Summer care for 6 graders +

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-02-2006
Summer care for 6 graders +
16
Sun, 05-27-2007 - 2:39pm
My DD is not yet at this age, but I'm starting to think about it... DH and I both work full time, and during the school year and summer, both kids can go to 'Kids Network' - a before and after school program, as well as summer program. The kids enjoy it since many of their friends also go, and there are field trips every day in the summer. However, it's only available through 5th grade. Once DD is in 6th grade, I'm okay with her riding the bus to and from school and staying alone for a couple hours until we get home. However, I don't know what to do in the summer. I've looked into different summer camps, but they seem to run only 4-5 hours a day, so we can't get her there and pick her up throughout the day. I would like to find someone to come into our home to be with the kids from about 9am-4pm, and be able to take them to the pool, the mall, etc. but where do you find someone you can trust, that will show up every day? I'm not sure how other working parents deal with summer for kids this age. Any ideas?
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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-18-2003
Sun, 05-27-2007 - 3:23pm
Do you have any friends with reliable older teens that might be interested in babysitting ? You might try

Linda
mom to
Alex (16), Rachel (14), Matthew (12)


iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sun, 05-27-2007 - 5:55pm

My DD is just finishing 6th Grade. Do you have a local university? You might find they have all day summer camps. My DD goes to the university close to my work and the camps go up to age 15 or so. They are highly specialized, she does volleyball, photography and theatre (this year anyway). I also don't want her staying home alone for 9 hours and she doesn't want to either.


As for getting someone to come in, you might find a local teenager or highschool student is also looking for a summer job. You can probably trust them as much as anyone running a summer camp. You don't know much about them either. Call for references and find someone suitable. No idea what that would cost though. If you have some churches nearby or are a member you could also post an ad at the church or start asking around for someone who is looking for some extra work.


Thankfully this year my DD only needs 4 weeks of care, so she's in camp for 4 weeks (sleepaway one week) and then her Dad and I split up the rest of the time, she will stay with him for 2 or 3 days and I'll take 2 or 3 days off giving me lots of long weekends. Its really hard when they are at that "inbetween" stage. Good luck finding suitable care.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 01-02-2006
Sun, 05-27-2007 - 7:12pm
The only teens we know without jobs are younger than 16. Seems that once they can drive, they seem to get jobs elsewhere. I really want someone to be able to take them places and not just stay around the house. I'll check with the church, though. Perhaps we could get some referrals there. Thanks!
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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-01-2006
Sun, 05-27-2007 - 9:19pm

I know the older kids in Hannah's youth group do this. I'm not sure about full-time. That kinda blows your summer. That might be hard for the older teens.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-26-2003
Sun, 05-27-2007 - 10:29pm
I would look for recommendations of college students coming home for the summer that wants some extra money---they are a little older so you won't have to worry as much about driving and they would probably love to hang out at the mall and pool!!!

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iVillage Member
Registered: 01-01-2007
Sun, 05-27-2007 - 11:53pm

Last summer, I worked FT (12+ hours a day) during the summer.

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-01-2007
Sun, 05-27-2007 - 11:55pm

I had a friend that took an advertisement out for a summer sitter for her kids.

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-02-2006
Mon, 05-28-2007 - 9:46am

that sounds like just what I need. Does she have any good ideas for where she placed her add that got good results? Just a local paper or somewhere specific? glad she was able to find someone that way, and hope I get some good results, too!

Tonya

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iVillage Member
Registered: 01-01-2007
Mon, 05-28-2007 - 12:39pm

I *believe* it was in a local newspaper...just like if you were going to hire an accountant or a secretary for your business.

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-02-2006
Mon, 05-28-2007 - 1:06pm

thanks - great advice. I hadn't thought about getting a couple people. nice idea! I figure there have to be college kids or even maybe teachers - people that have summer off - that would love to make money spending their days at the pool, movies, shopping, etc. I'd love that job, actually. :-) My kids are so independent, it doesn't take a lot of 'watching', just some driving around. I just need to find those interested, responsible people.

Tonya

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