How to Develop a Summer Program for Children

When the school year comes to a close children start to get bored and parents begin looking for activities for their children to participate in. Maybe you are in the same boat and summer activities are limited in your area. With proper planning anyone can plan a successful summer program for children. Here's how.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• A Theme
• Time Schedule
• A Location
• Adults to Assist
• Craft Supplies
• Planned Activities
• Snacks and Drinks

How to Develop a Summer Program for Children

1. Recruit adults and teens to help you plan and execute your program. You cannot do this by yourself. Get a commitment and involve each volunteer from beginning to end.
2. Develop a theme for your program. Your theme must be age-appropriate and of interest to children. A favorite theme is My World, which begins with the individual and expands to family, friends, country and the world around us. I have also focused themes on leadership, team work, choices and consequences and good sportsmanship, just to name a few.
3. Decide on a date your program will begin and a date it will end. You must also set the time schedule. For example, the program will begin Monday, June 23, and run through Friday, June 27. The time is 8:00 a.m. through 11:30 a.m.. You must also begin advertising your program at least two months before the date.
4. Secure a location for your program that will accommodate the number of children you plan to host comfortably and safely as well as a sink and bathroom facilities.
5. Set limitations for your program. Realistically consider how many adults you will have to help you, the age group you want to attract, your program location and cost before making a decision on how many kids you can accommodate.
6. Plan activities that tie in to your theme and will be interesting and fun for kids. This should include some fairly simple daily crafts for the kids to take home for the parents to see and active games to prevent boredom. Break the activities up and keep them quick and varied.
7. Arrange an adequate amount of daily refreshments for your program. Keep in mind that kids expend a lot of energy, so plan to have a snack and drinks available.
8. Calculate a tuition fee to help with the expenses of your program. A pre-registration form can help with this. Do pre-registration a month before you are scheduled to begin so that you will know the number of kids you will host, cost of supplies and any fees charged for your location.

Tips & Warnings

• Crafts are a good way to reinforce your theme.
• Active games keep kids from getting bored.
• Flyers and posters are an easy and inexpensive way to advertise your program.
• Set a tuition fee to cover expenses. Parents are willing to put out a little money if they feel their kids will enjoy your program.
• Take into consideration your theme and activities before securing your location. You wouldn't want a Circus theme held at the county library.
• Avoid downtime between activities.