Summer break begins: three months of juggling for parents

What do you do with the children for three months while you are at work? That is the question facing hundreds of thousands of parents in Serbia from today. The summer break for primary pupils in grades one to seven officially begins on June 15 and lasts until August 31.

Their last day of class was June 12. For eighth graders summer starts a little later, because the final exam comes first. They sit it on June 15, 16 and 17: Serbian on day one, mathematics on day two, and an elective subject on day three. Preliminary results arrive on June 19, final results on June 22, and the formal handover of report cards is set for June 28.

For parents, this is not just the end of the school year. It is the start of a three-month organizing task that repeats every summer, yet few plan it through to the end in advance.

How much does an organized summer really cost?

The simplest option, day care with meals and a program, starts at around 260 euros a month and climbs higher, depending on the city and what is included. Over three months that is a cost many families cannot easily absorb, especially with two or more children.

So it pays to do the math early. Our suggestion is to combine several options rather than rely on just one. Here are practical steps you can use this week:

• Split the months. June and early July are the hardest because parents are still working, so cover that stretch with day care or help from relatives. August is often easier, since many people take their annual leave.
• Ask about a relative rotation. Grandparents and aunts often happily take a few days a week if you ask in advance rather than at the last minute.
• Team up with neighbors. Two or three parents from the same area can agree to watch the children in turns, which splits the cost.
• Use free city programs. Many libraries, cultural centers and sports clubs run summer workshops at a token price.

Combining these solutions often works out far cheaper than three full months of day care.

How do you keep a child off the screen all summer?

The key here is to set a rhythm before the break settles into a routine. Psychologists advise giving children freedom, but within a clear daily structure.

Psychologist Jelena Vukicevic tells parents: “Parents should take an honest look at their own circumstances and make the most of what they have available.”

In practice that means you do not need expensive camps or trips to make summer worthwhile. It is enough for the day to have a few fixed points: time to play outside, time for a household chore, time to read, and only then time on a screen. Children who know what is coming are less anxious and accept limits more easily.

It also helps to bring the child into the agreement. When you draw up a weekly plan together, the child sees it as their own decision rather than something imposed. Small tasks, watering the plants, helping in the kitchen, looking after a pet, give a sense of responsibility and fill the day at no extra cost.

Three months feels long while it stretches ahead of you, but with a plan it passes faster than you think. How do you plan to organize the summer for your little ones?