It might seem odd to be talking about the summer in the dead of winter but If parents don’t set aside time to make summer childcare plans now, their care options may become limited.
In fact, did you know that registration opens up for summer camps and activities as early as February? In addition, a 2022 Cost of Care survey found 43% of parents say it’s much harder to find childcare over the past year. Therefore, the urgency for parents to begin planning for the summer is much more apparent than in previous years.
Limited summertime childcare can lead to unplanned days off of work and reduced productivity as parents scramble to figure out how to watch over their children. With rising childcare costs and limited availability, planning for the summer now will help reduce the stress and anxiety that comes with pushing it off.
How can parents begin planning for the summer?
Care Coach Sarah Evans recommends that parents should first decide which type of care best suits their family’s needs.
- Would your children do well with summer camp, daycare or even a nanny?
- How often do you need care for your children?
- What is your budget?
- What is your back-up plan for the days that don’t go as planned?
What happens if parents wait too long and have limited options?
Waiting until summer comes to create a plan for childcare can be a major headache. Most summer camps and programs will be full, and parents will have extremely limited options, if any, to choose from. Parents may have to sacrifice important parts of their child’s care in order to find a program, camp or provider on short notice.
In more extreme cases, families may struggle to balance work and home responsibilities if summer programs are not available. “Parents who don’t have child care in place often risk being put in a situation where they cannot report to work due to lack of child care,” said Coach Sarah.
How can a Care Coach help?
Getting help from dedicated caregiver support can help families get started on the search for childcare that fit their children’s needs.
A Cariloop Care Coach may also encourage parents to think outside the box, drawing on examples from supporting numerous families through this challenge. For example, perhaps a family friend’s daughter is home from college for the summer and could help watch the children for a few hours a week. Maybe there are local churches or other community groups where children could go for another few hours a week.
Our Care Coaches regularly support parents as they explore their options for childcare during the summer, such as:
- Inquiring about availability and costs for care options that help meet the family’s needs
- Identifying any employer-sponsored benefits that might supplement summer childcare needs, such as backup care
- Preparing a back-up plan for summer childcare for the days that don’t go as planned
- Encouraging parents to get creative about child care, including the exploration of alternative options
- Staying in communication with programs a family is interested in to monitor any dropouts or cancellations that might lead to an opening for their child
Whether parents take proactive steps to plan for the summer or are scrambling to find available options, its important that their children maintain social and emotional engagement with peers during the summer months.
If the working parents in your organization are overwhelmed with finding summer childcare, let us help. Contact us to learn more about how our Care Coaches can support your employees in balancing it all during the summer.
