How do you deal with summer camp hours and work?

[Anonymous]

I typically work from home so I can go grab kids around 4pm from camp then come home and continue working. But I have some in person meetings, my husband is traveling for work, and there are no after hours for kids camps. So pick up is at 4pm. At least during school we could use after care until 6pm. Do you hire someone to pick up your kids? They can't get home themselves (camp is too far away).

[Anonymous]

OP - will I get in trouble if my oldest bikes home (its about a mile), someone drops off other kid and they both stay home alone for a few hours? They are 10 and 8 years old.

[Anonymous]

hire a high schooler for from 4ish to when you get home.

[Anonymous]

We pay for crappy aftercare

[Anonymous]

Always chose camps based on availability of aftercare.

[Anonymous]

Most people move their meetings. Or pick a camp with aftercare but the aftercare usually sucks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I typically work from home so I can go grab kids around 4pm from camp then come home and continue working. But I have some in person meetings, my husband is traveling for work, and there are no after hours for kids camps. So pick up is at 4pm. At least during school we could use after care until 6pm. Do you hire someone to pick up your kids? They can't get home themselves (camp is too far away).

When my kids were too young to come home on public transportation, I only considered camps where the hours work with my working hours. It's the first thing I looked at.

[Anonymous]

OP - one of the camps is a fully outdoor sports camp. I am worried about my 8 year old being in the sun for more than 8 hours. So I didn't think a camp with after hours in the sun so she would be there for 10 hours would be the best idea.

[Anonymous]

This is one reason we try to do camps with friends. That way if I have a conflict and can't get them at 4pm, I can coordinate with the other parents. Maybe I pick up their kid the next day or drop him off or whatever works.

But yeah, I just have to get there by 4pm a lot of the time. For the camps that end at 3pm, we do aftercare so it's less on a firm cutoff. But aftercare is usually a gym with 2 teenagers barely paying attention and like 20 kids. Mine can hang in that environment, but it's not for everyone.

[Anonymous]

We only did camp with some inside space and later hours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP - one of the camps is a fully outdoor sports camp. I am worried about my 8 year old being in the sun for more than 8 hours. So I didn't think a camp with after hours in the sun so she would be there for 10 hours would be the best idea.

After living through Summer Camps in 2021 that were ONLY outside, I realized kids are fine outdoors all day. Send lots of water, some gatorade and lots of snacks and they have fun!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Always chose camps based on availability of aftercare.

This.

Also we could leave early if necessary back during our camper parenting days.

My kids were always picked up in the last allowable time slot.

[Anonymous]

Yes the 10yo can bike home as long as it’s safe as in sidewalks, no main roads to cross etc.
have you left them alone together before for short periods as a trial?

We pay a sitter for 2 days a week but do the same during the school year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I typically work from home so I can go grab kids around 4pm from camp then come home and continue working. But I have some in person meetings, my husband is traveling for work, and there are no after hours for kids camps. So pick up is at 4pm. At least during school we could use after care until 6pm. Do you hire someone to pick up your kids? They can't get home themselves (camp is too far away).

When my kids were too young to come home on public transportation, I only considered camps where the hours work with my working hours. It's the first thing I looked at.

Exactly this. Hours and location are super important.

But yes OP, you hire someone or ask a favor if you can't make it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP - one of the camps is a fully outdoor sports camp. I am worried about my 8 year old being in the sun for more than 8 hours. So I didn't think a camp with after hours in the sun so she would be there for 10 hours would be the best idea.

After living through Summer Camps in 2021 that were ONLY outside, I realized kids are fine outdoors all day. Send lots of water, some gatorade and lots of snacks and they have fun!

unless it rains