Camp: An age-by-age guide to March break and summer camp
February 22, 2012
Agatha Stawicki
SPECIAL TO PARENTCENTRAL.CA
Considering camp for your child?
Here’s a guide to understand how kids at various ages grow and learn at March break and summer camps.
Your child age 4 to 6 is a sponge for information, making this a perfect time to learn and master the content and activities of a quality camp. For kids at this stage, camp also offers early social experiences just not available through any other means. Camp offers exposure to adult leaders other than parents, too.
Your child age 7 to 9 is developing their own interests and camp can help him or her explore these interests, though activities such as drama, computers and other technology, or specific sports. Camp also offers new opportunities to socialize and take on new challenges.
Your child age 10 to 12 is graduating into adolescence and can often be torn between being a kid and acting older. Camp offers these tweens/ preteens an outlet to be themselves among their peers. It also provides an opportunity to meet kids of different backgrounds and abilities and start to learn tolerance.
Your child aged 13 to 15 is beginning to stretch adolescent wings in a phase of life many people find to be one of the most difficult or challenging. Kids this age are learning who they are, dealing with the attitudes of others and developing self-esteem. Camp offers these children an environment where they can start and foster friendships and build confidence through mentoring those who are younger.
Your child aged 16 and up is developing a firm idea of who he or she is. Camp offers strong, older role models as well as the opportunity be one for younger children. Teenagers benefit from the time away that camp provides and the perspective it can bring. The break may give them a chance to learn some appreciation for their parents, for city life and for other things they may be taking for granted. They can also start to develop leadership skills as junior counselors or even as counselors.
Kids and teens that go to camp have proven to become leaders at school, on teams and when they move on in their careers. A great camp can give your kids and give them a head start. But when you make your choice, be realistic about your child's physical, intellectual and emotional development levels or other limitations. Every child develops at a different pace and in a unique way, but all can find a place in the sun at camp.
Agatha Stawicki is the publisher of Our Kids Camp Expo. Find a camp for your kids or teens at www.ourkids.net/camp or attend the Toronto Camp Expo on February 26, 2012 to meet with 50 of the best day and overnight programs throughout Ontario, Quebec and BC.