May 2005
School's Out - Time for Summer Fun!
This time of year most school-age children are dreaming of summer vacation and eager for the school year to end. Working parents have the challenge of finding child care or other activities for the summer that are safe and fun for their child. Here are some things for parents to think about and check for when choosing summer care:
- Make sure a program has activities that are right for your child. Do the children help plan activities? Do they have choices?
- Is there enough adult supervision?
- For activities where travel in a vehicle is involved, the driver does not count as a supervisor for the children. There must be at least one other adult, depending on the number of children.
- Seat belt and car seat regulations must be followed when children ride in vehicles.
- See if the facility is safe, indoors and out. Is the equipment in good repair?
- There should be large areas for active play.
- Is there drinking water available at all times?
- Outdoor areas need to have shady places where children can get out of the sun.
- Water activities need more adult supervision.
- If you are thinking about a summer camp for your child, consider the above. Before enrolling, make sure that the activities are ones your child wants to do. There are camps for sports, music, art, science, and other things. Many are day camps. For away camps, make sure your child is ready to be away from home overnight.
The Pennsylvania State University Cooperative Extension Better Kid Care Program has information on children's issues for early childhood educators, child care providers, and parents on the Better Kid Care Web site at: www.betterkidcare.psu.edu
Let's Paint the Fence and Other Creative Activities!
Wise child care providers plan to do many of their creative activities for children outdoors in warmer weather. Children feel freer and cleaning-up is easier! Parents, find out what your child's caregiver has planned.
Here are some ideas for creative outdoor fun:
- "Painting" a fence with a bucket of water and some paintbrushes. Children love to paint the fence or anything else they can paint with water.
- Murals can be a group effort, with a long sheet of paper taped to a fence or the side of a garage for the children to paint or draw pictures.
- Art easels can be brought outside for budding artists to use.
- Paper can be taped to a tree if there are no easels.
- Finger painting times are fun outdoors, with easy clean-ups.
- Blowing bubbles can be done in many ways.
- Children can make clay and play dough creations.
- Collections from nature walks can be added to paper cutting and ripping activities to make collages.
The Pennsylvania State University Cooperative Extension Better Kid Care Program has information on children's issues for early childhood educators, child care providers, and parents on the Better Kid Care Web site at: www.betterkidcare.psu.edu
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Nancy Wilson, Better Kid Care Program Assistant
Penn State Better Kid Care Program
253 Easterly Parkway
State College, PA 16801
e-mail: naw6@psu.edu
Phone: 814-863-5880
Fax: 814-865-7893
