Is your child ready to go to summer camp this year? Are you ready for your son or daughter to be away from home for an extended period of time. Since the summer is almost upon us, you might already be searching for camps for kids to determine if there is the right fit for your child. But how do you choose the right facility?
When you’re searching for camps for kids, you need to do as much research as possible. Summer camp is a memory – good or bad – that will follow your children for the rest of their lives, so it’s up to you to make sure you send your son or daughter to palace that will engage their interests and their favorite activities. If you are considering sending your child to a summer camp in the same city or state where you grew up or one which you attended as a child make sure you are doing it because you think your child will actually have fun there. For instance, if your daughter wants to go to soccer camp but you want her to go to the cheer camp your attended, it’s best not to send her. You’ll probably wind up wasting money and causing lasting resentment.
Be sure to include your child in the process of selecting a camp. Ask what they hope to gain from their summer camp experience. Are they looking at camps for kids in order to gain new friends, or is she looking to gain a new skill or hone her current ones over the summer. Do you and your child think it’s time she became more independent? These discussions and considerations will help you narrow your choices when it comes to selecting the right camp and it will be critical in deciding whether or not your daughter is ready to go to a sleep away camp.
To help in this critical decision, be sure to ask friends or family members who have kids the same age as your own. You might find some great options close to home, which you and your child can visit together, raising both your comfort levels.
And then there is one other very important factor – the cost of summer camps. There are many non-profit camps, like those that are very affordable. Specialized day camps or sleep away camps tend to be more expensive, but there are a number of ones that offer scholarships, as well as private foundations that offer scholarships to summer camps. Some good online research can really help you determine all the different costs and options for paying for summer camp. As a final tip, if this year is the first year you child will go to camp, consider a day camp. And if it’s the first overnight camp experience, choose something within an hour of home – providing a psychological closeness for all of you.
