School vacations, legal holidays (like Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Washington's Birthday), and teacher in-service days can be a challenge for working parents. These are days when the child is out of school but parents usually have to work. To make matters more complicated, caregivers you might rely on at other times of the year often ask for time off during holidays. Community activities like art classes and Scouting are often cancelled too.
Plan ahead
The good news is that you know they are coming and can plan for them. To help in that process, get copies of your child's school schedule as early as possible so you are aware of vacations several months in advance. Children's vacation schedules often dictate family vacation plans. With sufficient advance notice, you may be able to block out your own vacation time to coincide with that of your child.
Few parents have as much vacation time available as their children do, so arrangements have to be made for child care and supervision within the frame work of job demands. If your partner has some flexibility in their work schedule, consider dividing the home responsibilities so one of you takes time off during different parts of the children's vacation.
Some families are able to work out a plan where one parent is home in the morning, and the other parent replaces them in the afternoon; perhaps one or both can work flexible schedules (6 a.m. to 2 p.m.; 2:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.). That way, at least one of you can be home at all times.
When you can't get off work
Sometimes neither you nor your partner will be able to get off work. Or you will need a backup or alternative strategy for unexpected job demands or the sudden loss of a caretaker, both of which require some last-minute juggling of schedules.
It is important that school-age children are always supervised, directly if possible and indirectly if not. Indirect supervision means providing a safe environment and a structured schedule of activities, including regular times to check in, even by phone, with a responsible adult. This latter option should be considered only for mature preteenagers and is never the best alternative.
Getting creative to find a sitter
When you can't break away from the job, another option is to call upon extended family members who are available and willing to help. Some parents are able to work out a timetable with several families, where each assumes the caretaking responsibilities for all the children one day a week. Or, they trade hours of babysitting with each other.
Some high school and college students, or after-school child care employees, are willing to work on holidays. They may be willing to come to your home and care for children from several families. (Many high schools and colleges have job-placement offices to find employment for students on vacation; ask for and check references before hiring these young adults for child care.) You may also inquire about special holiday programs and camps that might be planned by local YMCAs, Boys and Girls Clubs, and other community organizations.
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