Summer day care: 11 summer child care options for any schedule and every budget

11 summer child care options for any schedule and every budget

Yay! Summer break is here … for your kids. For you? Not so much. For many parents, when school’s out, it means it’s time to find summer child care. Two popular choices that pop into parents’ heads are summer camps or hiring a nanny (and for good reason — they’re great options). However, depending on your schedule and your budget, these options may or may not be the perfect fit. 

“Every year, I register for a few camps and then assume I’ll make it work with sitters and grandparent help for the rest,” says Nora Esposito, a mom of three in Huntington, New York. “Every year, I wish I was better prepared.”

Whether you need care all summer or affordable ideas for filling in the gaps, these 11 summer child care options (or a mix of a few) should have you covered. 

1. Hire a summer nanny

Find a summer nanny

Hiring a summer nanny is one of the easiest options for parents that requires the least amount of coordination, as nannies will typically come to your home. You may find a college student or teacher looking for seasonal work, but summer’s also a good start time to hire a nanny who will care for your child all year. Some nannies may also be open to participating in a nanny camp, in which they can join forces with other nannies to plan regular activities for the kids throughout the summer. 

Benefits:

• Convenient.
• Personalized care. 
• Daily activities planned around the child’s development and interests.

Cost: Based on 2021 Care.com data, the national average cost of a nanny for one child averaged $694 per week, or about $17.35 per hour, and $715 per week for two children, or about $17.88 per hour. Rates vary based on where you live, the nanny’s experience, what you need them to do and how many kids you have. For a better idea of what your costs could look like, try our rates calculator. 

To cut costs, make sure you pay your summer nanny on the books so you can take advantage of tax breaks. There’s a good chance the amount you’ll save will be more than you owe in taxes! 

Tips: Start looking early! Data shows most parents don’t start looking for a summer nanny until June — and by that time, most available nannies (especially the good ones!) have already lined up work. 

2. Bring in a summer sitter

Find a summer babysitter

If your schedule is more flexible or your summer care needs are more sporadic or less frequent, you may want to hire a part-time babysitter (or two) to fill in on days you’re in office or need child care at home. Babysitters often work year-round, and there are also seasonal sitters, often students and teachers, who need extra income.

Hiring a summer sitter your kids love is a great way to keep everyone happy and cared for, and many sitters are also available for evenings and weekends too. 

Benefits:

• Flexible.
• Cost-effective.
• Personalized care.   

Cost: The hourly rate for a babysitter ranges anywhere from $13.25 per hour in San Antonio, Texas to $19.50 per hour in Seattle, Washington, based on current Care.com data. For a better idea of the cost of a sitter near you, try our babysitting rates calculator. Plus, you can apply these babysitting expenses to the child care tax credit next April and save up to $1,200. 

Tips: Again, start looking early! And, if possible, try to line up more than one sitter for filling in gaps. 

3. Consider a nanny share

Find a nanny share

More affordable than hiring a full-time nanny for your family alone is a nanny share, in which two (or sometimes more) families share one nanny and rotate homes. 

Benefits:

• More affordable than 1:1 nanny care.
• Daily activities planned around the child’s development and interests.
• Socialization with at least one other child.

Cost: In general, the cost of sharing a nanny is about two-thirds what you’d pay to have your own nanny. Two-thirds of the national average cost of a nanny for one child ($694 per week) is about $463 per week, which adds up to about $231 in savings a week if you share a nanny with another family. And just like hiring a nanny on your own, paying on the books gives both families in a nanny share the opportunity to capitalize on tax breaks.

Tips: Check out The Complete Guide to Nanny Shares for everything from getting started to making it work.  

4. Find or create a summer child care co-op

A child care co-op is an especially cost-effective option that works well for families with a parent who has a part-time or flexible schedule. “Child care co-ops — swaps with friends and neighbors — are a great low-cost option,” says Leslie Forde, a working mom advocate, researcher and founder of Mom’s Hierarchy of Needs. “Everyone takes turns watching the kids, so that each person gets at least one or two days of coverage, free of charge.”

“Child care co-ops — swaps with friends and neighbors — are a great low-cost option. ”

— LESLIE FORDE, WORKING MOM ADVOCATE

Benefits: 

• Convenient. 
• Extremely cost-effective. 
• Socialization with at least one other child. 

Cost: In most setups, a child care co-op is free for the families involved. Hosting families may need to plan to pay for snacks or summer activities when they’re on duty, depending on the terms agreed upon by the co-op members.

Tips: There is a limit to how many kids the average parent will feel comfortable watching on their own, so this and the number of hours you can commit to providing care may put a cap on how much child care you can count on. The success of this model relies on regular, clear communication between co-op members.

With options ranging from a few days to the entire summer, summer day camps are a fun way to keep kids busy in the summer months. 

“School-aged children thrive in the company of their peers, and summer camp programs provide them with the opportunity to continue social interactions throughout the summer months,” notes Donna Whittaker, vice president of curriculum and education at Big Blue Marble Academy.

“School-aged children thrive in the company of their peers, and summer camp programs provide them with the opportunity to continue social interactions throughout the summer months.”

— DONNA WHITTAKER, VICE PRESIDENT OF CURRICULUM AND EDUCATION, BIG BLUE MARBLE ACADEMY

Benefits:

• Reliable care.
• Social interaction. 
• Age-appropriate activities and skills, which, according to Whittaker, can prevent “learning loss” in the summer.

Cost: The price tag on day camps can vary widely, from pricey sailing camps to budget-friendly day camps hosted by your local YMCA or Parks and Recreation department. According to the American Camp Association (ACA), the average price of day camp is around $178.49 a day this year, and for sleep-away camp, it’s $448.53 a day. You may qualify for the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit if camp is needed so you can work and if your children are under age 13.

Tips: If you haven’t capitalized on early bird specials, which can cut camp costs, inquire about financial aid options or research free or low-cost camps in your area.  

6. Enroll in day care

Find a day care

Enrolling your child in a local day care center is a great way to get reliable full-time summer coverage that will fuel their socialization and mind. 

“Young kids thrive in learning environments that provide meaningful experiences, supportive interactions and continuity in learning, and day care summer programs do just that,” says Allison Wilson, senior director of curriculum and innovation at Stratford School. “Between reading and STEAM activities that bring stories to life, students can continue their social-emotional and academic development through learning experiences during the summer months.”

Benefits:

• Reliable care.
• Social interaction. 
• Age-appropriate learning activities.

Cost: In 2020, the average cost for one child in a day care or child care center was $340 a week and $300 a week for a family care center — and those figures continue to rise. You can help offset these costs by applying the expenses to the child care tax credit in the same way you would for a summer camp.

Tips: Start looking early, and put your child on multiple waitlists. Priority will always go to returning families, so finding a day care to take your child can be tricky if they’re not enrolled year-round. 

7. “Stack” online classes

If you have older kids who are comfortable using a computer, Forde suggests “stacking” online classes — aka, having kids take back-to-back online courses to fill chunks of time. While it’s not a viable option for the entire summer, it’s good for filling gaps, particularly when you’re working from home. 

“There are amazing online programs for kids that can keep them engaged and learning something new for an hour or two at a time,” Forde says. “I’ve strategically stacked two classes, such as a piano class followed by a math lesson, for my kids back-to-back at times when I need added coverage. ”

Benefits:

• Lots of availability. 
• Summer learning on a wide variety of topics from home. 

Cost: Depending on the class and duration, prices vary widely. Camp Invention offers an online program — Camp Invention Connect — which costs $245 for a week of classes from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and includes supplies for each day. Outschool offers a database of smaller scale kids’ classes to choose from, including an Intro to Animation course that meets once a week for 55 minutes for five weeks and costs $160. 

Tips: Get kids involved in the process. They’re more likely to get excited — and stay put — when it’s a course they helped choose. 

8. Consider an au pair

Au pairs hail from foreign regions and stay with families for an extended period. In exchange for lodging (and usually a small allowance), they help care for kids and do light housework. While summer-only au pairs aren’t an option due to the specific nature of the visa, once you’ve had an au pair for 12 months, you can elect 6- or 9-month options thereafter.

“Last summer, we were in a bind, so we decided to try an au pair — best decision!” says Aimee Goldsmith, a mom of four in Greenwich, Connecticut. “I was nervous about having someone live with us — and worried she wouldn’t feel comfortable — but it was a unique relationship and helped us so much throughout the summer when my kids were off, but my husband and I were still working.”

Benefits:

• Convenient.
• Personalized care. 
• Exposure to different cultures, languages and customs.

Cost: Trying to find an au pair without an agency is difficult, and not advisable. In addition to matching “host families” with an au pair, the agency sponsors visas, covers training and offers au pair accident and sickness insurance, among other things. Prices vary, but for reference, the agency Au Pair in America requires an annual program fee of $9,275; a match fee of $475; and a minimum weekly stipend for au pairs of $195.75 (which is required across the country).  

Tips: After the initial fees, a weekly stipend of under $200 may not seem like a lot, but there are other costs to consider, including food, transportation and auto insurance if they drive your car. 

9. Work in a play-friendly environment

For some parents, working while your kids play or do activities nearby is an option, especially if you can work remotely. 

“If your child has reached the age and level of independence where you can get some work done while they play,” Forde suggests, “try setting up a series of play activities or bring art supplies and books.” You can try this setup at a local cafe or community center, or even at the playground, if you have Wi-Fi or a portable hotspot. 

Benefits:

• Free. 
• Works in a pinch. 

Tips: Go prepared! Don’t expect your kids — especially if they’re little — to sit quietly next to you while you work. Bring activities (preferably ones they’ve never seen before).

10. Consider a hotel

Yes, really. “A friend of mine paid for a membership at a local hotel for access to their pool and fitness center — largely because they provide child care,” Forde says. “If you live in an area where there are some larger hotels, you might find a similar option where, via membership, you can take your child to activities there or to the on-site sitter while you can get work done.”

“A friend of mine paid for a membership at a local hotel for access to their pool and fitness center — largely because they provide child care.”

— LESLIE FORDE, WORKING MOM ADVOCATE

“There are also hotels that offer ‘kids clubs’ and programming for hotel guests,” Forde continues. “Even if you don’t actually choose to stay, it can be worth the money to pay for a membership or hotel stay in order to get access to the child care coverage for a short stint in the summer.”

Benefits:

• Activities and socialization.

Cost: Prices vary, but the El Conquistador in Tucson, Arizona charges $45 for four hours of child care and $75 for eight hours (both include meals). That said, you also need to pay for a room, which averages $155 to just under $200 per night in the summer months. Go in on the room with another working parent, and it gets more affordable. 

Tips: Book far in advance if possible, for both availability and rate purposes. 

11. Build a hybrid summer care plan

Combining various care options may be the setup that works best with your budget and schedule. This could mean taking part in a co-op a few mornings each week, signing up for two or three camps and filling in the blanks with a favorite babysitter. Or you might combine a half-day camp with a half-day nanny share.

Cost: Pick and choose care options, based on your budget. 

Tips: Coordinating multiple care options requires advanced planning, so avoid winging it. Figure out what’s most important to you (such as participation in a particular camp or care at a consistent time), and then, build your summer care plan from there.

Summer Child Care Archives – Treasure Valley Family YMCA

YMCA Summer Child Care is full of excitement, discovery, adventure and FUN. In addition to the programming offered during the school year, summer at the Y includes service-learning projects and weekly field trips—including swimming at the Y. Group and individual activities include:

• Summer Learning Program
• Leadership development activities
• Weekly field trips
• Arts & humanities projects
• Healthy snack time & physical activities
• STEM activities
• Weekly swimming
• Science and math exploration
• Social Responsibility project

Financial Assistance
The Treasure Valley Family Y believes that every child is of promise. Therefore, no one is denied Y services due to the inability to pay. For more information about our Financial Assistance program, please call 208 344 5502 ext 254.

About Y Staff
In addition to being licensed Child Care Professionals* and trained in CPR and First Aid, our teachers practice the Y’s four character values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility in everything they do. They also undergo over 35 hours of special training on Child Abuse Prevention and Developmentally Appropriate Curriculum.

*A Child Care License is issued by the City of Boise and the State of Idaho. The process includes an FBI fingerprint and background check.

Ages: 5 to 12 years

Address: 950 W State Street, Boise, ID
Phone: 208 344 5502 ext 219
Schedule:

Summer Schedule:

Schools Served: Adams, Highlands, Longfellow, Lowell, Roosevelt, Washington, Whittier

Child Care Facility Type:
School-Age Child Care
Summer Child Care

Learn More About This Location»

Address: 3720 S Indiana Ave, Caldwell, ID
Phone: 208 459 2498 ext 655
Schedule:

Summer Schedule:

Schools Served: Caldwell School District, Vallivue School District, Heritage Charter, Mosaics Public School, Vision Charter, Thomas Jefferson

Child Care Facility Type:
School-Age Child Care
Summer Child Care

Learn More About This Location»

Address: 1441 N Sevenoaks Way, Eagle, ID
Phone: 208 939 6735
Schedule:

Summer Schedule:

Schools Served: Eagle, Eagle Hills, Galileo, Seven Oaks, Eagle Elementary School of the Arts

Child Care Facility Type:
School-Age Child Care
Summer Child Care

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Address: 5225 S Stockenham Way, Meridian, ID
Phone: 208 344 5502 ext 538
Schedule:

Summer Schedule:

Schools Served: Hillsdale

Child Care Facility Type:
School-Age Child Care
Summer Child Care

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Address: 4550 N Coppercloud Way, Meridian, ID
Phone: 208 855 5871
Schedule:

Summer Schedule:

Schools Served: Barbara Morgan STEM Academy, Heritage Middle, Hunter, Paramount, Pleasant View, Sawtooth Middle, Willow Creek

Child Care Facility Type:
School-Age Child Care
Summer Child Care

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Address: 2900 E Rome Drive, Meridian, ID
Phone: 208 861 4832
Schedule:

Summer Schedule:

Schools Served: Pepperidge, Siena, Spalding, Victory Middle

Child Care Facility Type:
School-Age Child Care
Summer Child Care

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Address: 12435 West Ustick Road, Boise, Idaho, USA
Phone: 208 321 7559
Schedule:

Summer Schedule:

Schools Served: Ustick, Summerwind, River Valley, and Pioneer.

Child Care Facility Type:
School-Age Child Care
Summer Child Care

Learn More About This Location»

Address: 1050 W State Street, Boise, ID
Phone: 208 344 5502 ext 219
Schedule:

Summer Schedule:

Schools Served: Adams, Highlands, Longfellow, Lowell, Roosevelt, Washington, Whittier

Child Care Facility Type:
School-Age Child Care
Summer Child Care

Learn More About This Location»

Address: 12650 W Bridger Street, Ste 120, Boise, ID
Phone: 208 344 5502 ext 415
Schedule:

Summer Schedule:

Schools Served: Cecil D. Andrus

Child Care Facility Type:
Full-Time Infant, Toddler, and Preschool Child Care
School-Age Child Care
Summer Child Care

Learn More About This Location»

Accessibility

About The Y

• Our Cause

• Employment

• Welcoming and Inclusion

• Leadership Team

Membership

• Join Today

• Membership Benefits

• Financial Assistance

Programs

Welcoming and Inclusion

At the Y, we welcome everyone whose behavior adheres to our core values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility.

We advance our cause by building a stronger and more equitable community where everyone has the opportunity to learn, grow, thrive, and reach their full potential with dignity.

The Y is a force for building bridges among all people–regardless of ability, age, birthplace, cultural background, ethnicity, faith, gender, gender identity, ideology, income, race, or sexual orientation.

The Y is for all.

© Treasure Valley Family YMCA

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Summer and holiday skin care

After a cold winter, we always look forward to summer and holidays to pamper our skin with warm sunshine. At the same time, we should not forget that it is during the summer period that our skin is subjected to serious tests – dry and hot air, dust and, of course, ultraviolet radiation. All these negative factors increase the work of the sebaceous glands, leading to skin pollution, various inflammations, peeling, dehydration, contribute to the formation of wrinkles and increased pigmentation.

Therefore, in the summer, it becomes necessary to adjust home facial care in such a way as to protect the skin from the negative effects of the environment.

Facial skin care at this time of the year should also remain comprehensive and consist of important stages – cleansing, toning, moisturizing, nourishing and protecting. But at the same time, some cosmetics should be excluded, replaced or added.

Step 1. Cleansing

Cleansing the face skin in summer should be more thorough, because the dust that clogs the pores can provoke various inflammations and rashes.

All cleansers in summer should be as light as possible, for example in gel form, and preferably contain refreshing and antibacterial ingredients.

Cleansing should be carried out in the morning and evening, and during the day, if necessary, special matting or cleansing wipes can be used.

Step 2: Toning

Applying toner is one of the most important skincare steps you shouldn’t skip.

In summer, the skin of the face especially needs toning. Light tonics and hydrosols are well suited for this. It is good if the product contains extracts of chamomile, calendula, aloe, witch hazel, urea, components that have an antioxidant, soothing, disinfecting effect.

Step 3. Basic care

In summer, the skin needs increased hydration and nourishment. The ideal cream for summer care should have a light texture (gel, fluid, emulsion, serum), intensely moisturize, protect against antioxidants and active ultraviolet radiation.

It is good if the composition contains amino acids, lactic acid, hyaluronic acid, collagen, elastin, vitamins C and E. Undesirable components are retinol, enzymes and fruit acids, as they increase the sensitivity of the skin to UV radiation.

Summer day face cream must contain SPF, because Active exposure to sunlight contributes to premature aging of the skin.

GiGi Recovery Daily Hypoallergenic Light Day Cream SPF30 is ideal for daily skin care during the summer. It contains innovative components, perfectly moisturizes, soothes and protects the skin, promotes the production of collagen.

For aging skin, the GiGi New Age Comfort Day Cream concentrated cream is an excellent solution, which intensively moisturizes the skin, preventing dehydration, smoothes wrinkles, tightens the oval of the face and contains sunscreens.

In summer, the skin needs not only hydration, but also nourishment. At the same time, it is better to use the cream for nourishing and restoring the skin at night, about one and a half to two hours before bedtime.

Don’t forget to take care of the skin around the eyes and use a light gel with moisturizing, cooling and lifting effect instead of an eye cream.

Step 4. Optimal make-up

In summer, it is desirable to minimize the use of decorative cosmetics. It is better to completely abandon the foundation, replacing it with a light moisturizing BB or CC cream with SPF.

Step 5. Additional care

In addition to the main daily care steps, in summer the skin also needs additional care in the form of moisturizing masks, soft gommages and scrubs, and enzyme peels.

Antioxidant and moisturizing concentrated serums are a must have for the summer season.

Our lips are also exposed to the sun, so stock up on a good SPF balm for them.

Step 6. Sun protection

One of the main features of facial skin care in the summer is mandatory sun protection.

Cream with SPF 15-20 is suitable for the city. If the skin is prone to pigmentation, then protection should be at least SPF 30. On vacation in hot countries, mountains, where the sun shines especially hot, you should stock up on cream with SPF 50-60.

GiGi’s special line of sunscreens contains UVA and UVB filters and is enriched with beneficial ingredients that protect the skin from sun exposure to the maximum. GiGi Sun Care SPF 50 is ideal for the face.

The beauty and health of the skin require an integrated approach, so in addition to home care, be sure to follow your diet and drink regularly.

Wear sunglasses and a hat to protect yourself from squinting in the sun and prevent expression lines from forming.

By following these tips, you will preserve the beauty of your skin and look irresistible even in 40-degree heat!

cleansing, moisturizing, sun protection

Care in the warm season is significantly different from what is practiced in the cold. In summer, we are not ready to overload the skin, but we do not want to sacrifice an effective result either. What kind of products should be in a cosmetic bag?

3 minutes

Updated:
07/12/2022

Elena Lugovtsova
Author

Maria Nevskaya
Dermatologist

Contents

• Summer skincare
• Sun protection
• Cleansing
• Humidification

Summer skin care

Multi-step skin care during the hot season seems like a bad idea. That’s all – first “washer”, then tonic, essence, serum and at the end of the cream – good for winter, but not now. In summer, you can quite meet 10 minutes in the morning and 15 in the evening. This is enough to:

It would be great if they invented a product that would cleanse, and invigorate, and refresh, and mattify, and moisturize, and protect at the same time. Then our stay at the cosmetic table would be reduced to two minutes altogether. But while there is no such super remedy, I offer a list of my summer favorites.

Back to index

Sun protection

These products are applied last, but let’s start with them – the most important in summer. In June, I tried a lot of sunscreens. And, perhaps, in terms of ease and uniformity of application, comfort and invisibility on the face, 9 is the leader in my personal rating.0102 Anthelios Mattifying Facial Spray with SPF50, La Roche-Posay . It can even be worn over makeup! At the same time, it is not sticky and does not leave whitish streaks. It spreads very easily and leaves a nice cooling finish. And the spray controls oily sheen throughout the day and at the same time fits into any handbag.

Advice
If you don’t want to get freckles, age spots and a “map of Paris” on your face prematurely, use protective products. Do this even on days when the sun hides behind the clouds, and even if you plan to be outside for no more than 15 minutes! The optimal degree of protection is SPF 25, but facial products with SPF 30 and above are recommended for white girls. And yes, if you use creams and sprays with chemical filters, apply them 10-15 minutes before leaving the house.

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Cleansing

Thick Cleansing Gel I replaced at the beginning of summer with Light Moisturizing Foam Cleanser from CeraVe. Both because it is light and because it is moisturizing: thanks to hyaluronic acid, ceramides and amino acids, there is neither a feeling of discomfort nor a feeling of skin tightness in the composition. I also really like that it can wash off eye makeup – the foam does it easily and naturally. Even resistant mascara is for rent.

Advice
Those with oily and combination skin have a hard time in summer. You will not have time to wash your face, as your face shines again! And in the evening, rashes and inflammations may appear … Matting wipes will solve the problem – in the summer, in my opinion, they should be in every purse. These wipes absorb dust and other contaminants. Use them throughout the day as needed and always before powdering (if this is not done, the powder can become a “conductor” of impurities in the pores, due to which local inflammation may appear on the face by evening.

Well, if you still have breakouts, La Roche-Posay’s Effaclar Ultra Concentrated Serum for Imperfection Skin will help. It contains as many as three acids with exfoliating and renewing effects, and in a few days there will most likely be no trace of imperfections.

Moisturizing

I have several favorite moisturizers with different textures. I choose according to my mood. But, to be honest, for a couple of weeks now I’ve been applying only a new Revitalift Filler Day Cream SPF 50 by L’Oréal Paris. It just has a sea (as many as three types) of hyaluronic acid, which quickly replenishes moisture in the skin thanks to microfiller technology. A high protection factor (SPF 50) from the sun allows you to save on additional care. When else to use such a cream, if not in the hot summer?

When it comes to skin care around the eyes, here I am more conservative and for a year now I have not changed cream-filler Renergie Yeux Multi-Lift Ultra by Lancôme. It has everything you need for this delicate area – natural hyaluronic acid for hydration, flax seed extract for nutrition and ingredients that eliminate dark circles and puffiness. This cream relieved my skin of “crow’s feet”, for which I am very grateful to him (that’s why I’m not going to change it to any other yet).