Throw a Pig a Bone Moms

[gawgagranny]

Doc, sorry I am late to the thread, but I just found it--several others have already said what I would suggest, though: either move him to a daycare placement with more kids his age and/or find some other things to occupy at least part of the summer like going to stay with grandparents, etc.

At least in my experience, most communities have some kind of day camp programs around, especially if there is a local college. Check with your local recreation department about sports day camps if that's your boy's thing. Your wife's church may have a church camp program available; ask her to look into that.

Sorry your son is in a situation where he is the only "big kid" in the group--that really sucks (been there, done that as I was the oldest in a gaggle of kids in my neighborhood growing up & as a result was often left out of things the other kids wanted to do).

I help my sister run a skating rink/fun center/party place here in my hometown and we really try hard to have things (games, music, etc.) for all ages to do so that we will appeal to all age groups from toddlers to early teens, and it can be a real challenge!

[pig]

That is the state law and also for their safety.

According to the link offered there is no minimum age in our state. Rest assured we were not entertaining the option of leaving our 8 year old home alone.


Thanks so much, we had the talk this weekend and I brought up some of the suggestions offered. My wife told me that we would not lose our spot if we took him out of day care just for the summer so we are now looking into "day camps" as our first choice. You were a lot of help everyone!

[nasagreen]

i too worked at a daycare during the summers, and it is true - we had to deviate towards the younger children for all activities. it makes the older kids tired, whiney, and bored out of their minds.

i like the idea of going to grandma's, finding week long camps, or another day care that has summer options.

Here are some day care ideas:
check with churches for vacation bible schools...those are day camps
check with gyms that have childcare - some offer weekly camps during the day
community theaters sometimes have camps
city recreation departments sometimes have camps

[pig]

check with gyms that have childcare - some offer weekly camps during the day


Yes, this is exactly where we're checking first.

[Clever Username]

I love the way your post starts with the 8 year old's views of the current provider.

I've got an 8 year old, I know that funny mix of views at this age.
Sometimes (and this sounds like one) they've got well thought out views.
But, no, they don't dictate policy at this point.

Daycare, camp, sitter..... thicken your skin folks to a degree it's all the same stuff.

My 6 and 8 year olds are going to Summer Camp over at the Park District.
Some of their friends are taking sports camp (supplimented by traditional daycare like yours).
Others are going to camp at the local YMCA.
Others are going to center based Daycare which expands their services to school age like yours in the summer. Like kindercare
Still others are with at home daycare providers (like yours).

Look into what other kids are doing.
I'll say a quick prayer for you, that you don't get smited by enrollment dates.

During school, your current situation works great. If you kid gets bored, do homework.

[dakota4600]

Just a quick additional comment. I spent this past weekend with 2 3yr olds and 9 year old. The 9 year old was bored and whiny because the little ones didn't want to do everything she said. If she had someone her age to play with it would have been a much more enjoyable trip. The 2 little ones would be playing nicely and she would start causing trouble. We had taken things for her to do that were her age level, but she wanted to play with someone and her brother and cousin were the only ones there.

[shelly527in]

If he's only there for 10 minutes a day during the school year, I wouldn't move him. I'd find something different for the summers such as day camp, bible schools or something to keep him busy for at least part of it.

[mizbear]

Pig- Hope you are having luck with this.

[pig]

Thanks Miz, we have him on a waiting list for summer camp as I type this.