Thankful

I am happy that I do not have this problem. A problem of kids having nothing to do in the summer.

As much as I complain about the public school system and the cost of living, one thing here is more then reasonable: Kids Programs

The extra curricular activities are dirt cheap by Canadian standards. Last year Kasper was in swimming lessons twice a week. It was half the cost of the lessons in Canada and the class sizes were smaller.

The play schools a.k.a. day cares are cheap enough. At full price it is still less then 400 a month for Stefan full time and that includes all meals, snacks and field trips.
They have teachers, class time and small classes.

The playground is open and staffed all summer. You can drop off your kids for three hours at a time. It costs only 100 kr, and that is less then 2.00. They have to bring fruit with them for a snack. It is great, my boys have spent the last two summers there an they love it. They get tonnes of fresh air and are friends with all the neighbourhood kids. Another great thing is that they are open, no matter what the weather is like so if you kids are dressed well enough, they can play out in the rain all day.

The school day camps are fantastic. Kasper was in one for 6 weeks this summer. He went swimming, boating, mountain climbing, to museums, the beach and different playgrounds every week.

Older kids can go to schools that have projects for them. One that Kasper is excited for is the one that all the kids build shacks. It is a drop in program staffed with people to help the kids learn to use tools and build things. Kasper will have to wait for this one, you have to be 8.

Other summer camps have other themes. One that I looked into was for swimming, the kids spent hours, everyday, in the pool with a swim instructor.

The best part of all these things is that they are reasonably priced. There is even some deals like foreign kids get three weeks free in the summer to help them learn Icelandic.

Older kids, like 14 or something, get jobs with the city every summer. They spend all day helping look after city parks. It is really easy work for them and fun because everyone is doing it. It is also great because they get paid and might learn a little responsibility.

Find this stuff at Ítr