Swim time, kiddos
When I was a kid I went to day camp at Poly Prep, a local private school. The school had a pool, soccer/football field, and art classrooms. Campers did arts and crafts, swam, and played games outside like steal the bacon and dodge ball. I sent my daughter there when she was younger. And like me she loved it. Full disclosure: My father was a student at the school and graduated in 1955.
Choosing the right day camp for your little one is just as much a process and important as choosing the right pre or elementary school. So, what do you need to look for? First, start with whether the pre or elementary school offers summer camp. Second, think about the type of camp you want. In my day there was only a general day camp. Now there are theater, robotics, stem, etc. camps to choose from. “When choosing between a traditional versus specialty program, consider this rule of thumb: The younger the child, the more varied the activities should be. Children between the ages of 7 and 11 thrive in a setting where they can sample a variety of subjects. As their attention span develops, they may want to focus on a single activity. If you go with a specialty camp, find out how intense the program is. It may be labeled “specialty” but only have a one- or two-hour component with other activities scheduled in” — Denise Morrison Yearian, San Diego Family
For traditional camps:
· Check for camps located near your home or work.
· Ask your neighbors, friends, and relatives for recommendations.
· Visit camp sites to check that they are healthy, safe environments offering a variety of activities. When you tour a camp, keep an eye out for safety hazards, such as peeling paint and broken equipment. — NYC Health
Just as kids develop their social/emotional selves during school, day camp continues this. “‘The development that occurs through camp experiences—including the social-emotional learning environment that camps foster, the myriad of opportunities for physical exercise and growth, and, perhaps most importantly in our current world, the break from screens and technology—is essential,’ according to the New York State Camp Directors Association.” — NY Metro Parents Not to mention the relationships that can develop at camp. My mother met her close friend Betty when they were nine and at the same sleep-away camp. They are still friends more than 70 years later.
One last thing, it is easy with younger siblings to have your older ones hang with the nanny all summer long too but remember how camp helps children to develop and grow as human beings. I have memories of going with the sitter to get my sister from day camp and I remember she enjoyed going. This just reiterated that we had different personalities (we didn’t go to the same school).
Resources:
NY State Camp Directors Association
Mommy Poppins Top Day Camps NYC