What to do during the summer months varies from family to family and can be a very personal choice. You want to give your children the opportunity to recharge during their school break but more than likely, you still want them engaged in an activity or two and enjoying time with friends! Participating in a summer camp is a great way to hone in on your children’s interests, encourage independence, make time for play and teamwork, and encourage screen-free activities. There are a plethora of camp options for kids and sitting down to go over your summer camp plans should be an inclusive effort for parents, caregivers, and their children. In general, you should expect any camping experience to help your child build a sense of community, confidence, self-esteem, teamwork, opportunities to explore different interests and engage in plenty of outside time.
Here are some ideas to get you into the camping spirit!
Sleepaway Camp
Your family may have a long-standing tradition of attending the same sleepaway camp, summer after summer. Sleepaway camp is an incredible opportunity for children to develop who they are as individuals, apart from their parents for the first time. Children are gently pushed beyond their comfort zones where they can build life skills and learn to be a part of a community. Sleepaway camp could be a great fit for your family and some camps offer short-term options (1-2 days up to a week) so children can “test the waters” before committing to a full summer away from home. Parent Map shares the benefits of sleepaway camp here. There is a strong sense of community when sleeping away at camp between campers, counselors, and staff who share the summer, especially year after year.
Day Camp
A day camp is a fantastic option for the child who may not be interested in a summer sleeping away from home but is interested in a camping experience. Day camp provides the opportunity for children to spend the day away from home engaging in sports, crafts, team building, personal development, boating activities, and so much more! Children are still able to build confidence and independence in a camping environment while getting to go home at the end of the day.
Sports, Music Camps, and more!
There are so many camps geared towards children’s specific interests; Sports, Music, Theater, and Art are just a few we can think of off the top of our heads. Regardless of what kind of camp your child is interested in, you can feel confident that each environment will offer your child, positive role models, reinforce skills they are working on during the school year, create opportunities to socialize and build friendships with other kids who share their interests, and create opportunities for personal growth and skill building. Let’s break down what the four above camps may offer your child this summer!
Sports camps tend to have a heavier focus on specific sporting interests or an athletic day-to-day experience. Some sports camps are full-day programs and the primary purpose of any sports summer program is to immerse children in specific skill development for their preferred sporting activity. These camps help improve athletic techniques and develop children’s passion during the off-season for some sports (like football or baseball camp!).
For Music and Fine Art programs, parents should expect children to have an immersive learning experience that fosters a love for their child’s chosen activity typically with opportunities to showcase developing skills in a concert format during the middle or end of summer.
None of this sounds great to me, anything else?
OF COURSE! There is something for everyone. If your child is particularly interested in technology or robotics, there is likely a summer program in your area that can tap into their love for STE(A)M. Children who enjoy time in nature and do well around animals may have the opportunity to attend camp programs at a local farm or zoo. In this day and age, if you can think about it, the odds are that it may already exist.
For more on how summer camp can add richness to your child’s summer, read more here and here.
Need any help with your littles this summer before they get ready for their summer camp experience? Maybe we can help! We work with incredible nannies across the US who can offer professional childcare year-round. Reach out to us at info@nannyauthority.com or call us at (973)-466-2669 today to learn more.