Hey guys, it’s me again, just your average stressed out dad trying to survive another summer with the kids home from school. Don’t get me wrong, I love my kids more than anything, but man, summertime sure brings its own set of challenges. 

As I’m sure many of you dads out there know, finding ways to keep the kids entertained once school lets out can be a headache and a half. The first week or two is usually fine – they’re just happy to sleep in and not have to do homework. But once that initial excitement wears off, the “I’m bored” complaints start ramping up. And let me tell you, those words are like nails on a chalkboard to my ears.

My youngest is pretty content playing video games or watching tv all day, but my oldest needs way more engagement to stay out of trouble. Coming up with fun but affordable summer activities to fill all that free time can really take some creativity and planning on my part. 

Of course, all the moms out there are probably laughing knowingly right now. They somehow manage to come up with Pinterest-worthy summer bucket lists and craft projects every year while many of us dads are like uhhh…let’s just go to the pool again? But hey, give me some credit here – I’m trying!

One of the biggest challenges is finding activities that don’t require me to take a ton of time off work. The stereotypical 9 to 5 schedule doesn’t exactly mesh with summertime childcare. Taking my kids to the zoo or the waterpark on a Tuesday just isn’t gonna happen. 

And full time summer camps can be extremely expensive, especially for multiple kids. I looked into a few options this year, but they were anywhere from $300 to $600 per week…per kid! Maybe if I didn’t have to worry about pesky things like mortgages and car payments I could swing that. But sadly, those summer camp fees just aren’t feasible on my budget.

However, I did manage to find some more affordable options that allow me to work while still keeping the kids active and engaged. The rec center near us offers half day camps focused on sports, arts and crafts, or science themes. Many local daycares also run summer programs with flexible drop-in schedules, so the kids can go on the days when I’m in the office and stay home when I’m off. 

Do these schedules require some creative planning and juggling on my part? Absolutely. But that’s just part of being a parent. Now excuse me while I chug this extra large coffee and mentally prepare for taking my kids to their first week of summer camp. Send me all your tips for surviving the dog days of summer with bored kids at home! Until next time…