live in and the nanny’s expertise, the tasks you want to accomplish, and the number of children you have. To better understand what your cost may be, use our rate calculator.
To save money, pay your summer nanny in full to take advantage of tax benefits. The savings you make will likely exceed the amount you owe in taxes!
Tips: Begin searching early. The majority of parents don’t begin searching for summer nannies until June. By then, most available babysitters (especially the best ones!) are already booked for jobs.
- Bring to a summer sitter.
Find a Summer babysitter.
If your timetable is flexible, or your summer childcare demands are more irregular or less frequent, you might need to employ one part-time childcare provider (or at least two) to cover days you’re working or need care for your children at your home. Babysitters typically work all year round, and occasional sitters, typically teachers and students, require additional income.
Finding a summer sitter that you love with your children is a great option to keep everyone content and well-taken care of. Plenty of sitters is available on weekends and evenings as well.
Benefits:
- Flexible.
- Cost-effective.
- Personalized care.
Cost: The cost per hour for a babysitter can range from $13.25 for an hour in San Antonio, Texas, to $19.50 per hour in Seattle, Washington, based on the latest Care.com information. To get a more accurate idea of the cost for the sitter you have in your vicinity, use our babysitting rate calculator. Additionally, you can add these expenses to the tax on child care credit in April to get savings of up to $1200.
Tips: Start searching early! If you can, attempt to arrange for more than one person to fill in any gaps.
- Consider a nanny share.
Find a Nanny Share
Much less expensive than hiring a full-time nanny, your family is a nanny sharing arrangement where two (or often several) families share a home with a nanny.
Benefits:
- Less expensive than the 1:1 nanny service.
- The child’s needs and interests design daily activities.
- Interaction with, at the very least, another child.
The cost: Commonly, sharing a nanny with another family is around two-thirds the price you’d be paying for the nanny of your choice. The cost of one nanny ($694 weekly) is around $463 per week. This is about $231 savings per week when you share the nanny’s services with different families, like hiring one on your accounting and paying for the booklets. Both families with the nanny’s circle have the chance to benefit from tax incentives.
Tips: Take a look at the complete Guide on Nanny Shares to find everything from how to get started to making it successful.
- Create or locate an online summer child care cooperative
A co-op for child care is an extremely cost-effective choice that is perfect for families with parents with the option of working part-time or with a flexible schedule. “Child care cooperatives include swaps with friends and neighbors, an excellent low-cost alternative,” says Leslie Forde, an advocate for working moms and researcher and the creator of Mom’s Hierarchy of Needs. “Everyone is responsible for taking care of the children, so everyone gets a minimum 1 or 2 days’ care for free. .”
Benefits:
- Convenient.
- Extremely cost-effective.
- Socialization with at least one other child.
Cost: In most setups, a child care co-op is free for the families involved. Hosting families may need to plan to pay for snacks or summer activities when they’re on duty, depending on the terms agreed upon by the co-op members.
Tips: There is a limit to how many kids the average parent will feel comfortable watching on their own, so the number of hours you can commit to providing care may put a cap on how much child care you can count on. The success of this model relies on regular, clear communication between co-op members.
- Sign up for summer day camp
With options ranging from a few days to the entire summer, summer day camps are fun to keep kids busy in the summer months.
“School-aged children thrive in the company of their peers, and summer camp programs allow them to continue social interactions throughout the summer months,” notes Donna Whittaker, vice president of curriculum and education at Kiddie Academy of Stafford.
Benefits:
- Reliable care.
- Social interaction.
- Age-appropriate activities and skills, according to Whittaker, can prevent “learning loss” in the summer.
Cost: The price tag on day camps can vary widely, from pricey sailing camps to budget-friendly day camps hosted by your local YMCA or Parks and Recreation department. According to the American Camp Association (ACA), the average price of day camp is around $178.49 a day this year, and for sleep-away camp, it’s $448.53 a day. You may qualify for the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit if the camp is needed so you can work and if your children are under age 13.
Tips: If you haven’t capitalized on early bird specials, which can cut camp costs, inquire about financial aid options or research free or low-cost camps in your area.
- Enroll in daycare
Find a daycare
Enrolling your child in a local daycare center is a great way to get reliable full-time summer coverage that will fuel their socialization and mind.
“Young kids thrive in learning environments that provide meaningful experiences, supportive interactions and continuity in learning. Daycare summer programs do just that,” says Allison Wilson, senior director of curriculum and innovation at Stratford School. “Between reading and STEAM activities that bring stories to life, students can continue their social-emotional and academic development through learning experiences during the summer months.”
Benefits:
- Reliable care.
- Social interaction.
- Age-appropriate learning activities.
Cost: In 2020, the average cost for one child in a daycare or child care center was $340 a week and $300 a week for a family care center — and those figures continue to rise. You can help offset these costs by applying the expenses to the child care tax credit like you would for a summer camp.
Tips: Start looking early and put your child on multiple waitlists. Priority will always go to returning families, so finding daycare to take your child can be tricky if they’re not enrolled year-round.
- “Stack” online classes
If you have older kids who are comfortable using a computer, Forde suggests “stacking” online classes — aka, having kids take back-to-back online courses to fill chunks of time. While it’s not a viable option for the entire summer, it’s good for filling gaps, particularly when working from home.
“There are amazing online programs for kids that can keep them engaged and learning something new for an hour or two at a time,” Forde says. “I’ve strategically stacked two classes, such as a piano class followed by a math lesson, for my kids back-to-back when I need added coverage.”
Benefits:
- Lots of availability.
- Summer learning on a wide variety of topics from home.
Cost: Depending on the class and duration, prices vary widely. Camp Invention offers an online program — Camp Invention Connect — which costs $245 for a week of classes from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and includes supplies for each day. Outschool offers a database of smaller-scale kids’ classes, including an Intro to Animation course that meets once a week for 55 minutes for five weeks and costs $160.
Tips: Get kids involved in the process. They’re more likely to get excited — and stay put — when it’s a course they helped choose.
- Consider an au pair.
Au pairs hail from foreign regions and stay with families for an extended period. In exchange for lodging (and usually a small allowance), they help care for kids and do light housework. While summer-only au pairs aren’t an option due to the specific nature of the visa, once you’ve had an au pair for 12 months, you can select 6- or 9-month options after that.
“Last summer, we were in a bind, so we decided to try an au pair — best decision!” says Aimee Goldsmith, a mom of four in Greenwich, Connecticut. “I was nervous about having someone live with us — and worried she wouldn’t feel comfortable — but it was a unique relationship and helped us so much throughout the summer when my kids were off, but my husband and I were still working.”
Benefits:
- Convenient.
- Personalized care.
- Exposure to different cultures, languages and customs.
Cost: Finding an au pair without an agency is difficult and not advisable. In addition to matching “host families” with an au pair, the agency sponsors visas, covers training and offers au pair accident and sickness insurance, among other things. Prices vary, but for reference, the agency Au Pair in America requires an annual program fee of $9,275, a match fee of $475, and a minimum weekly stipend for au pairs of $195.75 (which is required across the country).
Tips: After the initial fees, a weekly stipend of under $200 may not seem like a lot, but there are other costs to consider, including food, transportation and auto insurance if they drive your car.
- Work in a play-friendly environment
Working while your kids play or do activities nearby is an option for some parents, especially if you can work remotely.
“If your child has reached the age and level of independence where you can get some work done while they play,” Forde suggests, “try setting up a series of play activities or bring art supplies and books.” You can try this setup at a local cafe, community center, or even at the playground if you have Wi-Fi or a portable hotspot.
Benefits:
- Free.
- Works in a pinch.
Tips: Go prepared! Don’t expect your kids to sit quietly next to you while you work, especially if they’re little. Bring activities (preferably ones they’ve never seen before).
- Consider a hotel
Yes, really. “A friend of mine paid for a membership at a local hotel for access to their pool and fitness center — largely because they provide child care,” Forde says. “If you live in an area where there are some larger hotels, you might find a similar option where, via membership, you can take your child to activities there or the on-site sitter while you can get work done.”
“There are also hotels that offer ‘kids clubs’ and programming for hotel guests,” Forde continues. “Even if you don’t choose to stay, it can be worth the money to pay for a membership or hotel stay to access the child care coverage for a short stint in the summer.”
Benefits:
- Activities and socialization.
Cost: Prices vary, but the El Conquistador in Tucson, Arizona charges $45 for four hours of child care and $75 for eight hours (both include meals). You also need to pay for a room, which averages $155 to just under $200 per night in the summer months. Go in on the room with another working parent, and it gets more affordable.
Tips: Book far in advance for availability and rate purposes if possible.
- Build a hybrid summer care plan
Combining various care options may be the setup that works best with your budget and schedule. This could mean taking part in a co-op a few mornings each week, signing up for two or three camps and filling in the blanks with a favorite babysitter. Or you might combine a half-day camp with a half-day nanny share.
Cost: Pick and choose care options based on your budget.
Tips: Coordinating multiple care options requires advanced planning, so avoid winging it. Figure out what’s most important to you (such as participation in a particular camp or care at a consistent time), and then build your summer care plan.
Benefits:
- Convenient.
- Cost-effective and extremely efficient.
- Socialization with at minimum the other children of yours.
Cost: In most settings, children’s care co-ops are free to the families that are part of it. Families who host children may have to budget for food or summer activities during their time of duty according to the conditions set by the co-op’s members.
Tips: There’s a limit to the number of children an average parent can enjoy watching alone. This, along with the hours you’re willing to put into taking care of your child, could limit the amount of children’s care you can trust. This model’s effectiveness depends on consistent, clear communications between co-op members.
- Sign up for summer day camp
There are a variety of options from just only a few days up to the duration of the summer camp; summer day camps are a great option to keep kids entertained during the summer season.
“School-aged children are at ease with their peers. Summer camp programs give them the chance to maintain their friendships throughout the summer season,” notes Donna Whittaker, the vice president of curriculum and education for Kiddie Academy of Stafford.
Benefits:
- Reliable care.
- Social interaction.
- Skills and activities that are age-appropriate, According to Whittaker, can help stop “learning loss” during summer.
Cost: Day camps can differ greatly, from expensive sailing camps to affordable day camps offered at your neighborhood YMCA and Parks and Recreation department. Based on the American Camp Association (ACA), the price for day camps is $178.49 per day in the current year. And for the sleep-away camp, that’s $448.53 per day. You might be eligible for an exemption from the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit when you need to go camping to work and when your children are younger than age 13.
Tips To Consider: If you’re not taking advantage of the early bird deals that can reduce costs for camps, ask about aid options for financial assistance or look into camp options that are free and low cost within your region.
- Enroll in daycare
Find a daycare
Inscribing your child into the local daycare center is an excellent option to ensure continuous summer coverage that can boost their socialization and minds.
“Young youngsters thrive in learning environments that offer engaging experiences, positive interactions and continuous learning and the daycare summer programs provide exactly this,” says Allison Wilson, the senior director of the curriculum and innovation department in the Stratford School. Stratford School. “Between reading and STEAM-related activities which bring stories to life, children can maintain their academic and social development by engaging in learning activities during the summer season.”.”
Benefits:
- Reliable care.
- Social interaction.
- Age-appropriate learning activities.
Cost in 2020: The cost of a single child at a daycare or care facility was around $340 per week and $300 per week for a family-friendly center — and the numbers continue to increase. You can reduce these costs by submitting the costs to the tax credit, similar to what you would apply to a summer camp.
Tips: Start looking before and then put your child on waitlists for multiple waiting lists. Priority will always be given to families who have returned, so searching for a daycare to provide your child with a place to stay can be difficult if you’re not enrolling throughout the year.
- “Stack” online classes
If you have kids older who are comfortable with computers, Forde suggests “stacking” online classes — or having them take back-to-back online courses to fill up chunks of time. Although it’s not an ideal alternative for all summer, it’s great to fill in the gaps, especially when you work at your home.
“There are some amazing online programs for kids that will keep them occupied and engaged for a couple of hours simultaneously,” Forde says. “I’ve carefully stacked two classes, for instance, the piano class with a maths lesson with my children when I require more coverage. .”
Benefits:
- A wide range of options.
- Learning during the summer on a broad range of subjects from the comfort of your home.
Cost depending on the course and length, costs can vary. Camp Invention offers an online program called Camp Invention Connect — costing $245 for a full week of classes from 9 a.m. until two p.m. It also includes the necessary materials for every day. Outschool has a database of children’s classes that you can choose from, including one Intro to Animation course, offered once per week for an hour for five weeks. It costs $160.
Tips: Engage your kids throughout the course. They’re more likely exuberant — and stick around — if it’s the course they were able to choose.
- Consider an au pair.
Au pairs come from various regions and can stay in families for an extended time. In exchange for accommodation (and generally a modest allowance), they care for their children and help with chores around the house. Au pairs who are only available during summer aren’t a possibility due to the visa requirements. After having the au pair of 12 months, you can choose between 6- and 9-month options in the future.
“Last summer, we were caught in a dilemma and decided to go with an au pair — the best choice!” says Aimee Goldsmith, mother of four children in Greenwich, Connecticut. “I was apprehensive about having someone living with us and was worried that she would not feel at home, but it was an amazing relationship that was a huge help during the summer months while my kids were away; however, my husband and I were doing our jobs. .”
Benefits:
- Convenient.
- Personalized care.
- Experimentation with diverse languages, different cultures as well as customs.
Cost: Finding an au pair that isn’t through an agency is difficult and probably not the best option. Apart from pairing “host family members” with au pairs, the agency provides visas, offers training, and provides accident and sickness coverage, in addition to other things. The costs vary, but for information, this agency, Au Pair in America, requires an annual fee of $9,275, a match fee of $475, and an average weekly stipend for the au pair of $195.75 (which is mandatory in all states).
Tips: After paying the initial cost, an average daily stipend of less than $200 might not seem like an amount. However, additional expenses are to be considered, like transportation, food and insurance if they operate your vehicle.
- Play in a fun environment
For certain parents, working while your kids play or participate in things together is an option, especially if you can work from home.
“If your child is at the age and degree of independence that allows you to get some work done while playing,” Forde suggests, “try making play-based activities or bring art equipment along with books.” You could try this idea at a local café or community space and on the playground if you have Wi-Fi or an internet-connected device.
Benefits:
- Free.
- It can be used in a pinch.
Tips: Be prepared! Please don’t ask your kids, especially when they’re small — to be seated with you as you work. Bring your kids to participate in activities (preferably ones they’ve not seen before)).
- Consider a hotel
Yes, really. “A friend bought an annual membership in the local hotel to access their fitness and pool center, largely because they offer childcare,” Forde says. “If you reside in an area with several larger hotels, there is the same option. with a membership, you can bring your child to the activities they offer or the on-site babysitter so that you get your work done .”
“There are hotels that have ‘kids clubs with programming specifically for guests of hotels,” Forde continues. “Even when you don’t decide to stay there in the hotel, it could be worth it to buy the membership or hotel room to gain access to child care for a brief period during summer. .”
Benefits:
- Socialization and activities.
Cost: Prices differ, and you can find the El Conquistador in Tucson, Arizona, which is charged $45 for 4 hours of childcare and $75 for 8 hours (both include meals). But, you’ll have to rent a room which ranges from $155 to just under $200 for the night during the summertime. If you share the room with a working parent, it will become less expensive.
Tips: Make reservations in advance, if you can, for availability and rates.
- Create a hybrid summer care program
The combination of different options for care could be the best option that fits most comfortably for your budget and timetable. It could be as simple as participating in a co-op every week for a few mornings or enrolling in three or four camps and filling the gaps with a nanny you trust. It is also possible to mix a half-day program with the possibility of a half-day nanny share.
Cost: Choose and pick the care options by your budget.
Tips for coordinating different care options require a lot of planning. Avoid winging it. Find out what is most significant to you (such as taking part in a particular program or care at an agreed-upon time), then make your summer care plans by analyzing the information you have gathered.
