Summer is so long and it’s the worst for kids and parents.

[Anonymous]

Teacher, not a parent, and I would MUCH rather have a year round calendar with longer breaks spread out. At least we can have greater time to enjoy the weather when it isn't a blistering swamp.

[Anonymous]

10 weeks isn’t long enough. It was always 12 when I was a kid

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid is just starting kinder so feel free to take what I say with a grain of salt since I haven’t experienced it yet but I used to think I’d like year ‘round school. Now I see the APS calendar and there are so many days off sprinkled in. We also have days off to celebrate the holidays of at least 3 different religions. My family is no religion, so these are just more random days off for us. If summer were shorter, the school year would have more of these days off just plunked into the middle of the week. Or weeks off just in whatever month. At least in the summer you can plan a long stretch of camp.

I agree. My husband teaches at a university and summer is the only time the breaks line up with my kids in public school other than the week of Christmas. One gets Columbus Day Monday and Tuesday off, the other gets half days Wed and Thurs and Friday off. Their spring breaks are a month apart. I can only imagine how much more of a headache scheduling a family trip would be if we didn't have summer.

Plus, my kid who just finished first grade really needed the break. He's plenty smart, reads novels and writes comics and listens to science podcasts for fun, but ten months of having to sit quietly all day really got to him. He says he prefers camp because there is more playing and activity. It makes me sad to hear that, but glad he gets a long breather.

I'd trade a couple weeks of summer for a fall break or a longer winter break though. It's the frequent, very short breaks and random days that are tough.

[Anonymous]

I'm a single parent and this is my first summer having to do camps (prior to was daycare and pandemic). It's stressful figuring out which ones, matching up dates, drop off and pick up. It's expensive too!

[Anonymous]

I LOVE the summer! I get a break from the stress of the school year and so does dc!

I work but I get to take vacation with dc and also, since I get Sunday and one weekday off, get to do something fun on a less crowded day, vs the school year when they aren't home on my day off.

My dc seem to grow and learn new things in summer.

[Anonymous]

I love summer. Carefree days at the pool, grilling out for dinner. I love wearing sundresses and sandals.

[Anonymous]

I am not judging you at all but I very honestly disagree completely, for me it goes by way too fast and I wish it was longer.

[Anonymous]

My teen is at six weeks of music camp and loving her time there. We still have a couple of weeks when she gets home to do a family vacation and relax before the school year starts up. I think the length is about right. But I sympathize with those who can’t afford camp.

[Anonymous]

“Not kids: it’s too long without friends and work “

Seriously? Were you ever a kid or did you just have an incredibly sad childhood (sorry if you did)? What kid misses schoolwork?! And why no friends? Kids play with friends all summer long. Not sure why you think they don’t?

I LOVED summer. I can see why it’s bad for parents, but it’s great for kids and teachers.

[Anonymous]

Love summer - Alexandria, luckily, has an amazing, affordable summer recreation program. So kids can come and go as our schedule allows, they get to see friends, maintain a routine, and sleep-in. We sign them up for a few specialty camps as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Move to China then you blowhard

I think you would be surprised at the number of countries where summer break is 6-8 weeks.

[Anonymous]

The only thing I will grant is that it’s sucks that there is not a more organized way to find summer camp options.

Beyond that, I’m another summer fan. I like that things slow down a bit, I like hot weather more than cold, we have HOA pools and I like them, kids do swim team so that is a huge part of summer life through July.

[Anonymous]

We both work but make the childcare work. I don’t love it or date it. We joined a pool last year and that has def made it manageable. Plus it wears my kid out.

[Anonymous]

We love summer! No schedules. The kids can sleep in. Long, lazy days in the pool. Friends and popsicles. Bike riding and slip & slide. Vacations. We are so relaxed. I’m never ready for it to end.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:WHO benefits from 10 weeks off in summer??!

Not teachers: we would much prefer a year round schedule with frequent breaks.

Not kids: it’s too long without friends and work

Not parents: it’s too long to find childcare

It’s just crazy long. Why has the USA not adopted a year round schedule yet?

Speak for yourself, OP.