The holidays are a wonderful time of the year for children and adults alike.  Undoubtedly you enjoy the baking, decorating, and anticipation of the big days that lie ahead.  Unfortunately, for many parents these days are also fraught with headaches and questions, such as “who will look after the kids while you are at work?”  After all, the kids are out of school for the duration of the holiday seasons, but you are still expected to be at work.  Sure, you might be able to take off a few days here and there, and perhaps even a week or two, but when it comes to the long holiday vacations, you will not be able to take off as much time, and you will be in need of quality childcare. How should you choose your child care options during the holidays?

1. Talk to your family.  Will they be in town?  Is someone from your family able to look after your children while they are out of school and you are stuck at work?  Perhaps a grandparent, uncle or aunt, or maybe your brother or sister will be home and available. Family is usually the best option when it comes to having your children looked after.  Grandparents especially cherish this time that they get to spend with their little grandkids; after all, when the kids are in school, there is not much time to go around and spend with them.
2. If your family is not available to help out, speak to your friends, especially if you have friends who are teachers and who will have a similar chunk of time off during the holidays as your children do. Of course, many teachers subsidize their incomes by taking on work during the holidays, so they might not be available to help you out.  When considering a friend as an option for child care, please make sure that your children have an established relationship with that person.  The last thing your child wants is to be dropped off with a virtual stranger.
3. If friends and family are not a good option, go ahead and talk to your child’s friends’ parents.  They will most likely be in a similar boat as you, and they might have some child care options ferreted out that might also work out for your child.  The advantage would be for your child to be in a situation where she or he already has a friend there, and it will be easier to integrate. Another great resource is your child’s teacher.  She or he will most likely know of holiday child care options available, either from speaking to other teacher, because of being approached by a child care provider, or simply from talking with other parents.
4. Check with your school’s office.  Sometimes teachers will supplement their income by offering child care and leaving flyers and business cards with the office staff to give out to parents in need of such information.  Other times, child care providers will contact the office and ask if they may hand out their business information.
5. If all else fails, check your community resources.  The local chapter of the YMCA, for example, almost always offers childcare during holiday breaks, except for the actual days of federal holidays.  These facilities are well run, supervised and staffed, and for reasonable rates you should be able to drop off your child with the confidence that she or he will enjoy the day and be safe and sound.
6. Of course, if your child is older, you may consider taking her or him to work with you.  Talk to your boss and see if s/he will accommodate you and allow for your child to come working with you.  Older children will be able to perform simple tasks such as filing or copying, while you get other work done.  You child will enjoy the privilege of being at the office with you, and just in case she or he gets bored, you can pack plenty of things to keep busy, such as the handheld computer games, books, and other assorted items.  Of course, if you work in an environment where having children present would be inappropriate, this is not a viable option.

As you can see, there are many ways to choose your child care options during the holidays.  Start early and do not be caught off guard by the sudden approach of the day your children are scheduled to be home!