How many different summer camps have your kids attended? Which ones were winners and which ones bit the dust? There's a truckload of advice out there on how to pick a good one, but today's tips come straight to you from the been-there-done-that zone.
I'm still learning how to do this, but every year I get a bit better. So here goes:
Start early (like now) and ask for free stuff in the mail.
When you start in April, people will send you material that you can sit down and peruse with your child. The point is to stay comfortable and neutral. You can't achieve the same effect of risk-free exploration when you're hunkered around the computer, clicking back and forth between websites and worried about the deadline. Kids will enjoy looking at the material with you and you'll love the reading challenge it presents.
Let the kids lead the way.
Camp is not school and should not be subject to the same parental restrictions as schoolwork. Encourage kids to talk about they would really, really like to do. It doesn't matter if it doesn't turn your crank-you're not going to camp. This is the perfect opportunity for your child to step out and feel what it's like to own a passion or flirt with a new interest. Once kids drop some key words, search them, along with your community name, for a good fit.
Don't throw your money-pin it carefully.
Welcome to my summer. Junior chef's school won't be cheap and we'll spend cash getting there and back each day, so we're limiting this dream experience to one week. One week of superb matching of interests can always be supplemented with a few weeks of lower-cost fun, either through your local community centre or parks and recreation camps. Which brings me to the next tip.
Mix it up.
The best summers we've had usually mix up totally free time (yes, I believe in it!), "fun" camp with low-pressure activities and sports, a week or two of "special" camp, and then a trip someplace together. The least satisfactory summers have been ones in which my daughter was stuck with a camping or child care arrangement she wasn't keen on. Of course, single parents with jobs outside the home need full-time arrangements. But it's still possible to mix up camps and caregivers for variety. Bonus: you can start next year's short list from your winners.
Check out the basics.
As you create this year's list, don't overlook the basics like I once did. Several years back, Simone got stuck in a dance camp for girls aged "6 - 16." Imagine how much all those girls had in common (zilch). Needless to say, I wasn't aware of this loopy rule until the first day because I hadn't bothered to ask. So before you commit, phone the camp and give them the once-over about age, structure, philosophy, cost, and anything else that's important to you.
Summer camp presents a unique opportunity for kids to explore their passions and develop their skills. I hope your kids' camping experiences are terrific this year.
Jessica Pegis is an author and consultant specializing in learning resources kids. She is the mother of 10-year-old Simone, her sternest critic and loudest cheerleader. Sign up today for KidSmart, her FREE e-zine, by going to http://www.talkplaythink.com Tips, games, and other fun (and brainy) stuff to do with kids.
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