When summer is here, your house will become more crowded since school's out for the summer. With this, you have a lot of considerations to make: child care, and fun activities for your kids.

This is why it's important to plan for summer, way before it arrives.

• Check available day care options by early spring in preparation for the coming summer months

• Do some research on all-day camp programs that accommodate working parents

• Ask around if there are local home-based babysitters that are willing to add to their roll for the summer.

• Look for responsible teens or college students who can be your kids' nannies for the summer.

• Consider hiring a babysitter who can drive to different camp programs and also do home care.

• If you work from home, clean up your work space and organize your stuff.

• Collect your work materials from all over the house and create a no-kids-allowed zone.

• Schedule your work needs, particularly if you only have one computer in the house. Use your computer when the kids are asleep or in the early morning for the summer.

• Plan for lunch. Ask your kids what they want for lunch and snacks. Make sure though that you choose healthy foods for your kids. Also, opt for foods that your kids can get from the fridge and prepare themselves.

• Have a menu set each day and stick with it. Have a back-up meal for unannounced visitors or choosy eaters.

• Join your neighborhood or local recreation center so your kids will have something to do or some place to go to during the summer.

• Also check out summer camp programs. Do this by mid-spring so camps won't be filled yet by the time you sign up.

• You can also sign your kids up for sports camps. Having activities planned for your kids will come in handy, especially if you haven't got a family vacation planned.

• In case you do, notify your boss, your kids' coaches and summer camp coordinators if you are going on vacation. Inform them of you vacation dates. Also have your kids tell their employers about upcoming family vacations and vacation dates, if they have a summer job.

• Lastly, if you have pets, look for and schedule pet care way before your vacation date.