Tracy Gruber, Director of the Utah Office of Child Care tells us about the tools available for parents to find appropriate summer camps and activities for their kids.
Kids are out of school for the summer, and they may even be getting bored already! There are lots of good options in the summer for child care, camps and activities to keep kids occupied and learning and give parents options while school is out.
There are lots of different options, from all-day and partial day child care to week-long summer camps.
• Many day care programs have special art, music and sports programs in the summer or swimming and field trips to keep kids engaged, having fun and learning new things.
• Programs are offered by the Boy Scouts, YMCA, Boys and Girls Club and other organizations.
• Even places like the Natural History Museum of Utah, the Hogle Zoo and Hale Center Theater have summer programs for kids.
If you`re trying to find an activity or program that`s right for your child, there are a few steps you can take.
• Check the adult-to-child ratio. You generally want that number to be as low as possible.
• Go visit and observe program beforehand. Watch how the teachers or caregivers interact with the kids. Do the children seem happy and safe?
• Look for a program that meets your needs as a parent - especially considering schedule and cost. There is a wide range of cost levels, and some programs offer scholarships.
Visit CareAboutChildcare.utah.gov to find Summer Activity Guides for all the different areas of the state. You can find information about camps, activities, providers and more. UtahAfterSchool.org also is a great resource to search for programs by location.
Summer Meals: There are families that really miss school lunch this time of year, but just because school`s out doesn`t mean anyone needs to go without breakfast or lunch. There are almost 300 locations around the state where kids can get free meals in the summer, and you can also find those locations at CareAboutChildcare.utah.gov.
