Summer Options -- WWYD?

Some background info: DD will be turning 3 in May. She's fully potty trained (including naps and overnight). I'm a teacher and have off in the summer. Last year, rather than pulling her out of daycare in the summer all together, I dropped her down to 2 days a week. She went full days on those days and I used that time to get things done: laundry, cleaning the house, grocery shopping, errands, etc. I'm trying to think of what to do this summer. She's matured so much in the past year and is super social -- loves being around kids, playing, being outdoors, gets bored easily if not being stimulated, etc. I'm thinking that this summer she'd be better off in more of a "camp" setting over the summer rather than a "daycare" setting. While she loves daycare and her friends there, they only go outside 2x a day in the summer (for about 25 mins each time) to play on the playground -- they sometimes set up babypools/sprinklers but it doesn't happen daily. They are inside in the AC for a majority of the day.

Option A: Keep her at her current daycare and send her either 2 or 3 days a week for another summer and not deal with camp until she's 4 next year. The only reason I'd consider 3 days is that they do offer a teacher discount on tuition but in order to get the discount, the kid must be enrolled in either 3, 4, or 5 days. 2 days full price no discount and 3 days with discount are not that much different, so I'd get more bang for my buck with 3 days. Full time is 10 hours a day but during the summer, we're on lazy summer time so I'd be paying for time I don't need/wouldn't be using. I don't drop her off in the summer until around 9 or 9:30, so I feed her breakfast at home (she misses breakfast there which is served at 8:15) and usually pick her up around 3:30 or 4.

Option B: Pull her out of daycare and send her to a summer camp at a local church in my town that gets fantastic reviews. I wouldn't lose my daycare spot -- they have enough $$ in escrow that she'd be guaranteed a spot when she went back at the end of August. The camp only offers full weeks, so she'd be able to go 5 days a week if I wanted to send her (since I'd be paying for it), but I'd probably keep her home on Wednesday since over the summer that's the day my mom takes off for us to go to the beach. The hours are 9 to 4 which is perfect and they provide a hot lunch and afternoon snack and treat. They have an in-ground pool on premise with certified lifeguards and kids swim 2x a day. They also do arts and crafts, dance, gymnastics, karate, etc. It would obviously be more money than 2 or 3 days at daycare but it's not significantly more (around $650 for the summer). My concern is that she'd be away from daycare all summer and would get "thrown" back in at the end of August when I go back to work and by that time, she'd have aged out of her current room and would be in a completely new room. If she stayed at the daycare over the summer part-time, she'd move into the new room at the end of June and would then transition to that room/the new teachers/the schedule over the summer and then going back to full time would be easier.

What would you do in this situation? I realize this is first world problem and that I am fortunate to even be debating this topic, especially since I am off during the summer as a teacher and not in the position where I need my child to be watched. Just looking for advice! Thanks!

Re: Summer Options -- WWYD?

With the teacher discount is it cheaper to do 3 days than to just keep the two days without the discount? I'd probably keep her in the same daycare since you like it and she knows it well. For me the only debate would be to do 2 or 3 days.

ETA: She'll have plenty of time for summer camp when she's older IMO. And I'd prefer to save the money and keep the one on one time.

Message edited 2/12/2018 1:27:45 PM.

Re: Summer Options -- WWYD?

Summer Options -- WWYD?

My DS was the same age last year and he only went to daycare 2 days a week over the summer.

I personally LOVE not being on a schedule. I keep my DS super busy with activities and playdates. We go to the pool, beach, park, spray park, museum, etc daily. We get so much quality time together and I truly enjoy it as I know this toddler phase is short.

Re: Summer Options -- WWYD?

I would probably send her to camp. Maybe even for just one month, or 6 weeks if you didn't want to do the entire 8 week session. I think its a great experience for kids especially if it's not too much of a price difference.

Re: Summer Options -- WWYD?

She's young. I'd leave her in daycare for the summer. Maybe put her into camp next year. My DD is the same exact age (turns 3 in May) and she's staying in day care over the summer. DS is 5 and this is the first summer I'll be putting him in a true camp.

Summer Options -- WWYD?

It sounds like you really love the camp, but are concerned about the transition back in the fall. I know a lot of people who either keep their kids home completely for the summer or do part time, and then ramp up again in September. I always keep the same schedule and place for the summer because it's easier for me, but last year I switched schools for September. There was a bit of a transition for my son, but he was fine. And this was a new school. You are sending her back to a school she already knows. She will do fine. If you love the camp, go with that.

Re: Summer Options -- WWYD?

Re: Summer Options -- WWYD?

It’s so personal.
I’ve done it both ways. I prefer to have kids in a week or two of camp and have summers free.

Re: Summer Options -- WWYD?

I’d keep her in the daycare. She has plenty of other years for a “camp” experience with all those other activities. At this age it’s more about her being comfortable with the kids she’s with and easing her transition for September.

ETA : your child won’t know what she’s missing out on at the camp, she only knows what is in her own world, and at 3, the regularity of her own world is the best thing we can give them. Is the idea of a camp for the kids or for the parents at that age?

Message edited 2/12/2018 8:40:08 PM.

Re: Summer Options -- WWYD?

I would keep her at home with me as much as possible. There’s only so many summers before she will be doing camps etc. maybe that’s because i would kill to have summers off with my kids both financially and emotionally

Re: Summer Options -- WWYD?

I would stick with day care. The idea of a 3 year old going in a pool at camp is honestly a little scary to me. I agree with others that there will be plenty of opportunities for camp in future. You could probably use savings day care vs. camp to do fun activities throughout the summer together.

Re: Summer Options -- WWYD?