How Families And Caregivers Can Make Summer Break Fun For Kids

Are you excited about having your kids home for the summer, or are you already feeling a little stressed about how you’re going to manage childcare while still working? For many families, the answer is both.
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Children are often counting down the days until school is out. They’re looking forward to sleeping in, playing outside, seeing friends, going on trips, heading to camps, and enjoying a break from assignments and routines. Summer can feel full of possibility and adventure.

For many families, there are vacations, camping trips, visits to new places, and planned activities that help fill the weeks of summer break, but that isn’t every family’s reality.

But for some parents, summer doesn’t come with extra time off work. While children have weeks away from school, parents still have jobs to go to and responsibilities that continue year-round.

Summer camps, daycare programs, and special activities can help fill the gap, but they can also be expensive. Even when families can plan a few outings or register for some programs, it rarely covers the entire summer break, so families do what they have always done: they find ways to make it work.

​Some parents piece together their vacation days. Some rely on grandparents, aunts, uncles, older siblings, close friends, or neighbours. Others look for community programs, library events, or low-cost recreational activities to help bridge the weeks. And often, it takes a combination of all of these.

I remember being surprised years ago when I was tutoring students and asked them what they did during the summer. More than once, I heard a simple answer: “Nothing.”

At first, I thought they must have misunderstood the question. But as we talked more, I realized they meant they hadn’t gone on big trips, attended camps, or done anything they felt was worth talking about when school started again.

Their parents were working. Their days were spent at home, in childcare, or with family members doing their best to keep things running smoothly. That stayed with me. It made me think about how many children might return to school feeling they have nothing to share when they’re asked about their summer break.

The truth is, children are always having experiences. But sometimes they don’t recognize them as something “special” unless we help them see it that way.
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A walk on the beach, time at a local park, a visit to the library, a simple picnic, a baking afternoon, a scavenger hunt, or exploring outdoors can easily become the kinds of memories children carry with them for years.

That’s where something simple like a summer journal can make a difference. Children can draw pictures, write a few sentences, collect small items, or record what they discover along the way. Suddenly, everyday moments become something they can look back on and share.

If you’d like a simple way to get started, I’ve put together a free summer journal template that children can use to record their experiences. It can be as structured or as open-ended as you want. Some days might just include a drawing, while others might turn into a full page of memories, sketches, or short reflections.
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The goal isn’t perfection or completing every page. It’s simply giving children a place to capture the small, ordinary moments that often turn into the memories they talk about long after summer is over.

My own family experienced this same summer challenge. My son and daughter-in-law both work during the summer months, and like many families, they had to figure out how to manage childcare once school ended.
Their usual after-school care wasn’t available, and while they were able to plan a few camps, outings, and vacation time, it still left many weeks to cover.

That’s when family stepped in. I would spend a week or two with the grandchildren, and their other grandmother would do the same. Between camps, family help, and a bit of planning, the summer came together in a way that worked for everyone.
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What I noticed most during those weeks was that the children didn’t need elaborate plans or expensive outings. They were happiest when they were simply doing things with people who were present and engaged with them. We would use the time for beach days, geocaching, baking, scavenger hunts, library visits, nature walks, etc. These simple days often turned into the most memorable ones. 

For families trying to piece together summer care, this can be encouraging.  Meaningful summer experiences don’t have to come from expensive programs or packed schedules. Local libraries, parks and recreation programs, community events, playgrounds, beaches, and simple neighbourhood activities can offer a surprising amount of variety. And when family members or trusted caregivers are involved, even everyday activities can become something children look forward to.

In the end, summer isn’t measured by how far you travel or how many activities you attend. For children, it’s often measured by the time they spend with people who care about them, the small adventures they go on, and the memories they carry back into the school year.