With summer vacation just around the corner, parents are racking their brains trying to find childcare.

Since mid-May, Ms. Thao My (Thanh Tri district, Hanoi ) has been anxiously looking for ways to look after her 4-year-old son. Both she and her husband are extremely busy from early morning, so managing their child's summer vacation has become a difficult problem," Ms. My said.

My's son, Bun, is quite mischievous and a picky eater. Her husband suggested sending him to the countryside for the summer, but My worries that his grandparents will spoil him. Because of this, the couple had a "cold war" for a whole week.

Her husband reasoned, "My grandparents took care of me like that in the past, and nothing happened to me then. You're overthinking things and making everything more complicated."

She stubbornly defended her position: " The grandparents are old and tend to spoil the child. Last time, after a week at home, the child forgot all the rules I had taught him. Just leave it to me, I'll handle it."

With summer vacation just around the corner, parents are racking their brains trying to find childcare - 1 — Parents worry when their children are on summer vacation. (Illustrative image)

Recommended by a neighbor to a babysitter in their apartment building, My decided to take a day off work and bring her child to the "class" to try it out before convincing her husband. After discussing it, they agreed to send their child there, as they were already acquainted with the babysitter and it was convenient for dropping off and picking up their child.

Every morning, she wakes up early, prepares food and necessities for the day, packs them into a backpack, and then she and her son head to "class." In the afternoon, her husband takes care of picking up their son and feeding him, as his wife often has to work overtime. By the time she gets home, her son is already fast asleep. Only on weekends does the whole family have time to spend together.

"They call it a class to create a sense of excitement for the kids going to school, but there are only about 3-4 children and a babysitter. The babysitter is looking after her two grandchildren, plus my child and a neighbor's child. Since we all live in the same apartment building, my wife and I trust her and send our children there all day. The monthly cost isn't a big issue. As long as our children are happy and have a safe summer vacation, that's all that matters," said a parent.

Facing the same situation of children on summer vacation and parents being too busy, Mr. Ngoc Thanh's family (Tay Ho district) urgently needed a housekeeper and babysitter. Initially, he contacted agencies, but the "connection" fees were too high. Moreover, Mr. Thanh was also uneasy leaving his 6-year-old child home alone with a stranger. They were overjoyed when an acquaintance from their hometown agreed to work as a temporary housekeeper for two months during the summer.

" The rent my family pays is about 8 million VND per month, not including living expenses. In return, my daughter is comfortable at home, and my wife and I don't have to worry so much while we're at work. My job often takes me to other provinces, so having someone to help with housework also eases my wife's burden, and my daughter has someone to talk to at home," he said.

Since they had someone to help with housework, Thanh's wife is less busy and can spend more time with their daughter. The problem of finding childcare during the summer has been solved, and although it puts a greater financial burden on them, both husband and wife believe it's worth it.

"The little girl chatters non-stop with the maid all day long. Every now and then, you see the two of them busily cutting paper, folding flowers, doing crafts, or taking care of the potted plants on the balcony together. When the holiday ends and the maid goes back to her hometown, I wonder if the little girl will be sad, " said Loan, Thanh's wife.

Regarding summer activities for children, Associate Professor Tran Thanh Nam, Head of the Faculty of Educational Sciences (University of Education, Vietnam National University, Hanoi), believes that parents should not completely cut off their children from the online world during the summer. "We limit screen time for the safety and holistic development of children, but they still need to interact with the online world to learn about information literacy and how to live safely in the digital space," he said.

Parents need to plan ahead for each summer. Based on activity groups, families should discuss with their children to identify diverse activities that children will participate in during the summer, such as attending experiential courses or engaging in valuable volunteer work. Families should agree on some rules with their children to ensure a safe and enriching summer.

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