Want a cheap alternative to summer camps and daycare to keep your kids busy this summer? Form a co-op and a have a summer camp of your own! You’ll not only save money, but most of the time you’ll have others to watch your kids for free.
To start, find some other willing parents who want to give their children something to do and are willing to help out in order to save money. Together, you can plan the schedule and hours of your summer camp. You might choose to do a morning camp or an afternoon camp, which meets once to a few times every week. Of course the schedule is up to you and the other parents involved.
Consider assigning each day’s activities and schedule to each of the parents involved. If your schedule is Monday through Thursday throughout the summer, and you have four parents involved, each of you could take one day a week to watch the kids and come up with the day’s activities. Once you have set up your schedule, and each parent has his or her assigned days, you can individually begin to plan for those days’ activities for which you are responsible.
Together, you can agree on how to deal with expenses. The easiest plan might be for the responsible parent to be in charge of costs for the activities they plan.
Ideas for your summer camp can include:
* Crafts
* Bubbles, water play, or swimming
* Preparing simple recipes
* Indoor games
Planning activities will probably come easy to you. The kids in the playgroup will likely suggest some things that they would like to do as well. If you would like, each parent involved can focus on one category of activities. Perhaps you choose arts and crafts. Every time the kids come to your home, you spend some time during the day making a craft for the kids to take home. This way parents can cater to their own interests or talents.
Be creative in planning your summer camp, and brainstorm ideas with other interested parents. Not only will your children benefit from playing with other kids and having some constructive things to do this summer, but you’ll save money and have some time to yourself since most days the kids are at someone else’s house!
For other ideas on how to keep kids busy with crafts, visit our Kids’ Crafts Blog.