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Since becoming a mom it never ceases to amaze me how the amount of junk mail we receive seems to have increased about tenfold. It started out with the formula and diaper coupons and then seemed to move onto juice, snacks, and daycare centers. Now I can tell that summer is almost here by the number of summer day camp flyers that I have received.

My daughter is too young for any of these programs, most of them start at age 3 for children that are no longer in diapers. If your children are in school and you would like to have them continue some type of program for the summer, now is the time to sign up. Or this could be a great exposure to school if they are starting for the first time in the fall. And let’s face it, just because it is summer does not mean that your work ends. Having a safe and fun place for your children will keep them busy and you free to work.

Many summer day camps are programs that you sign up for on a week by week basis. I would love to talk about ways to find the right summer day camp for your children today. It seems there are so many different programs to choose from.

One of the biggest providers of summer day camps are daycare centers and private schools. You may have received a flyer in the mail for one near you. I know that the Montessori school down the street from me is hosting a day camp with a different theme each week. Most daycares also are prepared for offering childcare during the summer when school is out. Ask family and friends for recommendations.

YMCA facilities are found across the country. They are probably one of the biggest providers of summer programs. They offer everything from art to sports programs. Does your child want to learn how to play soccer or rock climb perhaps? Find out what your children want to learn over the summer. Maybe they want to spend the summer outside exploring, swimming and hiking.

Churches generally offer some kind of vacation bible school (VBS) program as well. They often only last for one week, so it may not work as a child care program for the whole summer. If this is something important to your family though it may be a great interlude to the program you choose for the majority of the summer.

Just doing a quick internet search for day camps in my area has revealed everything from horseback riding, knitting, scrapbooking, football, and theater programs. You should be able to find something that appeal to your family’s needs. There is a great directory at Camps.com. What are some things to look into before signing up though?

-Ask if the program is accredited. Research the accreditation agency to see what their standards are.
- Is it a full or half-day program? A younger child may do better with half-days.
- Do they provide food? Some programs offer a snack and you provide lunch. Others provide all of the food.
-Does the program have a philosophy or religious affiliation? Is it in line with your family’s beliefs?
-If your child is going to spend the majority of the day outside can they help your child apply sunscreen? A younger child may not be able to accomplish this by themselves.
-Find out if instructors undergo background checks and safety training. Are the instructors experienced and how long have they worked at the day camp. What is the child to instructor ratio?
-Ask for the names of parents whose children participated in the program in previous years that you can call as a reference.
-Are they able to dispense prescription medication to your child if they need it?
-How is discipline handled at the day camp? Is it something that you are comfortable with?

Summer day camp can help to keep your children from going stir crazy all summer. They love routine and even if they profess that they do not like school having the Monday through Friday schedule is good for them. You can keep up the consistency of this with summer day camp.

There may also be residential camps in your area that offer programs in your area. These are generally for older children that are ready to spend time away from their parents. You will have to assess if your child if emotionally ready to go away by themselves. Finding and choosing one of these programs is a big topic in itself and one for another day.

Have your children ever gone to a summer day camp? Do you have any tips for finding a great one? Looking at the options available make me very excited for when my daughter will be old enough to attend.

Warmly,
Mia