The snow has barely melted, kids are humming along in school, and we’re talking about summer camp already?! Summer activities for school-aged children often require enrolling in early spring.  It is, indeed, time to give summer break some thought.

Working parents and stay-at-home parents alike struggle to find outlets for their children in the long days of summer. The first step is to assess your needs. If your regular childcare situation is year-round, you may not need to make many adjustments. You may be looking for full-time daycare versus camp activities. Ask yourself how much of the day you need covered. Do you prefer a daycare where the kids are in the same place for the whole summer? Or would several week-long programs pieced together fit best? How will family vacations, or other time off work, fit into the picture?

The next step is to research options. Asking your friends, school staff and coworkers is a good place to start. Newspapers and community boards can have good information as well.   However, if you would like someone to help you with the research, your EAP can help.  Give us a call 24/7 to learn more!

Summer break can offer the gift of time - to focus on a beloved activity or more unstructured time to nurture curiosity and creativity. This may take shape in a specific class or sport, or it may mean taking trips to local parks and daydreaming in the backyard. Whatever form your kid’s summer break takes, spending some time planning now will allow you to have a more relaxed transition from school to summer.

Claire is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with expertise in body-oriented psychotherapy. She works as a Behavioral Health/EAP Consultant, providing workplace consultations to employers and assessment and referrals to clients.