Finished school, here’s how much it costs to manage children from here to September: from 300 to 700 euros for a month of summer center

This is for Italian students the first week without school: there are those who have already finished last Friday and those who still have a couple of days, but everyone will end within a few days. And after? What to do in 13 weeks, day more day lesswho separate the children from the beginning of next school year? Despite initiatives, petitions, proposals and protests the Italian school calendar has not changed and the summer must be covered for every week in which parents work.

The choice, for years now, is that of the summer centers whose number increases with always different types. From the summer of the parish boys to the tennis course, passing through the fields in English and those where theater or robotics are done. However, they are all a cost.

The costs of the summer centers

THE’Federconsumatori National Observatory has monitored the costs relating to these activities, comparing them with the data relating to last year. The weekly cost, for the first child, of the full -time tariff decreases by -7%, increase the rates relating to the half day and those relating to the reduced formula, without lunch. The average weekly cost of the full -time formula is 176 euros for a summer center in a private structure, which drops to 120 for the boys attending the summer center only half a day. The thematic summer centers, with English courses, artistic workshops, sports activities, increased by 3.4%.

The price detected at the summer centers organized in public structures is around 79 euros for half day (+5% compared to 2024), and 99 for full time (+4% compared to 2024). The costs differ according to the ISEE belonging of the family, the one taken into consideration in the study is the highest one, however exceeding 26,000 euros.

In a private structure you can spend 704 euros per month per child. The figure drops to 396 euros in public summer centers, according to the National Observatory of Federconsumatori.

How to choose a summer center

These are Federconsumatori’s advice to choose the summer center:

1. Check the manager’s reliability. Preferred accredited bodies, associations with documented experience or affiliated structures with municipalities or schools. Check that the Center is in compliance with local and health regulations.
2. Check the staff qualifications. Make sure that educators and animators have specific training (education, animation, first aid). Evaluate the numerical relationship between operators and children.
3. Do not underestimate the program of activities. A good summer center proposes balanced activities between game, creativity, sports and educational moments. Be careful, however, to the programs that are too dense and rigid or, on the contrary, excessively vague and indefinite.
4. Attention to safety. The rooms must be clean, accessible and safe, both outdoor and indoors. Ask for information on Insurance, organized exits and emergency protocols.
5. Transparency of costs. Request a clear prospect of all expenses (registration, meals, transport, any extra). Be wary of too low or not very detailed offers, or those who do not expose costs.
6. Inclusiveness and attention to special needs. Check if supports for children with disabilities or special educational needs are foreseen, always preferring centers that favor social and cultural inclusion.
7. Watch out for reviews. User reviews are an important heritage to draw from, if evaluated with the right balance. Before enrolling your child to a summer center, pass them under consideration, but always with a critical eye: be wary of those who have only excellent evaluations (it could be of unsafe reviews …).
8. Take advantage of bonuses and conventions. Many municipalities and entities provide bonuses and conventions to register their children to the summer centers. Check the existence in order not to miss this opportunity for savings!