In recent years, we have seen the trend of sending children to special programs during the summer to continue reinforcing their learning process in a different and fun way.
This, as a consequence, has proliferated the offer of centers, which every day seek to adjust more to the tastes and needs of each family. Are you considering this plan for your children? Well, we tell you everything you need to know to choose a camp.
Choosing a Camp, What Should Parents Take Into Account?
For Raquel Reyes, psychologist and family therapist, “it is essential to consider the age and maturity of our child since the needs of a three-year-old are not the same as those of a five-year-old, nor are the physical and mental skills that two children of the same age have acquired are equal.
In this sense, “clearly a child of three can have more anguish in relation to the separation of their parents than other older children. From the age of five or six they have these aspects more armed, but it is the parents and educators who best know their evolution”.
The preferences of the child should also be taken into account over those of the parents. Currently, the variety of camps is enormous, so “it is worth investing time in finding a camp that is related to the child, where he can feel comfortable, and which also adjusts to the family’s economic and schedule needs.”
Giving the child the floor and being able to speak is essential in order to be able to express their likes and fears, not only when choosing the camp, but also to open this communication during the duration of the camp.
There is a belief that a camp can help an introverted child to become more sociable, but “the camp by itself does not repair aspects of a child’s personality that need to be developed, although it could facilitate their openness from communication between parents and monitors to be able to put together their insertion in the group.
This would create a greater base of security for the child to open up with their peers and enjoy the playful part of the program” explains the psychologist.
It is crucial to be aware of the importance of choosing the right camp, a bad experience ” could generate resistance to relive the experience, or to go to places and situations that mean a separation from the family.” That is why “it is worth taking some time to choose a camp together and assess all aspects of it.”
What Are the Options to Choose a Camp?
Today there are camps for all ages, tastes, and preferences: ecological, language (the vast majority in English), culture, music, artistic, adventure, multi-sport, or specialized in your favorite sport (horse riding, surfing, sailing, or soccer) and the most sought after, the urban or day camp, ideal to fit in with the schedules of the parents.
Also, you can choose a Robotics camp in Singapore. This is a great option that will make your child completely happy because almost all kids love robotic toys.
As for integration, it is increasingly common for camps to reserve places for children with some type of special need. So there is no excuse, there is a camp for your children, you just have to look for it.
Finally, we should not force our son to travel or go to a camp that requires sleeping there if he is not totally willing. “We will have to investigate and listen to the child’s reasons why he does not want to go, and if we believe that he is not ready, we should not force him, he has the option of attending an urban camp,” Reyes says.
Advice from Frogs and Princesses to Choose a Camp
- Visiting the center with the children and talking with the monitors serves to prepare them for the experience they are going to live.
- Feeling that the child stays in a safe environment will be essential. Ask about security in the facilities, and check that your children will be physically and emotionally supervised during most of the time in the camp.
- The experience and trajectory of the camp organizers can also give you many clues.
- If your child has difficulties opening up to the group, you can consider bringing a friend, cousin, or brother with him. He will cheer you up.
- Children need to feel confident, so it can also help them to go to a camp in a familiar place, or that we know and have previously told them about.
- And remember, the motivation of the children to attend is going to be something that will always help to decide.
To be successful with our choice we can take into account:
- The age and maturity of the child, her personality, are factors that as parents we know better than anyone. We must choose an option that is consistent with the child’s way of being and with her age.
- The company. It is preferable that they are accompanied by a friend, brother, or cousin, which allows them to be more relaxed and confident.
- The theme. Choose a camp according to the hobbies and preferences of the child. Nowadays, the wide offer that exists allows us to find the ideal option for our children.
- Get to know the camp. Visiting the camp can serve to bring both parents and children closer to the environment in which they are going to live for a few days. Children need security, so it can also give them the confidence to go to a camp in a place that they already know or that we have previously told them about.
- It is essential to know the organization of the summer camp or school as well as possible.
- The ratio of students per monitor and preparation of the monitors. It is important to know how many qualified monitors there will be according to the number of children. The law establishes, according to the Community, a minimum of between 1 for every 10 campers and 1 for every 13.
- Look for camps with experience, because the trajectory they have can serve as a guide. Over the years you learn and improve in the organizational aspects that a camp entails.
- Look for references. The opinions of well-known people who have gone through the same experience before generating trust.
You can see that the keys to choosing a camp are based on communication and a good search. If you want to investigate more about this topic, we leave you a guide on the most sought-after activities within the camps. We hope they serve you and that you enjoy a different summer.
