A strange close to a great Olympics, hosted by our friends up North. While the games were exciting there were many teachable moments throughout the two weeks. I particularly liked pointing out to my son how the USA and the Canadian Hockey teams shook hands at the end of the that very intense game for the gold and even embraced, only then to watch the US team's sour faces as they received their silver medals. It sparked a great conversation with my 7 year old, about sportsmanship, pride, behavior in public and recognizing accomplishment even though it may not have been what we had wanted or expected. Can't wait until the summer 2012 for more great opportunities to discuss of geography, culture and understanding the commitment of an athlete!
As I mentioned I am an Ambassador for The View and want to give you a roundup for the rest of the week. They have some great guests and some really stimulating conversations! I personally love, Joy Behar. I think she is reasonable, funny, smart and can laugh at herself ! She is also not afraid to ask tough questions! Here's what's happening:
Wednesday: Best of "View tube" including backstage antics and exit interviews
Thursday: Abigail Breslin from Broadway's "The Miracle Worker" - March is Women's History month and when I reflect on the life of Hellen Keller, I am reminded truly, what an amazing woman she was! Looking forward to seeing this interview!
Friday: The History of Oscar fashions "What will Cher wear tonight?" Remember those days? Looking forward to some serious nostalgia!
On to the Question of the week: "Do you have any recommendations of what parents should look for when choosing a camp for their child?"
Yes. There are entire businesses that devote themselves to answering questions such as this. While I don't claim to be a "camp expert" I do have a few ideas of what you might want to think about. There are more camp options out there then ever before and many of them are providing as much as they can to fulfill all your needs.
Some things you might want to consider:
- Consider your child's age, maturity level, temperament and interests when narrowing down your camp choices. Try to find 3 diverse choices so you can really compare and contrast the attributes of each camp.
-Engage your child in the research. Discuss with your child what makes each camp special. Make sure you give your child a chance to share their thoughts about each option. Attend a camp meeting. Remember camp is not like picking a school. It should be a fun process not intense or grueling.
-Don't necessarily choose a camp that all the kids at school go to. Camp is a great time to make new friends and take a break from the usual school crowd. Be particularly cognizant if the school bully plans on attending the same camp as your child.
-Camp is camp, not a country club. Be careful about your expectations. Unless you're shelling out the big bucks, you will probably still have to make lunch for your kids and wash their towels if your kids is going to day camp. There is also likely no microwave to heat up your child's lunch (yes, a mother asked this at my kids camp meeting. I nearly laughed in her face!)
-Adjust your child's expectations. If this is your child's first camp experience make sure they understand the structure of the day and the experiences they will engage in.
-Consider long bus rides, being a long way from home or the commitment of theme camps. A child who gets motion sickness may not respond well to a long daily bus ride or may need the appropriate provisions. As well, children who do not feel comfortable sleeping away from home may not be ready to go away, even for a week. Theme camps are great but your child should know they spend a majority of time focusing on one activity.
-Look for Camp Directors that are savvy, organized, personable and have a good sense of humor. Directors should be responsive to your questions and concerns. This does not give you permission to ask ridiculous questions or nag the office staff to death on a daily basis:) Read the brochures thoroughly, look online for reviews and ask if you can talk to parents who have sent their child(ren) the summer before.
-Find out the ratio of staff to the group and how many kids are in each group. You may also want to find out how the staff is hired, trained and how they are monitored throughout the summer. You might also want to ask about a camp nurse onsite and any other safety staff/ procedures that are in place.
-For young children, there should be a "meet your counselor evening" before camp begins. Young children do better when there is a familiar face on the first day. Meet and Greets, before hand break the ice and can make a huge difference to a child and for you!
-Second sessions tend to be less full. If your child seems skittish about the camp experience ask if you can pay for the first session and if you can decide to sign up for a second session at a later time, pending your child's adjustment.
-Do not make deals with your child like "If you don't like it, you can leave." Encourage your kids to give camp a fair chance and to develop coping skills even when things don't go exactly as planned . If you give them a way out from the beginning they will feel more apt to use it as an easy option as soon as something goes wrong.
Happy camping!
“I am a participant in a Mom Central campaign for ABC Daytime and will receive a tote bag or other The View branded items to facilitate my review.”
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I have actually been thinking about putting my little guy in a day camp this summer for a week or two but have been wondering if he is too young (4)? I will have to do some research.
ReplyDeleteThanks for The View roundup! I hardly ever have time to watch, but it's nice to know this week's topics if I do get a break.
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