How We’re Getting Ready for Summer (Hint: It Involves Sunscreen and a Whole Lot of Water)

Summer is coming, and at RCC, we’re not just hoping for sunshine—we’re prepping like champs with clipboards, sprinklers, and bins of labeled sunscreen.

This week marks the start of our summer ramp-up: that magical (and slightly chaotic) time when we begin trading out spring crafts for water tables, reviewing safety protocols, and reminding ourselves what a small child looks like after rolling through sidewalk chalk on a humid day.

Here’s what we’re working on behind the scenes:

• Water Day Plans: Hoses, sprinklers, water tables, and tubs of toys are being checked, cleaned, and made ready. It sounds simple, but it takes coordination and backup towels.

• Bike Day Logistics: Chains are pulled, equipment double-checked, and we’re practicing deep breathing as we prepare to manage several children on wheels with snack energy.

• Classroom Cleanup: With summer groups shifting, we’re doing deep cleans and reorganization to make space for new themes, new supplies, and new friendships.

• Staff Readiness: Floaters, aides, and teachers are going over summer calendars, syncing lesson plans to water days, and reviewing how to apply sunscreen without also accidentally sunblocking their own eyelashes.

It’s a lot—but it’s also our favorite kind of work: getting ready to make summer safe, silly, and full of learning in disguise.

Why We Take Outdoor Play Seriously

You’ll hear us talk about outdoor time a lot—and that’s because it’s more than just “burning off energy.” Outdoor play builds:

• Gross motor skills (running, climbing, digging, splashing)

• Imagination (ever seen a stick become a dinosaur bone? We have. This week.)

• Risk assessment (like figuring out how fast to run through a sprinkler before it turns and blasts you)

• Confidence and resilience—especially when things get messy or don’t go as planned

When your kids are out there laughing in the sun, they’re not just having fun—they’re learning how to move, how to collaborate, how to wonder, and how to reset.

So yes, summer is coming—and we're ready. Kind of. Mostly. Ask us again after the first water day.

Stay tuned for more updates, sneak peeks at summer events, and a gentle plea to please, please label your child’s reusable water bottle. 😉

       Relay Children’s Center

💙 Where little wings take flight...