This summer marks the first time I have both of my littles (almost 3 and almost 5) home with me all summer. I was worried we wouldn’t have enough to do, so I followed the lead of many stay-at-home moms from their school and signed them up for summer camps, pool passes, and memberships. However, I’m not exactly a full-time stay-at-home mom. While I do stay home, I also work 1 to 3 hours a day.
Many stay-at-home moms seem to believe their kids need to be busy every day, but I’ve found that this often stems from their own need for mental engagement. Here’s what I’ve learned about kids’ activities this summer:
Swim Lessons vs. Pool Passes
Swim lessons haven’t been useful for my two sons, both of whom are afraid of water. On the other hand, pool passes have been more beneficial. The time spent at the pool is making them more comfortable with water. Once they overcome their fear, swim lessons might become more effective.
Memberships: Hit and Miss
Zoo Membership: Our local zoo is tiny and takes about an hour to get through. Honestly, we have more fun at the local park.
Living History Farms: Unless there’s an event, it’s not worth visiting.
Science Center: This membership is fantastic. My kids love exploring the different sections and never seem to tire of it. It’s perfect for cold, rainy, or hot days year-round.
Summer Camps
The one camp we tried was awesome. While camps are expensive, we might do another one next year, possibly a science center camp. However, I don’t see myself doing more than one or two camps per summer at this age. My kids can have fun in the backyard with a sprinkler or at a park.
Here are a few considerations:
Time with Friends: They need social interaction. I’m willing to pay for activities like summer camp if it means they can see their friends.
Time at the Pool: While I find the pool annoying and crowded, I think learning to swim is important. My goal is to get them comfortable through exposure, then we’ll consider lessons again next year.
Down Time: Kids don’t need to be busy all the time. Over-scheduling can be a waste of money and may do more harm than good.
Finding the right balance of activities is crucial. Not every activity needs to be structured or expensive. Sometimes, the simplest activities bring the most joy and benefit to our children. As parents, we need to recognize that downtime is just as important as planned activities, allowing our kids to grow, learn, and enjoy their summer. As long as we can make times with their friends, that is really all they truly need over the summer.
Suburban Sprout 