SAHM And Summer Camps

My boys go to the boys and girls club. It is only $50 a year and then you pay for any field trips they go on. The kids love it, they can go there and play games and such with other kids and leave when they want. It gives them an alternative to hanging out at home with me.

No, I would not work F/T just so I could pay 3k to send my kids to summer camp.

I get that it's hard to keep the kids busy, I have a 16 yo and 13 yo and it's over 115 here so mine are stuck in the house. So I get it but I would not change my whole life to keep the kids in a camp. Just don't see it. Good luck.

As a SAHM....summer camps were way beyond our ability to pay for them.

So, I joined a local pool and I took them five days a week, packing lunches and buying sunblock in bulk. The pool we joined at a local community center had summer camps and the different campers would come out to swim an hour from each camp...my kids had a lot of friends from school in these camps. So every hour a new group of friends would come out to swim....so it was like a daily play date but during their friends camps at the pool.

It cost us $100 a month vs $1300 a month for camp at the same place. I just had to do the prep and planning.

One day a week we hit up the local library for the age appropriate activity....story time, Lego club, every week they had a "show" like a magician or exotic animal trainer, etc etc.

We went out to lunch one day a week for a junk food lunch at Sams or Costco. I served healthy stuff the rest of the week.

One afternoon a week we went to a local museum that had free admission after three pm on that day of the week.

We went to dollar movie morning.

I worked hard to get us out of the house everyday and have activities...kinda like I was the camp director.

They did spend quite a bit of time on electronics when we were home but it was usually after a long day of fun in the sun/museum/library....or a play date with friends (which I get is hard to arrange with double working parents).

I worked full time from January through April this year on a 16 week contract job and we saved the money.

We put the kids in camp this summer for four weeks. I will say they are having a total blast. (Son from previous post is now loving camp).

Honestly working full time and scheduling not to have kids in after school care and the logistics of it all was so hard....I have a new deep deep respect for moms that work full time.

Personally, as much fun as my kids are having in camp if it meant me having to work full time to put them there....I am not sure if we couldn't have just as much fun with me directing inexpensive activities like in the previous years.

So my advice is no I don't think it is worth it just to be able to attend camp...having now done both. But you don't know until you try it....so maybe try it this year and see if it works for you...I personally wouldn't to it again, working to pay for camps.

Big hugs!!

There have been times in my life that I needed to work; not necessarily for the money inasmuch as I needed to work for my own well-being. I know other women who feel the same way. Many (gosh, so many) years ago, I was a nanny for a family with two girls, The mom and I were on a walk the other day and she commented that she was so glad I had wanted worked for her family because "I needed to work. I would have been so unhappy."

It all boils down to what's going to make mom feel happier. Some women find it tiresome and less fulfilling to be at home with the kids all day. Others (like myself at this point in time) thrive on being home with the kid and having the day to plan as we wish. No judgment here-- think long and hard about the pieces of both situations (working full time or just on weekends) and ask yourself what you think will make you happier.

Join a pool and have your 2 older kids or at least the 7 year old join the swim team. They will meet lots of kids to hang out with.

I'm a SAHM too. My girls did half day theatre camp for several weeks in the summer too.

Just curious....Are you a glass is half empty type of person? I have absoultely no idea why you think people would be nasty answering this question.

What is the purpose of the last sentence if your post?

"please refrain from responding if you are going to be nasty or not really read what I wrote"

That's uncalled for and downright rude. Geesh... Treat people like you want to be treated.

Rant over... Now your question

It's a personal choice and you have to do what is best for your family. How old are your children? What do your children want to do? What are their interests? Do they have friends who are not in your neighborhood but can communicate with to set up things to do? There are a lot of options (at least on my area) that works for all types of family dynamics.

The park and rec department camps are mostly day camps and not terribly pricey. Sleep away camps are not for everyone. My daughter loved one and hated the other.

Don't worry about what others are doing and how they make things work. Focus on you and your family. Be prepared to work FT during the week when school starts if you start that now. You can be SAHM and allow kids to go to camp as well. That also gives you a little "me" time to recharge!!

You've got this!!!

I really hate when people add the don't respond unless you meet my criteria. If people are responding who "not really read" what you wrote you may want to consider you are not being clear in your writing. That you added, "I should have added", ya know?

You don't really do a lot of outside the box thinking do you? My kids had friends that were in camps and usually a lot of those camps were basically child watching. In that case all I had to do was commit to keeping their child all day and they would drop them off. No need to go back to work, no need to put my kids in camp, easy as pie. It is much easier to drop a kid off at a friend's house than a camp.

Sure if you were hoping for the reciprocal "me time" of your kids going over to their friend's houses all day that won't happen but if you really just want your kids to have a fun summer with little work on you, that is how you do it. I did get a lot of free time on the weekends because when you are picking a friend to go with you on the guilt trip quality time with the kids, the one that spared you a day at camp tends to be first pick.

I guess I'm on the other side of the equation where finding summer childcare because I work FT has been a huge source of financial stress and anxiety year after year after year. I wouldn't got work FT just to be able to take on the expense of summer childcare. Not only do you have to either pick a camp for the whole summer and pray that your kids like it or string together multiple camps, but you then have to figure out transportation and what you're going to do with your kids before and after the camp day, which is always shorter than the work day. One year I had to hire a sitter to get my kids to camp and then to watch them from 3-6 after camp.

Also summer camp for your younger kids isn't a realistic option...pre-school camps generally run only a half day and your baby would have to go to daycare full time, which introduces tons of germs and the increased likelihood of dealing with illnesses. My kids stayed in daycare during the summer until they were in Kindergarten, so that's likely where your middle child would have to be if you were to do this next summer and were seeking FT care.

I know that a lot of the SAHMs in my town connect via Facebook and seem to manage to find other families in similar situations to connect with. If you haven't already, you may want to join any local parent groups on FB and just throw it out there that you're home during the summer and would love to have your kids socialize with others who are also home. There might also be a working parent who is piecing together childcare one day or week at a time who would welcome the opportunity to have their child spend some time at your house (perhaps you could offer to nanny/baby-sit for pay) or parents who need someone to pick up a child at camp and watch them for a couple of hours at the end of the day (again, also an opportunity to get paid if you want to charge) and that might add some structure to your days and get the kids off the electronics.

I'm not a SAHM, but my kids stay at home with a sitter in the summer, they are not in camps. So, I get where you are coming from. I know many kids go to camp, but there is usually somewhere that kids who don't go to camps hang out. I stumbled on them a local pool. It's not the pool we went to. But I found that basically all the kids who are not at camps go to this one particular pool in the summer. So, it was worth the extra $ to join that pool instead of the other (less expensive) one. Also, if you find a spot that has kids, don't give up after 1 try even if they are not kids you already know. Again, in my situation - my kids didn't know most of the kids at the new pool. But once my kids started to be regulars, they became friends. And now we are in our 3rd summer there, and my kids look forward to seeing their summer friends - we don't see some of these kids at all during the school year, but they pick right back up where they left off every June 1.

ETA: Another plug for checking out all the libraries in a 45 minute radius around your house. If I signed my kids up for all the free events at the 2 libraries closest to my house, they seriously would not have enough time in the day to do it all.

I have been (still am) a SAHM, so I fully understand feeling like you are out there alone with your kids and there is no age appropriate kiddos available b/c they are all off at camps or day care or whatever. Been there. No kids in the neighborhood. What to do?

Force yourself to do stuff. Go to the park. Go to the zoo. Go to the library. And my lifesaver... put a pool in your back yard. There. I said it. Nothing got my kids out of a funk/having the grumps like saying: "Go put your swimsuits on." They instantly were excited and friendly with each other again, and once they had been in the pool for an hour (sometimes they lasted for 2), they were tired from actually DOING something. They'd come in and get showered (daughter's hair had to be washed to avoid the green straw effect from the daily doses of chlorine), and then they'd watch a movie together. Or play legos. Or read. Or whatever. I didn't feel guilty over electronics, b/c they'd been physically active. And they were NICE, because they had been physically active.

Sometimes we were able to have other kids/families come over for an afternoon, but it certainly wasn't an every day (or even every week) occurrence. As they got older, the time in the pool became shorter, and their excitement waned (they are 14 and 17 now), but it was a good 7 or 8 years of fun that saved my sanity in the summers. My husband still says it was the best investment ever. Paid for itself many times over, just in memories and sanity saving.

A new pool float or dive toys were always exciting. ;)

My Mom's method was to throw us out doors in the morning after breakfast, let us back in for lunch (or eat outside) then stay outside till supper or dark which ever came first.
We climbed trees, rode bikes, played with sidewalk chalk, skipped rope, made forts out of cardboard boxes, played with bubbles/balls/what ever, played in the sandbox (or dirt pile), etc.
There's no end of things to do outside and they don't need other kids to play with and you don't need to arrange their play for them.
Just let them amuse themselves - nothing requiring electricity or batteries allowed.
They'll get the hang of it with a little practice.
It's up to you if you want to work but I'm not sure I'd do that just to send them to day camp.

As a SAHM I tried to break the summer up. We usually took a week or so family vacation, and spent at least one day a week going on a day trip, to the beach or museum/zoo or taking a hike. And we belonged to a swim club which was HUGE, can you do that? I took my kids to the pool several times a week, sometimes I stayed and read a book in the shade but usually I just dropped them off for a few hours. Talk about great exercise, when your kids spend two or three hours swimming it's not so hard to let them chill with their TV/video games all afternoon!
In addition I signed each kid up for REASONABLY priced camps, usually two weeks each, one sleep away. A week of sports camp at the local college, or art or tech camp, or "fun" camp through the community center, Girl Scout camp (you don't need to be a GS to go to camp) none of these were hugely expensive. I was lucky that we could afford them but even if I had to work I can't imagine working full time just to pay for camp! Don't you even have part time camps, through Parks & Rec, YMCA, local gymnastic/karate centers, etc? Or at least classes or activities your kids can go to to break up the monotony?
And by all means if you want to go to work you should there is NOTHING wrong with that!

I work and couldn't afford full-time camps for 3 kids! They would be almost $1000 a week for the good places around here - no way!

My kids have always had a sitter come to the house. Last summer my husband had just found employment after 9 months of no job. Fortunately, his job is 100% from home. HOWEVER, we don't want the kids sitting at home bored either. So we found a local recent high school grad who was willing to hang out with the kids 10 hours a week. We paid her $100 a week. They went to the pool, movies, library, etc...could you do something like that?

ADDED: I just saw you're in Coatesville, PA. My sister used to live there and everything was SO cheap there. Are the camps really that expensive??

I am a SAHM.
We did the free kids' movie on Monday at the theater -- check with your theater to see what day and time they have the free movie. We did story time at the library. We did museums with the passes from the library. We swam I our pool. We did lots of reading. We did school work every day - nothing too taxing, but a little something to keep their skills up. We cooked. We baked. We met up with friends at the playground. We did vacation bible school at every church that had one. Check with your parks and rec department to see if they have day camps. We did swimming lessons. We did music lessons (continuing from the school year).

I would no more work full time to be able to send my kids to camp! As mine got older, they went to church camp on scholarship. They attended free or low cost music camps.
Look around and find some activities. There are a lot of things to do -- but they are often hard to find. Once you find them, you'll meet other kids and parents just like you.

I'm a teacher who stays home with my kids in the summer. When they were still daycare age, they went three partial days a week during the summer. The first summer my daughter had aged out of daycare she was worried she would be board. We signed up for several camps. She had fun, but at the end of the summer she regretted not having more free time. Every summer we sign up for less. This year she is continuing her once a week gymnastics class, doing Bible school, a one day Church camp, and we splurged on o e expensive science camp. My son is doing something similar mi us the gymnastics class. He might try a one week soccer camp.

I haven't implemented it yet because my parents have been here the last 10 days, but I'm going to use a modified thing I saw on Facebook. There are a list of things that they have to complete. Make something, read for 30 minutes, clean something, help with something, play outside for 30 minutes, build something (Legos or similar), write something (letter to cousins or grandparents), play a game, activity from a science or art kit, etc. The one I saw on Facebook the parent expected the kids to do everything on the list and then they got unlimited screen time. I probably won't expect them to do everything and it won't be unlimited screen time. We try to go somewhere every afternoon--errands, park, library, weekly street fair, museum, pool, etc. We don't do play dates because most of their friends are in daycare all summer.

If your baby still naps in the afternoon, go somewhere in the morning.

It is a challenge and easy for me to give in to the screen time. Especially when I'm trying to get things done. But, I try to remember how great my summers were as a kid and I want the same for my kids.

I hear you, but i do think the benefits of being at home outweigh the hassle of being cruise director. Unless maybe you have a family of extroverts that really really can't handle being home. Maybe i was lucky but when i was able to have my summers free with my kids, we were able to go to the library weekly, plan cooking and baking projects, we visited grandma and cousins. it wasn't so much about them being with friends but them being with me.
Are there still "Meet Up groups" ? I did that a few times, those groups had playdates at the park or where ever and anyone that wanted to could come. it wasn't the same people all the time but if you are more social than i am you might meet some people in the same boat.
I don't know if your kids have chores but maybe it's time to step that up to the next level to keep them busier. or start a business walking dogs or something maybe elderly people in your neighborhood could use a hand.
I do get your struggle but i think you are really lucky and just need some fresh ideas and a little you time to be able to appreciate it again.
I don't think kids really remember much about being in camp all day all summer, but they do remember doing fun things with you.

My girlfrend is a school teacher and has summers off with her kids. She has the kids have breakfast and play with their toys while she does some light paperwork and cleaning. Then they go to the neighborhood park till lunch. park again from 2-4. Kids are allowed some electronics while dinner is prepped then bath/ stories and bed. Once or twice a week she does an outing to a museum or a playdate. Each of my sons manage to nap in a stroller if its naptime. Your one year old might prove siimilarly adaptable.

Best,
F. B.

When my kids were younger I'd send them to camp for 2 weeks then have them stay home for 2 and did that all summer. It was nice because they got to go to camp with friends but had enough down time at home so that we could do anything we wanted or nothing at all.

As far as keeping them away from electronics at home you could set up a schedule of summer reading from x-x lunch from x-x, games/hobbies/ x-x, tv x-x. If they know they'll be getting screen time and when it'll happen it will make it easier because you can just tell them to check the schedule.

If you can get a M-F job, camp is a wonderful experience. I look back fondly of my days at camp as a kid. So free to learn new activities and swim and have fun. My daughter bumps into camp friends all winter long and they always say - are you going back? Then they get excited. Camp provides such a social aspect that a child won't get if you're around at a play date or park. There is a lot more freedom and independence at camp than at school. So they do learn a lot about themselves. And I have I mentioned that they come home exhausted!

So of you can manage it - send them Even if it's only for a few weeks.

Enjoy your summer!!

I enroll my kids in one or two week long camps during the summer. My son is taking one full day camp. My daughter is doing one full day camp and one half day camp (both a week long). Besides that they have swim team (my daughter) and tennis practice (my son) each morning through July. I usually take them to the pool most afternoons. Every couple weeks we take a day and go see a museum or new exhibit. Besides that I let them veg out at home and they do use the computer/ipad/watch movies. But they also do things like art, reading, bike riding, roller blading just in the neighborhood. They run into friends often enough. Last summer my daughter was reeeaaaally bored by the 2nd week of August and so I signed them both up spontaneously for an afternoon "fun camp" at the local rec center. I just kind of play it by ear...we usually take a trip or two as a family too. Summers always seem to woosh by to me!

my local library has things going on all day long for all different age groups all summer long, they have a reading program that you sign up for and you get coupons for turning in reading logs. if i chose to i could go to story and craft on monday, kiddie yoga on tuesday, game time wednesday, movies thursday, and craft time friday. but i choose one activity a week so i am not constantly running out. i have my kids on a schedule, we do activities at certain times of the day, and there is only about 30 minutes of video games, and a movie or pbs tv show instead of a nap. the rest of the day they have a certain activity to do. we stay home most of the time (with the one library activity out) i don't struggle to go to playdates, if one happens then we go and play if not we make our own fun. we live in the cornfields so theres not many neighbor hood kids around to play either.

its like they have their own private "camp" here at home. and i like our summer. i get time to get stuff done while being with my kids. if i needed to work i would work a schedule opposite to dh so we wouldn't need childcare. so if i were you i would save myself the expense of summer camp and make my own. you can also invite other kids to join the fun but don't specifically plan a playdate.

I'm not a SAHM but we have a full time nanny so in a way she's a SAHM for them... I understand where you're coming from. Such a shame so many kids are in full time camps. Mine wouldn't like it. Would yours? We do some part day camps and luckily there are some friends with SAHM's so those kids are around some. And we go visit family. I echo people talking about the town pool or a pool club. If they join swim team, that can be a fairly low cost way of keeping them busy. And I also think if they've gotten exercise or been busy a few hours of the day, some TV and ipads are fine. That's what most of my generation (in my 40's ) did all summer... I know it's annoying to see them on ipads or the TV but maybe set a certain number of hours and then I think as kids relax, they get used to finding ways to entertain themselves. It's like adults on vacation. We can't relax at first but then get used to the slower pace and are more content to read for an hour. So I wouldn't go to work full time if I were you. Then the kids are rushed out the door every weekday morning all year and I think most people like the lazier summer days when possible.

Not sure why it has to be all or none. My girls took dance and they had a one week "camp" for that at their studio. They also did a one week sleepaway camp through church, at a local nature retreat. Other than that they went to their weekly dance classes, I took them to the public pool a few times a week, we spent a week with my parents, if my husband could get the time off we took a trip (usually camping.) The rest of the time they hung out at home, watched TV or read or helped me paint and do other projects around the house. I don't see why TV or ipads are a problem as long as you get out and do something for a few hours each day, but maybe that's just me. I like having some lazy downtime in the summer.

The last sentence wasn't necessary. Why are you bawling us out?

If you are asking if you should get a full time job in the summer just to send them to camp, I think that the answer would be no. Instead, plan out extra work during the school year and base your budget around it. Use summer camp judiciously. Kids get worn out having to go to summer camps all summer long. They need time to be at home some, seeing friends, going to the pool, going places with mom, etc. Summer time is also a great time for summer bridge activities. For example, I taught my kids multiplication and the states and their capitals over the summer so that they weren't having to learn them during the school year. I also worked on their cursive writing to help them write better and faster. It sure made homework time easier in my home.

Find different kinds of camps, for example, the local YMCA camp, science camp, some form of academic camp, even music camp if your child performs music. The free stuff is great too, like VBS. I found all types of these camps over the summer. I also had my kids in summer swim team, and took them to practice every morning. We had a schedule - swimming in the morning, then home for summer bridge activities and lunch, and then we'd do different things in the afternoon, like park or library, or even matinees. Dinner when dad came home and then sometimes back to the pool for fun swimming with dad. The summer swimming was pretty short - I'd put the kids in a few camps after that.

The thing is, you CAN limit their TV and gaming time. It's almost like a homeschooling concept, but it's activities other than just academics. Sure, I'd let them play in the house without a set schedule some, but that doesn't mean they were glued to a screen.

I know that my kids were lucky to not have to go to summer camp as daycare every summer. There was one kid in stay-away camp every year for 3 years at one of my son's 3 week overnight campstay (he was older then) whose parents sent him away for 6 straight weeks. Everyone quietly talked about the parents not wanting their kid. I felt sorry for him.

If you don't have to work during the summer in order to actually have some camp time for them, don't. Just really try to see summer as a time to schedule your household, and things will be better. It takes doing your "homework" early on to find things for them to do. There are free "family and kid" magazines that have a lot of those announcements in them. Check those out. And then, during those times that you DO send them to camp, then get a bunch of stuff done while they're gone.

If your finances allow it, why not put them in part time camp? There's no reason for them to go all day, every day, but it is nice for everyone to have a break from each other. My kids go some weeks every day from 9-12:00. Other weeks, they go not at all or twice a week from 9:00 - 1:00 to a cheap, pay-by-the-day camp. Having them home full time is too much for everyone. I can't justify paying for full time camp since I don't work, but I think part time is best for all of us.

When I worked and my kids were in after school programs with their buds, the nice part was that they hung with pals getting exercise 2 hours every day. So I get what you are saying.

Finding summer camps if you work full time can be daunting. First, there's getting them into the camps (I remember some tense moments from work sitting at my laptop while the recreation site crashed..). Getting it all organized with friends. Finding camps that actually run long enough so you can get there through traffic to pick them up. What I'm saying is, it can be challenging. And some kids find camps really long if it's not broken up.

Since I've been home, we try to do 2 camps a summer. Broken up with weeks of vacation (we do time away or stay-cations where we do day trips), it works I just space out the weeks so it makes sense. So one week home at a time if I can wing it.

We do a sleep away camp for older kids, and then rec center camp otherwise. Sleep away is pricey whereas you should be able to find a rec camp for not too bad. They go swimming during the day there too. For me, the cost is worth it. My kids look forward to it. And I know they have jam packed activity and fun - so the following week, I don't mind if we sit by pool and veg.

I think all kids wind up on electronics at some point. By week 2 last summer, I think I banned them in the mornings. So long as they found something to do early on in the day, I didn't mind if later they had down time.

Do you have a pool or inflatable pool (our kids loved our inflatable ones, that looked like bowls on our lawn) - because that is a big draw for kids. That's not why we got one, but I find we're the destination. It means you're sitting there supervising all afternoon, but if my kids are happy - I'm happy.

I think you just need to do some research and find out where the less expensive camps are. I'm a SAHM during the summer, and one of my sons is in camp most week. He goes to one or two VBS's, but he also goes to a couple of half day camps at the YMCA and through the Park District. He does go to a couple of more expensive camps, but the cheaper ones that the VBS's definitely offset the cost.

I hear you, I really do. The cost adds up so fast, but some kids get really, really tired of just being at home or they want electronics all day

Also, look for free kids movies and programs like http://www.kidsbowlfree.com/. One of our local theaters has free kids movies on Tuesdays and Saturdays. The library is good. A local bookstore might have programs. Our Barnes and Noble does. Lowes and Michaels both have activities for kids. I would just keep doing some research in your area to see what you can come up with. You don't have to fill every day, but having something to do each day or even 3 of the 5 days really helps!

I have always been at home in the summer, but I do a combination of activities. MY kids might do a week of sleep away camp, a week of day camp, then the rest is filled with camping and outings. We go to the pool, waterpark, zoo, museums, farms, sporting events, library, mini golf, bowling etc. I invite their friends to join us on our outings and find that their friends families reciprocate. I also have daily chores they need to complete. I do usually do work part time in the summer, just a couple of short shifts a week.

ETA: I just read the part about the toddler who is still napping. When I had a toddler who was napping he napped on the go, in the car or in the stroller. If your toddler is a year old I would move to one nap a day, and either work outings around that nap or let him nap in the stroller.

I think I would try out a few of the part-time camps if you want, or at least some swim lessons to keep the kids active and occupied during the day. Then try to get them to play with the neighbors in the evenings after the kids return from camps. During the rest of the days, I'd plan ahead and have at least one thing scheduled for each day. Maybe one day you go to the library, another day you bake cookies together, then arts and crafts, etc. I have also been known to visit a toy store and let the kids pick out a new item to keep them busy for the next several days. It's cheaper than daycare and camps. I'd also try to get them out to parks and walks each day. The name of the game at those ages is staying active and having fun, then allowing for some screen time in between activities for momma's sanity.

I totally understand why you would add your last sentence...

You have good suggestions to choose from below. Good luck.

I echo a few moms below in that my two children have a few weeks of camp scheduled with out of state traveling and local fun here and there. The YMCA can be expensive but it depends. Look into that. Community centers, churches and GS are also options so I agree with that as well.

You're going to have to be creative but that should bring some fun and excitement to building a schedule for the children.

Camp is a wonderfully enriching experience for the children and also great for the parents. I would try to get them into some kind of all day camp for at least 2-3 weeks during the summer.

When my kids were little I had charge over 6 from the ages of 7-1. I had the option of either taking them out or keeping them home. Strollers are great for the little ones nap on the go. My philosophy has always been the baby is supposed to fit into your life not your life fitting around the baby. When you adopt this way of thinking it really changes the dynamic of the home.

The youngest of the six is now almost 22 years old so this was a very long time ago but I would still do the same with summer camps. I love where I live because there are plenty of churches with summer camp programs that we are totally a part of still. My 22 year old is the Sunday school teacher of the kindergarten set. They adore him. They think he is the best jungle gym ever. LOL

Have a great summer. Don't stress. Just make a decision that works for your family and enjoy. These times fly by fast.

You have to do what works best for your family. We've done different things at different stages. I've worked second shift opposite my husband's schedule, I've worked part-time in the office while bringing my firstborn to work with me, I've done combo home/office, and I've worked entirely from home. My husband has always worked full time day shift since having kids, but he has also taken part time evening/weekend work when things have been tight. I do know that I would not work full time just so I could send my kids to daycare or summer camp care. That is why I left my FT job in the first place.

You may not need a childcare-type camp, but if it is affordable there is the option of going to a 4-14 day sleepaway summer camp. It may be too late to do that this summer, as registration can fill up before school is even out.

I don't stress out overmuch about screen time, but my kids don't go zombie and have always had a variety of interests, so it was never an issue. I know some kids need stricter time limits.

There are other kids around during the day, but you may have to go find them. We have a membership to the city pool, there are always kids there. Both of mine play chess (open to all ages) at the library on Tuesdays. Our library has activities all summer for all ages, babies to adults. Our city has a great Boys & Girls Club program. Membership is only $10/year per kid here, but that can vary a ton by location.

I have always felt strongly that both parents (in our household) work and our child goes to a traditional school and summer camps.

I say traditional school, I would love for our child to go to a public school, however, the schools in our area are not ranked schools, so we pay tuition.

The camps can be a challenge as well. Our child has out grown the YMCA, is now in a school camp, tries to fit in and get along, but at times has complaints about other kids.

Right now she is in a hockey camp which is more fit for her, but there is still a kid being mean to her. It is difficult to find happiness for all.

Your toddler is completely old enough to only do one nap per day, after lunch. That would free up your time more.

As for keeping them busy...it's summer. To me that means playing on their electronics, watching marathon TV, and more. It's summer. It's their vacation. They'll go to child care and watch TV, play outside, play some toys, do computer stuff, and it will cost you. The toddler will get a pre-pre-school type of day with morning circle time, lessons/table time, play time, snacks, more playtime, lunch, nap time, afternoon snack time, and more playtime.

Actually, I know a few sahm or sahd that have their kids enrolled in either full time summer camp, part time camp or classes to keep them busy. Keeps the sanity all around and the kids get to interact with others during the day.