A summer childcare program is a structured care and enrichment option offered by childcare centers during the school break months, typically June through August. These programs provide working families with reliable care while keeping children engaged through activities, outdoor play, field trips, and skills-based learning.
For childcare providers, summer is also a significant business opportunity. With school out and demand for care at its peak, centers that offer a intentional summer program can increase enrollment, generate new revenue streams, and deepen relationships with the families they serve. This guide covers how to build a summer program that works for your staff, your space, and your community.
Demand for summer child care
As with any successful business, childcare providers exist to meet a demand. For school-aged children, the typical school day, coupled with before- and after-school care provides working families with childcare options. And since research supports that roughly two out of three children have working parents, the demand for child care doesn’t go away when school isn’t in session.
It can be difficult for families to find reliable, engaging, and active childcare programs for the summer months. Even for children who aren’t yet school-aged, families may need consistent child care during the summer months or want a short-term summer program to prepare them for school. So, offering summer childcare programs will meet an existing demand.
Benefits of summer programs
Families often appreciate childcare providers being available in the summer months. Going a step above, however, and offering specialized learning opportunities is what can take your business to the next level. There are many great reasons to offer enrichment programs over the summer for you and your business and families.
Boosts your revenue
Child care is a rewarding business with many opportunities to succeed, but increasing revenue will take additional offerings. Summer childcare programs are an efficient way to grow your business because providers can promote them as unique, specialized offerings exclusive to the summer. They appeal to families looking for a fun, new way for their child to be engaged while in child care. You can also charge a higher rate for these programs because they offer more enrichment than regular, year-round child care.
Fosters more consistent business
As children get older and child care is replaced by school, your business may sometimes experience a high turnover rate for the children in your care. To keep your business consistent and growing, it’s important to keep up with efforts to market yourself. Word-of-mouth is especially effective for childcare providers because it adds an element of trust and comfort to hear a recommendation from someone the family knows. This is especially important for the first few years of a child’s life, where their development is the most important.
Providing an engaging, fun summer program can leave a lasting impression on families who spread the word and children who share with their friends. This can help grow the number of interested families not just for the following summer but for your year-round child care as well. In addition, it’s easier to focus on promoting your business to an audience looking specifically for summer activities.
Provides flexibility
Another great benefit of offering summer child care is the flexibility. As you craft activities, you can curate things to cater to a specific age or be adaptable to fit any age group. Families appreciate the different options since you can also offer a variety of time commitments from a few hours to several days. Summer programs even allow you to flex your creative muscles to create many enriching crafts, activities, and lessons for young children. You can create a specialized program in any topic, such as music, numbers and letters, art, or sports.
Offers variety for children and families
Since early childhood is such a major developmental stage, families want to expose their child to various new concepts and information. They want their children to learn and grow as much as possible, engaging all elements of their development. It can be difficult for parents and caregivers to provide this experience for young children, so summer programs can help fill in those gaps. Being able to choose from a wide variety of unique topics or subjects means children can learn something they may otherwise wouldn’t have been able to engage with.
Early childhood business ideas
You may offer a summer childcare program and find that it doesn’t benefit your business as expected, possibly because they’re limited in time or serve fewer children than year-round child care. Your childcare program is your own, and you can try different strategies to see what is most successful.
As you begin exploring new business ventures, you’ll need help managing your time efficiently. A tool like brightwheel’s center management feature helps you simplify administrative tasks and scale your growing business.
Brightwheel keeps my day running smoothly. You know what is happening at your center every single day. It keeps things seamless so you have more time to focus on the things you want to focus on." Alyssa D., Executive Director of McNeilly Center for Children in Nashville, TN
Consider some of the below ideas to make your summer program stand out:
Specialized skills camps
For a young child to learn a new skill, they need time and practice. A specialized skills camp offers children the chance to learn a new skill and hopefully master it or have all the knowledge they need to continue practicing at home. These camps can focus on a topic you can easily learn and teach to children or something you have an existing proficiency in. Specialized skills camps can offer lessons in things like swimming, music, academic topics, drawing, problem-solving, and more.
To launch a specialized skills camp, identify one area of expertise among your existing staff, build a 4–6 week curriculum with daily structured activities, and open enrollment 6–8 weeks before summer begins to give families time to plan.
Evening or overnight care
Some families may only need childcare at specific times of the day, such as when they’re at work or when another caregiver is unavailable. Or, they may need to travel out of town for a few days on a business trip. For these situations, a family could need evening or overnight child care. Offering child care at these times means you can fill in those gaps in care for families.
To offer evening or overnight care, start by checking your state licensing requirements for extended hours, set clear policies around drop-off windows and emergency contacts, and survey your current families to gauge demand before committing to a schedule.
Event hosting
Birthday parties are a big deal for children, and sometimes families are too busy to plan them. Hosting events, such as birthday parties or other celebrations, is a great way to utilize your childcare skills, facility space, and existing network of families to expand into a new line of business.
To get started with event hosting, reach out to a few current families to gauge interest, set a flat fee that covers your space, supplies, and staff time, and promote availability through your parent communication app or newsletter a few months before peak birthday season.
Sell children’s products
Creating a product for children or families can also be another way to expand your business as you’re already connected with your target audience and are a trusted resource in your community. To test a product idea, start small by offering one item — like a branded activity kit or seasonal craft box — to your existing families, gather feedback, and scale only if there's consistent demand before investing in larger inventory. This could be a wide variety of things, from baby clothing to children’s books, and you know from experience exactly what products may be in high demand.
Child transportation service
Some children may split their time between caregivers or family members. Children may also participate in after-school programs, sports leagues, or clubs. They may need transportation to these activities themselves or transportation back home afterward. Offering a child transportation service can fill in a lot of gaps for families with active children.
To offer transportation, first confirm your state's licensing and insurance requirements for transporting children, identify which families have the most acute need, and consider starting with a limited pilot route before expanding.
Frequently asked questions about summer childcare programs
Q: What should a childcare center include in a summer program?
A: A strong summer childcare program typically includes a structured daily schedule, age-appropriate activities like outdoor play, arts and crafts, and STEM projects, as well as field trips or themed weekly events. Programs should also plan for meals and snacks, rest time for younger children, and clear drop-off and pick-up procedures. Optional add-ons like swim lessons, music, or academic enrichment can help differentiate your program.
Q: How do I start a summer program at my childcare center?
A: To launch a summer program, start by assessing your licensed capacity, staffing availability, and any licensing requirements specific to summer or school-age care in your state. Then build a simple weekly curriculum, set your pricing and schedule, and open enrollment at least 6–8 weeks before summer begins. Communicate the program to your existing families first, then promote openings to your broader community.
Q: How much does summer childcare typically cost?
A: Summer childcare costs vary widely depending on location, program type, and hours of care. Full-time summer programs at childcare centers typically range from $200 to $600 per week, while part-time or drop-in care may cost less. Some families may qualify for childcare subsidy programs through their state to help offset the cost.
Q: What's the difference between a summer camp and a summer childcare program?
A: A summer camp typically focuses on a specific theme or skill — like sports, arts, or STEM — and may run for a set number of weeks. A summer childcare program is broader in scope, providing consistent daily care for working families throughout the summer months, often with enrichment activities built in. Many childcare programs blend both models by offering themed "camp weeks" within a longer program.
Q: How do I market my summer childcare program to families?
A: The most effective way to fill a summer program is to start by notifying your current families early, since they're already familiar with your program. From there, post on local parent Facebook groups, share flyers at nearby elementary schools, and update your Google Business Profile with summer program details. Collecting and sharing testimonials from past summers can also help build trust with new families.
Q: Do childcare centers need special licensing to offer summer programs?
A: Licensing requirements for summer childcare vary by state. If your program will serve school-age children (typically ages 5–12) who aren't enrolled during the regular year, your state may require a separate or amended license. Check with your state's childcare licensing agency before opening enrollment, and ensure your staff-to-child ratios meet requirements for each age group you serve.
More than just child care
There are many ways to simultaneously benefit your community and grow your business as a childcare provider. Summer childcare programs can support busy families, keep children engaged when they’re not in school, and give you more pathways to increased revenue.
