Combating Summertime Boredom- How Children’s Services Franchises Keep Kids Entertained
By Jocelyn Chavez
Schools may have only recently let out for summer vacation, but as many parents know, children’s excitement over summer break can quickly be replaced by complaints of boredom. Combating boredom during the summer months often requires enrolling children in organized activities. And for the growing number of dual-income families grappling with keeping children occupied during the summer months, children’s summertime programs, camps and activities are not just a priority, they’re a necessity. As a result, the demand for the programs that children’s services franchises offer continues to climb. From sports and fitness franchises, to art and education businesses, a wide-range of children’s services franchises keep kids entertained during the summer and throughout the year.
Filling a Void- Children’s Services Franchises Offer Fun, Fitness and Education
With towns and schools facing budget cuts, sports, recreation and art programs are increasingly being eliminated. Therefore, many families are turning to children’s services franchises that fill the void by offering classes, programs and camps geared toward various age levels and interests.
Concerns over the childhood obesity epidemic are prompting many parents to enroll their children in sports and fitness programs. Since 1980, the obesity rate among children and adolescents has nearly tripled; currently approximately 17% of all children and adolescents in the U.S. are considered obese, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC). Sports and fitness franchises help children develop a love of fitness, reinforce healthy habits, and can give student-athletes an edge in the ultra-competitive youth sports arena.
In addition to incorporating physical fitness and sports into children’s routines, many parents are also placing an emphasis on appreciating the arts and fostering creativity. With the popularity of do-it-yourself shows and scrapbooking and the proliferation of crafts stores, many families are embracing arts and crafts. A recent research note from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), entitled, Time and Money: Using Federal Data to Measure the Value of Performing Arts Activities, which draws on the most recent data available from the U.S. Economic Census, the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), and the American Time Use Survey from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), found that on any given day, 2.6 million Americans spend 2.5 hours on arts and crafts activities, including painting, sculpting, photography, scrapbooking, holiday decorations and costume-making, and jewelry-making. And 19% participate in these activities with children.
The research offers further proof pointing to the popularity of both arts and crafts and sports among today’s families. The average U.S. household spent $139 annually on arts and crafts, a category that includes toys and (non-video) games and $130 on sports and exercise equipment. Summer programs, camps and classes allow students to devote ample time to creative and athletic pursuits.
For families with younger children who aren’t quite school age yet, the need for child care services is felt throughout the year. Well-known childcare center franchises provide today’s families with essential services. The rising the number of children in the U.S. population under five years of age, combined with the growing number of children who have working parents is increasing the demand for child day care services. In fact, according to a report published by Global Industry Analysts, Inc. (GIA), by 2015 the U.S. child day care services market is expected to exceed $39 billion. And with more parents opting to enroll their children in center-based childcare facilities, as opposed to home-based childcare, the demand for the services that child daycare center franchises provide is expected to continue to grow.
Whether you’re interested in owning a trusted childcare franchise, a supplemental education concept, or a sports and recreation business, there are a wide-range of children’s services franchises to choose from. Previous industry experience typically is not necessary to qualify. And with parents increasingly seeking engaging, enriching experiences for their children and spending on children remaining strong, now is an ideal time to own a respected children’s services franchise.