Summer schedule for a no-camp kid

[Anonymous]

What kind of neighborhood do you live in? Are you ok if he is roaming around and playing outside alone?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What kind of neighborhood do you live in? Are you ok if he is roaming around and playing outside alone?

Fine if he's with a friend or two and regular check-ins. We're in Chevy Chase.

[Anonymous]

We’ve had these types of summers when my kids were that age. With my oldest, it was forced because it was summer 2020. Luckily, we lived in a neighborhood with lots of kids and they were fine running around outside with them. I bought a huge blowup pool and we had slip and slide and the water hose. No camps were available so all kids were home.

The next few summers, we’d do a mix of half day or full day camps and weeks without any plans. I thought it worked pretty well, but as they’ve gotten older, they’ve gravitated more towards their devices and less playing outside. I found that was easier to monitor at 10. It’s also harder to find neighbors to play with because they’re in camps.

One thing I did find helpful was to do activities at the library. 10 is still an age where mine liked some of the planned things like learning to sew, Lego day, game day, read to dogs etc. We’d go a bit early so they could find books and then they’d do whatever the organized activity was. I’d work from the library and it got me a couple hours of work time. We’d usually have lunch and then they’d read their new books all afternoon.

[Anonymous]

My kids don’t do camps, but 1) I’m a SAHM, 2) I have multiple kids, and 3) my kids do summer swim team. As a PP mentioned, playing with friends at the pool can be great, relatively unstructured time.

The idea of playing with kids in the neighborhood is nice, but my kids pretty much only see their summer swim friends in the summer, because everyone is in camp or traveling. There’s no one just hanging around the neighborhood during the day.

One possibility is not signing up for camps, but hiring a HS or college student for a few hours a week to take him to the pool, a museum, a hike, or on other outings for a change of pace.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d tell him he is going to try rock climbing camp, music camp, and karate camp. Those are long days without structure.

If the kids is doing orchestra, a sports team and a martial art, that seems like plenty of structure? Kids are so over scheduled these days

Those are very likely evening activities. Again, this kid will have long days without structure.

[Anonymous]

is he against sleepaway camp? 10 years old is prime time for sleepaway camp.

[Anonymous]

My 11 year old says that he doesn't want to do camp, but he always enjoys himself once he's there. I would sign your kid up for 3-4 day camps spaced through the summer and try the other weeks at home.

[Anonymous]

You know your DC best. Do whatever makes sense for your family. Think about day camps that align with DCs' interests.

Ours really enjoy some specialized day camps. All of these examples have unstructured outdoor/playground time built into the day. So it is not structured all day long. Some also include some (supervised with a lifeguard) pool time.

1) Some places have STEM oriented camps that use Lego to build and test simple machines.

2) Other places might have a Robotics camp using Vex or using Lego or using something else.

3) DD really is into horses, so we found a camp where they ride but also learn how to care for horses.

4) DD also likes to do art. So we found a day camp that includes some art projects.

[Anonymous]

There is no way OP’s employer is cool with this if she were totally honest what she is planning to do.

[Anonymous]

Those were my kids in grade school. But I was a SAHM. We slept in (what a treat) and headed to an activity (pool, park, museum) around 3:30. If you hit it at four or after, it's half price. Score. We stayed up later and got up later. But again, I didn't have to work.

[Anonymous]

You lost me at tin can phone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Those were my kids in grade school. But I was a SAHM. We slept in (what a treat) and headed to an activity (pool, park, museum) around 3:30. If you hit it at four or after, it's half price. Score. We stayed up later and got up later. But again, I didn't have to work.

Lazy bums

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Those were my kids in grade school. But I was a SAHM. We slept in (what a treat) and headed to an activity (pool, park, museum) around 3:30. If you hit it at four or after, it's half price. Score. We stayed up later and got up later. But again, I didn't have to work.

Lazy bums

LOL. I expected this kind of response. My kids are young adults, in honors colleges. Well adjusted, no meds for anxiety or depression. They are slaying all day, and happy people. Lazy is okay sometimes. Summer when you're nine should be one of those times. I'd rather be us than you with your medicated lifestyle telling yourself it's all going to be okay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Those were my kids in grade school. But I was a SAHM. We slept in (what a treat) and headed to an activity (pool, park, museum) around 3:30. If you hit it at four or after, it's half price. Score. We stayed up later and got up later. But again, I didn't have to work.

Lazy bums

LOL. I expected this kind of response. My kids are young adults, in honors colleges. Well adjusted, no meds for anxiety or depression. They are slaying all day, and happy people. Lazy is okay sometimes. Summer when you're nine should be one of those times. I'd rather be us than you with your medicated lifestyle telling yourself it's all going to be okay.

Did you just say slay granny?

[Anonymous]

I think this would be ok for once a week while he goes to childcare the other 4 days. All summer? No way.