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One Day at a Time
How to Choose a Day Camp
By Gregory Keer
Unless you both work five days a week, consider not sending your child to camp every day. After all, summer is a chance to hang out with your child. Some children may love camp so much that they want to go all the time, but you might still want to hold them out a day or two just to spend some quality time together. Also, many kids thrive on three days of camp per week as opposed to one or two because it offers more consistency. In addition, try spacing the days (such as Monday-Wednesday-Friday) so your child doesn't fall out of the rhythm of the camp experience.
Consider Convenience
No matter how great that camp in the hills might be, the bus ride there and back might drain your child of all the fun they might have in the hours they're on their feet. Or you may have such a long drive or traffic-riddled route that it makes you crazy. If distance is a problem, try to find a camp more conveniently located to your home or work. Specialty Camps
This is the wave of today and the future. Now there are camps focused on science, surfing, cowboy activities and theater arts, in addition to the traditional camp that offers swimming, arts-and-crafts and so on. Based on your child's interests, research camps that appeal to their talents. You can also choose a camp that helps develop skills you and your child agree could use a little boost in the fun atmosphere of camp. You might want to let your child try one week at a specialty camp aside from the weeks she does a traditional camp. Consider the Heat