4 MIN 30 SEC READ
PROJECT MANAGEMENT CONCEPT:
Determining and Qualifying your resources
With the holiday season upon us, we are often consumed by decorating, purchasing gifts, and preparing for family/ friends gatherings.
But if you’re a working mom, another large task you will have to take on is childcare or camp for your child while they are on a 2-week break from school. And all too many times, it’s the one thing you wish you’d put at the top of your Christmas List. It always seems to creep up on you.
You know, a passing conversation with hubby reveals that he’s off through Christmas and you’re off the week after Christmas. BUT WAIT!! Where will the kids be on the Dec 26th and 27th??
And that’s when it hits you… you forgot to look into Winter Break camp options. And Grandma’s already put you on notice that she and the ladies from church are cruising right after the holidays, so your back up plan is out of pocket.
Well… if you’ve been here or you are here right now, let me give you some options that could lower your blood pressure and put you right back into the Christmas Spirit!!
1. After-School Becomes Intercession
You’d be remiss to not at least check your child’s after-school program. They may be holding an Intercession Camp session. This becomes an easy option for you. You already know the staff and trust them. No long registration forms to complete just for short term care. The tuition tends to be reasonable, and oftentimes, the kids have a ball hanging out with their friends from school minus the schoolwork.
2. Daycare Closes, but Teachers Might be Open
Many daycares close for some portion of the holiday to allow the staff time off. However, I’ve had my kids’ teachers offer up their daycare services to supplement their holiday needs. If you’ve built a good relationship with your child’s teacher and trust them, ask them about their availability. You never know…. you may find yourselves being a blessing to one another.
3. Home Care Backup
If you have a home daycare provider, they will often designate this week as their vacation time during the year. If you’re lucky, your provider may have a backup person. Someone they’d personally recommend and are willing to “throw business” their way. This is the next best thing to your current home daycare. If she can give you a recommendation, run with it because the interim daycare provider may only be willing/ licensed to accept a small number of additional children.
4. Barter Time with Another Working Mom
Reach out to other working mom friends and see what time off they might be taking. Better yet, connect with your child’s best buds mom who is a working mom as well. Try to work out a plan to divide your time off, where your kids are with them on days you need and their kids with you on days they will need to work. You’ll find yourself with easy playmates for your kids, as well as a low-cost option for childcare.
5. Indoor/ Bounce Gym Camps
Contact your child’s favorite trampoline park or bounce house. Ask if they have winter session camps and/or specials. You might find yourself with an easy-to-sell camp option for drop-in care on just the days you need a little bit of support. NOTE: Be sure to ask about camp hours! This is a fun option that your kids will absolutely love, but it might require you to have an alternate work schedule on that day, due to late start times and early pickup times.
6. Local YMCA Intercession Camp
Many local YMCA locations offer intercession camps for winter and spring break. Check the website of locations within the same county as your child’s school. This will better assure that it runs on the same schedule as your child’s school. Even if you are not a member of the YMCA, you will still be able to register your child for intercession camps. You’ll just pay a slightly higher fee.
7. Specialty Camps
Many specialty camps will work to advertise directly to schools for intercession camps. Camps like STEM, Lego, and Drama have partnerships with specific schools and will begin to advertise in the weeks ahead of spring and winter break. Check your child’s school website and/or newsletter to see if such camps have availability. Other good sources are parent-focused magazines. They can often be found in your Pediatrician’s office, as well as other pediatric offices.
8. Extra-Curricular Camps
They may have gone unnoticed, but some of your child’s extracurricular activities could be offering camp sessions during winter break. Who knows… so go back and check your email for any notice of camps from your child’s Dance, Gymnastics, Taekwondo, etc organization. These are great and fun opportunities to further your child’s skill in their desired hobby. You may even find that some of these organizations offer the camp for unregistered siblings as well.
Wait, what?! Yep, I know… Mind. Blown.
9. Library Camps
Check your local library for winter and spring camp opportunities. Many libraries sponsor camp opportunities that are themed, like Theater/ Performing Arts or Arts & Crafts. These fun camps keep your child engaged and creative over school break, while also plopping them right smack dab in the middle of a library where they can’t help but accidentally read a book over the winter break as well!
10. Part-Time Help Can Become Full-Time for a Time
If you have someone helping you on a part-time basis to pick up the kids and get them to after-school activities, ask about their availability for full-time support on days you need coverage. Maybe your negotiated rate can be extended to that of a full day?
Finding options was the hard part. The rest is easy. Just ask yourself a few questions to determine which option is best for you.
- Do I trust and feel comfortable with this option?
- Is it right for my child?
- Is it right for my budget?
- Are they available when I need them?
With those answers in hand, the decision-making process becomes a lot easier. You are now armed with your priorities as well as some great avenues to find them.
So Moms, don’t fret if this task slipped through the cracks. Maybe you are looking for continued personalized care for your little one. Maybe you are looking for a fun and/ or educational experience. Or maybe you just want to get your kids together with their best buds. Regardless of your need, there is a Winter Daycare/ Camp solution out there waiting for you.
But seriously… contact them now! I mean it IS almost Christmas… You better get on it!
Happy Holidays, Mommies!
Categories:
Cat: Home Life Readiness SubCat: Child Care
Cat: Educational Support SubCat: Camp Life
