Twelve weeks of school holidays, but significantly less vacation time: For parents of school children, this equation rarely works out. Those who work have to plan well in advance – and even then, illness, fully booked activities, or a lack of support can disrupt holiday arrangements.
School holidays and not enough vacation days? For many parents in Bremen, finding childcare during the holidays becomes a challenge every year. The Bremen Holiday Compass helps you find suitable holiday programs for children and teenagers. The Bremen Holiday Compass compiles supervised holiday programs offered by various Bremen clubs, youth organizations, leisure, cultural, and educational institutions. Instead of searching through numerous websites individually, you can find the perfect program in one place. But it's not just about reliable childcare; it's also about ensuring your child has a great holiday.
But how can this be achieved – and how can the many weeks off school be turned into a plan that works for both parents and children? These five steps will help you:
- Plan all the holidays together
Thinking "Easter is still so far away?" Even so, it's worth starting to think about childcare arrangements before the holidays begin. Grab the school holiday calendar and mark together: When can we take time off work? When will childcare be needed? Can grandparents or other trusted individuals cover individual days? This way, you'll see early on which weeks or days childcare is actually needed – and you won't have to start from scratch every time.
- Let the child have a say
Holiday childcare must be age-appropriate and, above all, tailored to the individual child. A six-year-old has different needs than a 15-year-old. Therefore, don't just ask, "Where is there still space?", but also, "What would you like to do during your holidays?" Perhaps football, theatre, or arts and crafts would be perfect. Maybe your child would like to participate in an activity with friends. And teenagers, in particular, often no longer need traditional childcare, but rather interesting opportunities to organize their free time independently.
- Search specifically in the Bremen Holiday Compass
Instead of searching through numerous websites of clubs, organizations, and event organizers individually, you can use the Bremen Holiday Compass as a starting point for your search. There you'll find holiday programs for Bremen schoolchildren and can narrow down your selection using various filters – for example, by the exact holiday period, your child's age, your district, costs, or individual interests. Families with a child with a disability can also specifically search for suitable programs. The providers can then clarify whether the specific conditions and support options are appropriate for your child.
- Don't wait until the registration deadline
A stated registration deadline does not automatically mean that places will be available by then. Popular or affordable holiday programs, in particular, may be fully booked well in advance. If you find something suitable, you should contact the provider as soon as possible and clarify any questions you may have beforehand. This is especially important if your child requires support or if you need specific childcare hours.
- Consider a Plan B – and be prepared to tolerate gaps
Planning every last six weeks of summer vacation isn't always possible, nor is it always necessary. Unplanned days are also part of the school holidays. However, for younger children, it can be reassuring to have a plan B for potential gaps in childcare: Could friends take turns looking after their children for a few days? Are there trusted people who could step in? Which work schedules could be adjusted or made more flexible? And for older children, the question can increasingly be: What can you now do independently? After all, vacations can also be an opportunity to gradually trust children with more responsibility.
In short: The Bremen Holiday Compass can't take away the challenge of balancing work, family, and twelve weeks of school holidays for parents. But it does provide an overview of the diverse options available in the city of Bremen and shortens your search for suitable activities. And perhaps that alone will be a noticeable relief in your family's daily life: not having to search anew each holiday period to find out what's on offer where – but rather knowing where to start planning.
Discover the latest holiday offers in the Bremen Holiday Compass!
