What do working parents do during the summer?

[Anonymous]

My DD is currently enrolled in a full day elementary school and attends after school extended day care. I drop her off at the bus stop at 8:15 and I pick her up at school by 5pm. However, once summer rolls around, I am wondering what to do. What do other working parents do? My DD is 5 and I don't have relatives nearby who can care for her all summer. Summer school is one month long from July 7 until Aug 7 in my county, and lasts only half days from 9 until noon. I could send her to visit grandparents in FL for about 2 weeks, but any suggestions for the rest of the time? Any good summer camps or programs? Do you have to hire a nanny or au pair for the summer? Please tell me what you have done for summer care of elementary age children while you are at work? Thanks!!

[Anonymous]

You can do a summer au pair.

[Anonymous]

There are lots of great summer camp programs. You may want to specify where you live to get some ideas.

The Levine School of Music has a great summer program. They have camps in MD, DC and VA.

[Anonymous]

You'd better start looking for camp. Signups have started at many.

The hardest summer to fill is the one after kinder.

Levine is great, but with extended day, quite expensive. That solves 3 weeks.

[Anonymous]

Depending on where you live - there are some more camp fairs coming up so you can shop a number of camps at once. Arlington puts on a great Friday night event - my kids love going to that one (2/22) - mostly NOVA camps but some NW DC ones, but not as many MD ones. In MD, I know Sidwell Friends Lower School is hosting a fair at the end of the month too (2/23?)... more MD camps there. I am sure there are other fairs coming up as well. Good luck, I too work and have to do the camp extended day options (some offer both morning and afternoon extended day).