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Summer Programs?


MommyToAshley wrote: Just wondering what kind of summer programs you have put your kids in and what they liked/disliked?

There is a program through our parks that is like a day camp... you drop them off and pick them up each day. There's a different theme each week and it lasts for four weeks. They do crafts, sports, swimming, etc. There's a preschool program that some of my friends are putting their daughters in. But I don't feel comfortable leaving Ashley at a park for 5 hours and not be there. Escpecially since I am sure a lot of the volunteers are younger highschool kids. It's outside and anything could happen... it's a totally different situation than sending her to preschool. So, I don't think I am going to send Ashley for a few years.

I am looking for an alternative ... any ideas? Maybe something I could be involved with her as well?

ETA: This sounds weird after I posted about her being in too many activities.. but this would be to fill the time when preschool is out and there's a break in the swimming lessons.

booey2 replied: I know our city does stuff like this but the boys just go to the sitters ( posted on your other thread about too many activities) and she keeps them quite busy. Sorry I am no help.

Bee_Kay replied: I don't have any ideas, but it brought to mind (actually it came crashing down on me just now LOL) that my daughter will be 15 years old this summer..... and she will be of legal age to get her Drivers Permit.... OMG!! ohmy.gif

MommyToAshley replied:
You know, I am thinking that we may just do stuff together as well. We belong to the Children's Museum, the zoo, we go on bike rides, we are getting passes to King's Island, and there's always swimming. There's tons to do in the summer... I guess the camp just sounded like a neat thing when I read about it.

Bee_Kay replied: Sorry to butt on with an OT reply --

Dee Dee - my dh saw the pictures of your daughter and he laughed and said "Well, isn't she a little ham" LOL

2whippets replied: You know, I too was concerned about leaving my daughter alone for several hours but in the end, she really enjoyed doing something on her own and I liked having some time as well. The program I had her in sounds much like the program you just described. It was led by a lot high school kids with different activities interspersed throughout the day. I found out ahead of time if the kids leading the activities had any qualified training and if they were CPR qualified (very important!). They were remarkably organized and Lauren had a blast. She did riding, archery, swimming, arts & crafts, put-put, team sports.........a lot of good stuff. The bottom line is that you have to do what you’re most comfortable with.

TANNER'S MOM replied: Our town does a summer libary program my kids love. They do the puppets and reading for the little ones..

Then then our pool has family day.. for kids under a certain age.

Me and my kids...are ready to start ridign our bikes again..and getting active again .. we do family stuff too.

redchief replied: We've done sports camps (basketball, soccer and lacrosse) and swim lessons with all of our children, except Kaitlin, who just wasn't interested in any of the camps.

CAMSMOM1 replied: I am a Supervisor at an after school program for kids grades K-6th. During the summer, we offer a program.

It's really a great program. We are open full-time. We offer two snacks a day, parents provide a lunch. We do swimming 3 days a week, we go on a field trip once a week, we have "themes" for our arts & crafts projects. We have guest speakers come to visit us. We have a ice-cream truck come to our site. There is so many great activiites we have for the children. We are fully staffed, the children are supervised at all times. And if the parents want to go on field trips with the kids, they can.

I'm sure you can find a program for your daughter like this in your area. I would look around first, and find one that's best for you. You can also cities recreation department, and see what other programs are offered.

3_call_me_mama replied: Library programs are always a good choice. Our public library has a summer reading program and the do neat htings liek crafts adn puppets and such. You can drop them off or stay with them. It's a lot of fun smile.gif

coasterqueen replied:
Our library has this too and even on weekends because that's when we go. happy.gif Kylie LOVES it and it is a lot of fun.

Dee Dee, I don't know of any other programs, though. blush.gif Kylie's at-home sitter makes up a calendar of all their summer activities so that the parents can take off and we can go with them. They go to the movies, park and swimming every week (the park and swimming more than once a week). They travel a good distance to go to different zoos, children's museums, science center, Grant's Farm, a whole bunch of places like this. Ryan and I usually try to go to some of these, especially since they are 1.5 hours away. They always do crafts because the preschool program she does is year round.

I'd try the movie thing, if it's something you want to do with her. Our local theatre has a kid movie during the day every week during the summer and it's usually cheaper.

Kaitlin'smom replied: not sure, the pre-school I am hoping to have Kait in is year round, so she wont have summer break. I like that. They did tell me they do more field trips in the summer, I know they have passport around the world where they learn about the different countires, and they have mysterious minds, it teaches space, wonders of the world, science, magiacl, earth science, bugs, alot.

I am hoping to get more places with her on the week ends

MommyToAshley replied:
The program you are involved with sounds a lot like the one through our Metro Parks. It sounds so fun and like the exact thing I am looking for. We do the library time that others have mentioned, but I was looking for something outdoors. I am sure the staff is qualified and trained, but I am still not prepared to just drop my 3-year old off and leave. I know, I am probably just being over-protective.

I think this post has opened my eyes to what I am really wanting. Ashley does a lot with her friends and peers, but I now realize that I am looking for something for us to do together. So, maybe I don't need something organized. We'll just plan some activities and trips together. The problem is that it is easy to just let things slide when it is not planned and organized for you. blush.gif I'll just have to be sure to not let that happen.

Thanks everyone for the great suggestions!

MamaJAM replied: DD#1 went to Girl Scout Day Camp one year....she had an ok time -- until some kids near her stepped on a hornets' nest and she got stung under the eye. She never wanted to go again.
DD#1 also tried Camp JCC (also a day camp) one year -- but was still too freaked from her GS camp experience - and didn't even make it through the full week she was signed up for.

Some years we do the program at the local library.


Sorry - I'm not much help with this. For us - summers are about resting and spending time as a family. We get memberships to one or two zoos each year and go to them a few times. Also - there are picnic areas all over the area we live - and I like to take the kids to different ones (sometimes alone - sometimes with DH).

Momof3inMe replied:
My oldest son went to a daycare that did a lot of the same things he loved it and I loved that he wanted to go everyday. There is nothing worse then a child that doesn't want to go to daycare or camp.


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