HomeSummer's looming, and you can already hear the "Mom, I'm bored!" whines. Solution: Summer camp. But picking a camp isn't always easy.
Here's a few tips, from KinderCare Learning Centers, on selecting the right camp for you ... oh, and your child.
-- Establish your family's goals and interests. Talk to your child about what their interests are. What do you want your child to get out of a camp?
-- Identify your needs. Do you need camp as childcare? Can you accommodate a 9 to 3 camp? Is there before or after camp care available? Can the camp accommodate any vacations you have planned?
-- Look for camps that present variety and flexibility for your child and for you. Kids want variety in their week, and certainly week-to-week over the entire summer. Look for programs with a range of activities and experiences. Does your child also need quiet or downtime?
-- Balance learning and fun. A good camp should provide both fun-filled activities that give kids a break from school, and a learning experience.
-- Remember all domains of development. Children need daily experience in all developmental domains -- social, emotional, physical and intellectual. Look for camps that offer activities in all areas.
-- Insist on health and safety basics. Look for licensed programs that meet state guidelines for teacher to child ratios, safety practices and health inspections.
-- Visit the program and preview the plans for the summer activities. Look for well-organized plan for summer activities, as well a safe and inviting environment for your child.
-- Meet the program staff. Make sure you feel comfortable with the people who will be caring for your child. Ask about the camp's plans for communicating with parents about special events or problems.
___
(c) 2008, McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
_____
