The Impact of Summer on Low-Wage Workers

Often, when America reflects on childhood summers, nostalgic images of a full day of swimming, the smell of a tent or cabin at camp, or the hours children spend playing in the neighborhood, savoring the feeling of doing nothing, even when nothing feels like something. Unfortunately, what’s often lost in the nostalgia is how those moments are only available to a select segment of America as more and more families are supported by one or two adults who work 40+ hours a week.   2 out of 3 children live in households with parents in the workforce. For families with children who are too young to stay home alone and care for themselves, childcare is hard to find and often unaffordable. This requires parents to make difficult decisions on using income to purchase necessities, such as food, clothing, and shelter, to find childcare that keeps children safe (Novoa, 2018). 

            The Center for American Progress analyzed data and estimates that the average family will spend approximately 20% of their income or more than $3,000 on summer programs for two children each summer. Furthermore, if the typical summer lasts between 10-12 weeks each year, these costs represent a significant share of their budget. Additionally, parents often cannot utilize paid time off to care for their children during this time, as 40 percent of all Americans lack paid vacation time. Furthermore, grandparents are often not an option either, as many in the Boomer generation are still working. This often places children in low-quality childcare options or no childcare at all during the summer, which impacts families long-term (Novoa, 2018).

            Among 5 million households, one in five reported that an adult in the household had either lost a job or quit due to no other option for childcare. And these statistics impact Black and Hispanic families more, who are often employed in occupations that require in-person working conditions and prevents flexible scheduling. Without the flexibility in scheduling or access to paid leave, many families must choose between a period of unemployment or low-quality childcare (Glauber, 2021). Moreover, children suffer not only due to the lack of stability that income provides in either option but also from the lack of access to camps that provide physical and educational benefits as they learn and grow through experiences.

            Specialty camps and programs are often considered necessary for growth in academics or sports. And while camps historically were established for low-income families, the price points now put them out of reach for families as the average day camp costs $304 per week, and the average overnight camp is $690 per week, which is out of reach for low and middle-class families (Paul, 2016). Additionally, some day camps are only open for a partial day, leaving families without transportation to and from or before and aftercare. This drives an inequality between lower-income students, often minorities – and higher-income students as the skills and education lost during each summer, known as the summer slide, is hardly ever gained back (Novoa, 2018). Additionally, children who spend time in nature report increased happiness, focus, self-discipline, and less aggression. However, at the price point, these experiences are unattainable and unreachable for low-income children without financial assistance. 

            In conclusion, as we encounter the next 10-12 weeks of summer throughout the US, we need to consider that this privilege is available to some but not all students. And while we cannot make policy changes to increase accessible paid leave for others or change the average cost of childcare nationwide, we can make small individual moves to support our local communities. For instance, find a nonprofit such as the YMCA or the Boys and Girls Club that provides affordable camps and financial assistance for low-income families and consider contributing or volunteering time. Additionally, seek ways to support other needs of families whose income is stretched. For example, many schools provide meals in backpacks or other ways to provide meals to families who rely on assistance programs to get through these challenging months.  Could you consider donating food or money each June, July, and August to support families during these critical months?

References

Glauber, J. K. (2021). Childcare Remains Out of Reach for Millions in 2021, Leading to Disproportionate Job Losses for Black, Hispanic, and Low-Income Families. The University of New Hampshire.

Novoa, C. (2018, June 11). Families Can Expect to Pay 20 Percent of Income on Summer Child Care. Retrieved from https://www.americanprogress.org/article/families-can-expect-pay-20-percent-income-summer-child-care/

Paul, K. (2016, July 19). How summer camp went from urban escape to rich-kid refuge. Retrieved from Quartz: https://qz.com/736125/how-summer-camp-went-from-urban-kids-escape-to-rich-kid-refuge/

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