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Five ways Stanford makes it easier for you to plan for your child’s next school break
Juggling your work with your child’s next break from school is made easier with Stanford support programs so you can plan for affordable backup care, camps, and activities.
Spring and summer breaks can be stressful for working parents of young children and teens. Kids off their regular school schedule can feel disruptive and many of us juggle taking time off with finding affordable care and activities to keep them occupied and engaged.
Planning ahead for these periods during the year is key, and in the Bay Area especially, planning starts as early as February. Stanford’s Office of Community Engagement has curated a lengthy list of campus-run programs and application deadlines to help you get started, and the WorkLife Office offers the following support to help you find the best solution.
- Backup care
Benefits-eligible employees get up to 10 days of backup care support through Bright Horizons each calendar year. You can use those days toward eligible summer camp programs offered through Bright Horizons. Discounts are also available for tutoring sessions in partnership with Varsity Tutors, Revolution Prep, and Sylvan Learning. - Stanford camps
Throughout the summer, the Stanford campus is buzzing with energy as kids of all ages participate in dozens of athletic and academic camps. If you have a dependent care flexible spending account, you can use your funds toward eligible day and summer camp programs. - Sittercity membership
Benefits-eligible employees can access a premium online tool to connect with screened caregivers for occasional and everyday child care, care for children with disabilities, household help, and even dog walkers. - Child Care Subsidy Grant (CCSG)
Did you receive a 2025 Child Care Subsidy Grant? Remember your grant is contributed to your dependent care flexible spending account, you can use your funds toward eligible day and summer camp programs. - External camps and activities
Mark your calendar for Sunday, March 2, and plan on joining ActivityHero at their annual Palo Alto Summer Fair. There, you can learn about summer camps and overnight programs for kids ages 4 to 18. Additional ActivityHero fairs are available across the Bay Area in late February and early March.
Dive into these resources and more on the Summer Activities and Camps page.