In childbirth classes, they talk a lot about sleepless nights, cracked nipples, postpartum blues... but little is said about a topic that will haunt you every year and is much worse than having to put cabbage leaves in your breasts to relieve milk engorgement: summers with children. Schools close in June. But, Oh, surprise!, your children still exist.

“At first I was afraid of everything: of the food, that something might happen to them, I was even afraid of them sleeping away from home. But after the first experience, the girl came back very happy and the fear has passed,” explains Nabila, mother of three, about the summer camps. Her daughter Yosra, eleven years old, has already been to camps twice, once with school and once in the summer. Her son Marouan, 16 years old, has also been – this year will be the fourth time – and the youngest, Omar, hasn't dared to go yet, although Nabila has hopes.

When we talk about health, we often think about habits related to diet or physical activity. However, we know well that health is a much broader concept that includes physical, emotional, social, and community dimensions. Today, in a context where data continues to alert us that children and adolescents are spending more hours in front of screens, doing less physical activity, having less healthy diets, and experiencing an increase in emotional distress, it is necessary to reinforce those spaces that contribute to their integral well-being.Summer camps and colonies are one of these privileged spaces. And precisely now, when school holidays are about to begin and the time for dolce far niente increases considerably, it is important to highlight the role they play in the health and development of children and adolescents. Because beyond being a leisure alternative when school ends, they offer educational experiences that have a direct impact on their present and future well-being.

Going to the pool, going on a mountain excursion, spending a day at the beach or playing football are simple activities that not all children can take for granted during the summer, either due to family financial difficulties or personal interaction. Bhermar arrived in Barcelona from Colombia a couple of years ago with Khamila, her 7-year-old granddaughter, and turned to the Raval socio-educational center to help the child bond and strengthen her emotional well-being. "When she leaves the summer camp, my granddaughter comes home and tells me everything she's done throughout the day. I'm clear that this has helped her grow a lot emotionally," she explains.

The Ministry of Labor and Social Economy has stepped on the accelerator to implement stricter work time recording across the country. The Spanish government expects the text of the regulation, which is currently in the hearing phase, to come into force in less than six months and require all companies to ensure that their employees detail the hour and minute they begin and end their workday, as well as any breaks they take during the day. However, the leisure sector warns that, at least for now, this new regulation has forgotten its specifics, which could jeopardize school and family camps as we know them.

These days, families are searching and considering offers from administrations and organizations to fill part of their little ones' summer vacation with activities and leisure activities. Prices vary widely, depending on the days and hours of attendance, whether the child spends the night away, and the type of activity. Prices range from approximately €100 for a week of eight-hour summer camps to €300 or €400 for five or six days of summer camps. However, these are the prices for activities for children who don't need any specialized support. In contrast, for children with significant disabilities, the rates soar, even multiplying by two.