The official start to summer is upon us and by this time your kids are probably out of school. You, on the other hand, may be worried about affording entertainment and childcare for your kids this summer.
We want you and your children to have a great summer but maintain a good share of your savings accounts! Here are some affordable alternatives to those often-pricey summer camps.
Hire A Student
Many students, including recent high school graduates and high school juniors and seniors, are eager to earn money this summer. Circulate an email or social media post with your friends and see who may know of a great student who can help you with childcare this summer. Or contact the career services center at your local university or community college and see if you can post an ad. You could also post in your place of worship or community center.
Pay the student to help out at your house, be there when you are at work, or get creative and give them the autonomy to make a schedule of outings for your kids. Your kids will enjoy the adventures and the student will learn more about how to organize activities and research community activities
Utilize A Ride Share Service
Ride share services like Hop Skip Drive, are becoming popular in Southern California, as busy parents need to get their kids from activity to activity. You can preschedule the rides, meet the drivers, and track your kids on their journey and more with the app. And instead of having to leave work in the middle of the day, you have an extra pair of wheels helping you keep your kids engaged and entertained.
Co-Op Time Off
Have a family with kids the same age as yours that you are close to? Or better yet a neighborhood full of working parents? It’s often said that it takes a village to raise a child and we agree. Reach out to your community and you will likely discover other parents in similar binds when it comes to the summer months with kids out of school but work life as busy as ever.
Try suggesting that one day you take off from work and take the kids to a free day a zoo or museum, while the next day the alternate parents takes off and takes the kids to the park or pool. You get double the childcare for your paid time off and also get a much-needed break for yourself to bond with your kids and their friends. It’s a win-win!