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choosing the right
day
camp
for your
child
by christa melnyk hines d ay
camp
s come in all shapes and sizes, appealing to a range of interests and ages. here?s how to find a
camp
that invests in your youngster by creating an unforgettable experience where they?ll meet new friends, gain self-confidence and learn new skills?while giving you peace of mind. begin with basics. first, determine your schedule needs. some
camp
s are only a few hours a
day
while others are structured to work well with a working parent?s schedule. figure out if you?ll need to arrange before or a?er care. from there, seek a
camp
with a caring staff, fun programs, and a dedication to the safety of the
camp
ers. bekah myers, director of extended
day
& summer
camp
programs at the dunham school, says, ?it?s important to look for a
day
camp
that interests and engages your
child
in a unique way. for example, our
day
camp
is themed differently each week, offering a field trip and activities pertaining to the assigned theme. this makes
camp
both educational, fun, and fresh for our
camp
ers.? match the
camp
with your
child
?s interests. from computer coding to robotics and sports,
day
camp
s offer kids the opportunity to try all kinds of new activities. cristina benigno, director of sja?s sizzling summer program, suggests, ?for younger
child
ren, look for
camp
s that will keep them busy throughout the
day
by offering different activities and experiences. for older
child
ren, look for
camp
s that specialize in interests your
child
has.? if your
child
isn?t interested in a
camp
that specializes in one activity, choose a more traditional
camp
that offers a wide range of activities throughout the session. it?s important to have a healthy balance between structure and choice. consider the culture. ask for referrals from trusted family and friends. as a parent, you should always feel welcome to visit the
camp
while your
child
is attending. ask the
camp
director about the visitor?s policy and follow it accordingly. also, consider the
child
-to-staff ratio. will your
child
feel lost in a group that?s too big, even if it meets state criteria? seek qualified and organized staff.
camp
employees should be licensed, certified and trained in sexual/
child
abuse prevention, first aid, and cpr. find out how
camp
leaders are supervised and how they plan for emergencies, including natural 2017-18 cover kid jayla t. 6 8 b r p a r e n t s . c o m | a p r i l 2 0 1 8
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