Daycare Christmas Break
What do you do with your children on break?
In spite of the hopes of many parents, the majority of daycare centers are closed for a longer amount of time at the holidays than simply Christmas Eve, Christmas and New Year's. In a recent poll conducted here at the Daycare Page of Suite101.com 54.05% of those responding said that they thought that daycare should be closed only on those three days. This statistic is in stark contrast to the 18.92% of respondents that felt that daycare and preschool centers should be closed from December 24-January 1 or 2.
It is a fact that most centers will follow at least partially a school schedule, os then what are parents to do with their children during the holiday break? This question was covered in the context of alternate daycare options during the holiday of Memorial Day, so this article will look at events that families can do to help lessen the boredom that often results when children who are used to having interaction with children their own age and the intellectual stimulation resulting are lost.
One great option can be found at libraries. Many in larger cities now offer greater programming options for parents and children during school vacations, many that are not exclusively reading activities. The Kalamazoo Public Library in Kalamazoo, Michigan is one such example. In addition to their regular programs, they are offering children's movies, donut and craft making, and even an acrobatic performance by local performers the Aerial Angels. Children's LIbrarian Steve Siebers was hoping for as many as 100 attendees, but was schocked when an estimated 325 showed up for the program, which was held at 11 am to accomodate as many children as possible.
Another popular option is to have this vacation be a week where children have the opportunity to hang out with relatives, usually Grandma and Grandpa. several students from my school have something they call "Cousin Camp" where all of the grandchildren get together wirth Grandma at the holidays. As is sometimes found with groups of children, it is easier to manage them in this way becuase they entertian and help to manage each other.
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