SOHO Start-Up -- Coping with Child Care During Summer Break

Coping with Child Care During Summer Break
By Paul N. Gada, CCH Business Owner's Toolkit Staff Writer

Summer is a great season. There is nothing like a string of hot days, a barbecue or two, and the smell of freshly cut grass to help shake off the cold of winter and the sogginess of spring. For most, summer is a time of sunshine and fun.

For those with school-aged children, however, the start of summer vacation presents its own unique challenges. While children may consider themselves free for the summer, working parents know that juggling their work schedules to fill a daily eight-hour child-care gap is no day at the beach.

The shock to small business owners with children out for the summer is even greater. Unlike parents with regular jobs, small business owners have more responsibilities and less flexibility associated with earning a living. For example, they can't rely on paid time off from their employer because they are the employer. Also, a small business owner operating a business from home can expect the children to routinely destroy the rest of the home with nobody to look after them.

There are two standard solutions to this situation. The first is incarceration, whether through increased use of daycare or by hiring a babysitter (a.k.a. nanny or au pair). This solution generally works better for younger children. The second solution, hopefully used only with older children, is to leave them to their own devices.

Realistically, the above choices may end up being your only choices. Just don't make a hasty decision that can condemn your children to a miserable summer and you to months of hearing their complaints.

Although the living is not always easy, the summer can still be enjoyable with some prior planning. To help you avoid singing the summertime blues, consider the following planning tips:

Involve the whole family in the planning process. Any change like this can bring stress to the whole family. It makes sense then to include everyone affected by the change in the decision-making process. Don't just lay down the law. Explain the situation and your concerns to your children. Seek out their input and have them come up with suggestions. In this way, the final plan will have their support from the start. (This strategy not only works well at home, but it can also be used in your business.)
Try to educate, not just incarcerate. If you do decide to send your child somewhere, try to work in some educational experiences or other opportunities for personal growth for them. There are numerous community and private day camps for children that are fun and can teach them something new. Look into what is offered in your area. At the end of the summer, their answer to the question "What did you do last summer?" should never be "nothing."
Set goals and expectations for your children. If your children are old enough to spend time alone during the summer, don't let their idle hands cause trouble. They should already be involved in sharing household responsibilities. Increase their household duties a bit more during the summer. At the same time, it would not kill them to read a book a week or work some math problems in preparation for the new school year. Again, sit down with them and work out some goals you would like them to strive for. Don't forget to sweeten the deal with a suitable reward, like going to an amusement park or to an ice cream store.
Teach your children the family business. Perhaps only you will find this amusing, but the child labor laws do not protect your children from working for you. After working with you for the summer, they will hopefully come to value your contributions to the family while earning some spending money for themselves. Working in the family business is also a great way for children to learn how to become entrepreneurs when they grow up. If you are still hesitant about having your children work for you, consider the tax breaks associated with employing them.

With a bit of preparation and some cooperation from your family, you will still be able to enjoy summer. Remember that, contrary to what your children may think, school is not out forever. Before you know it, the kids will be back in school and your life will be back to normal (whatever that may mean to you).

To keep up-to-date regarding all the tax law changes affecting your taxes and your business, be sure to pick up a copy of CCH Business Owner's Toolkit Tax Guide 2001. This easy-to-use tax reference--and accompanying FREE offer for online tax return preparation and filing--is available at major booksellers nationwide or by visiting www.cch.com.

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