Kids Get Spring Break, You Get…Nothing? Tips for Finding Childcare During School Vacations

Spring break is just a week away, and that means kids are counting down to 5 days of no school, and free time to enjoy some rest, some fun, and time away from the books. Some families use Spring Break to take vacations, travel, or even stay home and enjoy time together, but if your budget doesn’t allow for that and you have no paid time off of work, how do you handle a break? Childcare can be hard to find, but here are some solutions to consider if your kids get a break, but you don’t.

If your spouse works from home, has more vacation time than you, or can afford a few “sick” days, it might be worth asking him/her to take over the kids for the week. If that isn’t an option, nearby family members are often happy to help (especially grandparents!) and could be a good option for the week of Spring Break. It’s worth asking before you look for alternatives outside of your close-knit relatives.

Friends are your next line of defense when it comes to facing a week of no childcare. If you have friends who work a different schedule, or who stay at home during the week, they may be willing to help you with childcare. Good etiquette is to offer payment, or at the very least, swapping out reciprocative childcare or another service as thanks for their help. Many times friends are willing to help with no cost at all, but it’s never polite to presume.

Knowing that Spring Break is hard for working parents, many local churches, childcare centers, after school programs, and day camps have special programs running during this time. Some are free and others require (usually minimal) payment, but it’s a good choice if you are stuck with nowhere for your kids to go and have to report to your boss. For very young children and babies, daycare centers sometimes have first come, first serve pay-per-day options so call around to programs in the Polk County area to find one near you.

Working while parenting is hard. If you’re tired of your current job’s demands and schedule, it might be time for a change. PHR Staffing Solutions has a variety of new openings waiting for you. From evening shift positions, to jobs with flexible hours, we have plenty of choices to fit your needs and let you manage both your career and your family schedule. Apply with us now and get hired.