My Preschooler’s Summer Schedule
7/15/26
Executive summary: In lieu of consistent summer camp or childcare, I’ve had to cobble together a roster of activities for my 3yo to keep us both from going stir-crazy over the summer while school is out. I’ve found that our weekly schedule provides a good balance of structure and flexibility.
There are so many things I didn’t realize before becoming a parent, I could write a book (or dozens of posts). Obviously I knew that kids get the summer off (unless they’re in full-time care), but what I didn’t realize is how hard it is to find any sort of consistent programming for younger children, as in, the pre-5yo set. With my first, I was working full-time, so my son was in preschool full-time until entering TK. His summers were covered, and I didn’t give it another thought. Then, being 5yo, he was able to start attending summer camp after TK, and he’s now on his third summer. However, it’s a different story with my daughter, who is currently 3.5. Because I bid adieu to corporate America after my second mat leave, she’s only ever attended a part-time coop/preschool, one that gets out for the summer. My struggle this summer and last has been what to do with her so we don’t go crazy cooped up at home for 2-3 months when we’ve lost the daily outlet that school provides. All my Googling has turned up basically zero options for any consistent camp or activities for kids younger than 5yo. So I’ve been relegated to piecing together a summer schedule for her that gets us out of the house and gives me a structure for figuring out what to do with her on a daily basis.
We’re at our neighborhood pool 1-2x per week this summer. It’s literally across the street from our house, which has been soooo convenient.
My kids have always had a lot of physical and mental energy, so going out is game-changing for us, and it was even more so when we lived in small spaces (a 1br apartment and a 2br condo). Now that we’re in a 3br (town)house, I suppose we could let them run around inside, but it’s so ingrained in me now that I take my daughter out twice a day, once in the morning (between breakfast and lunch) and once in the afternoon (between nap+snack and dinner). Coming up with two different activities a day, every day of the week, is not as easy as it sounds. So while my son is taken care of at summer camp between 9am-3pm, I’ve had to sign my daughter up for a few different classes to keep us both occupied Mon-Fri. She is currently doing “gymnastics” again at MyGym once/week, in group music class twice/week, and playing in the pool while her brother takes swim lessons once/week. So that’s 4 half days accounted for, the same as during the school year when her coop runs for 4 mornings/week. On the other 6 half days of the week, we wing it. Much of the time, we go to playgrounds. The rest of the time (e.g., if it’s an extra hot day), we may go to indoor play areas or children’s museums or arts & crafts at the library. Costco is also a weekly event for us, lol. I have compiled quite a list of fun spots within a 20-minute driving radius of us, and it’s my lifeline during the summer.
Our bee buzzing around Berkeley.
On the surface, some people might think it sounds silly (and certainly privileged) to take young kids to scheduled (paid) activities, but it’s been imperative for me as a full-time caregiver. A lot of these activities are actually more for my own sanity than for my daughter, TBH. Being a full-time parent can be mind-numbing and isolating. Getting out of the house really helps, and I’ve had playdates come out of these classes too. I feel like knowing where I’m going a few times a week gives me just enough structure to go by, while maintaining sufficient flexibility to change the day/week around as needs come up. For instance, my husband has been invited once again to be a Visiting Scholar at Berkeley this summer, and we’ve made it a goal for us to go together (minus big bro at summer camp) once a week. It’s not always on the same day, as workshops and talks shift around week to week, but we can accommodate most days with my daughter’s current schedule. It’s been working well for us, and I have maybe one more summer next year to spend full-time with her before she’s old enough to attend a regular summer camp. One part of me really looks forward to that day (ohhhhh the freeeedom) while another part of me says “hold onto your kids while you can!”