Summer vacation is one of the most exciting times school kids look forward to every year. This is their chance to break away from all the studying and homework, projects and assignments. It also means more time for playing and having fun. As a parent, you want your child to make the most of their vacation. So if you’re looking for excellent summer childcare, you may want to send your child to a summer camp. Summer camps are more than just having fun, sing alongs, playing, and building a campfire. They provide plenty of opportunities for kids to develop skills. Summer camps also teach children how to build meaningful relationships, how to be independent and other valuable traits. If you would like your child to have an awesome and productive summer, here are some tips to help you choose the best summer camp program for them.

Set your child’s expectations

Before you start looking, talk to your child and discuss the idea of summer camp. Ask them about the things they want to do this summer. Do they have specific activities they want to try? Whom do they want to spend their summer with? Are there new things they would like to accomplish or learn? The answers you get from your child could be your basis for choosing the right summer program for them. If they want to focus on sports or swimming, or they want to develop their skills in arts and crafts, you can find the summer camp program that features these activities.

Do your research

Look into a variety of summer programs before making a final decision. Be sure that the program encourages new learning and development. Find out how the summer program will contribute to your child’s future studies and career. You can use the internet as one of your resources. Check individual child care/summer camp websites and go through the list of programs they provide. See what is included in the tuition. Also, seek recommendations from your friends and family. Speak to other parents about their experiences with various summer camps. They can share an insight into how a camp usually works, the activities and their focus program. They can also share if the experience was helpful for their child or not.

Visit the camp

Before registering your child for a camp, it would be best to visit the camp and ensure the quality of instruction and the surroundings. Talk to the people who facilitate the summer camp program. Ask specific questions about the philosophies of their program, their unique features, rewards system as well as the rules. When you visit the camp, observe the interaction between the kids and their counselors. Notice how the activities take place in the camps day to day. Also, make sure that the general environment of the camp is engaging and safe for your child.

Evaluate the staff running the summer program

One of the top things parents look into is the ratio of counselors to campers. While this is an important thing to consider, there are other things about the staff you should find out. The skills and experience of the counselors are something that should be taken into consideration. Take time to find out if the staff has gone through the necessary training and if they have the experience in handling such summer programs. Ask how long they have been with the camp. Dig into how skillful and effective they are when it comes to achieving the goals the program has in place. How is their relationship with the campers? Are they capable of facilitating the activities in such a way that the children learn what they’re supposed to learn and develop the skills they are supposed to develop? Counselors play a significant role in making a summer camp program successful. So make sure you also look into this area during your search.

Summer camps are an excellent way for your child to have fun and be productive at the same time over their vacation. Follow these tips and you’re on your way to sending your child to a summer camp program that will make their summer really worthwhile.

Children and parents alike enjoy the upcoming season of summer. Ahhh, glorious sunny days, warm weather, and no school. Taking special time with family becomes a priority, as it should!

However, learning shouldn’t fall behind in the process. Let’s discuss some shocking stats!

On average, students lose 2 months of reading skills over the summer. Children are at risk of losing more than just academic knowledge during the summer.

• 2.6 months of math skills are lost.
• Physical fitness levels also take a hit.
• 6 weeks of the beginning of school is spent relearning things from the previous year!

(CLICK HERE to read more for yourself!)
With this in mind please consider the academic part of your child’s life. Many things can be done during the summer to incorporate family fun with continued education.

Reading:
Take trips to the library. If you are going on a trip encourage them to read and learn about the area you will be visiting. Have a summer reading challenge program with a cool reward to receive when the goal is meet.

Math:
Involve the children in the grocery shopping. Give them a budget. Have them make a list to shop for a couple meals then let them work it out. While driving in the car play counting games. Assign car colors to the children and see who can find the most of their color.

Technology:
Tablets can be useful for more than games. Ask them questions about trips you are making, or even random ideas and have them look for the answers.

Children work so hard during the school year. Much of what they learn is retained through repetition. That practice goes away for many during the summer.  It can be hard and hurt their self esteem to go back to school the next year and they realize they have forgotten things they worked so hard to achieve. The best suggestion we have is to use activities as a learning purpose. Keep in mind these stats as we all head into the summer with full steam!

Learning can be a fun way to keep connected to your children!
–Ms. Dotty G.
NAEYC Coordinator
Lead Jr. Kindergarten Teacher

Choosing the right preschool is the first step towards making sure that your child is prepared for grade school. Contrary to what you might have heard, this process is not difficult at all.

The key to choosing a preschool is knowing what you want your child to gain out of their preschool experience. This will help you figure out what to look for regarding the program and the curriculum offered by the preschool.

Here are some tips to help you choose the right preschool for your child!

Know and understand your child’s strengths and weaknesses

Figure out what our child’s strengths and weaknesses are. This will help you identify if a particular preschool that can help address your child’s weaknesses and build their strengths. Ask about the school’s programs and curriculum for reference.

Go back to the basics

Think about the basics first. How will preschool affect your daily life. Do you need the preschool to be near your home or your office? Is it important for the preschool to have childcare services offered on both morning and afternoon? Do you want the program to include a lot of extra-curricular activities? Answering these questions can help you narrow down your choices according to your desired location and setting.

Do your research

Make a list of prospective preschools by doing your research. Reach out to your friends, family, or neighbors for recommendations. Seek their advice based on the important factors you have identified. Personal references can come in handy in situations like this, don’t hesitate to reach out for help. Search the internet to find information about the preschools in your area. Visit the school’s website and check their programs and curriculum. Remember to read the reviews so that you’ll be warned of any red flags or complaints.

Visit the centers

After your research, you should have your list down to about 2 or 3 preschools. Start scheduling your site visits. It will be better if you bring your child on the tour so they can also get a general feel of the school. Have your questions ready before you do your visit.  What are the schedules, curriculum and the programs that the school offers? Ask yourself if it is a place where your child can get an amazing learning experience. Do you think your child will feel welcome in the school? Do the other children look happy and comfortable in the setting? Is the environment clean and safe for your child?

Along with these questions, try to notice how the children and teachers are interacting with each other. Are the teachers able to establish genuine connection with their students? Are they able to hold the attention of the kids? How is the interaction between the teachers and other parents? Asking questions and being observant about the setting during your visit can help you make a final decision.

Ask your child for their opinion

Before choosing a preschool for your child, ask your child their opinion about it. It is important that you consider your child’s choice, too. Ask them which preschool they think would make them the happiest.

It is also essential that you select the setting where your child will be comfortable while learning. Preschool should be a place where they will not only be taught the fundamentals of academics; but it should be a place where they will grow their love for learning.

It may be easier to choose a preschool for your child when following these tips. Looking for a preschool that will nurture your child’s holistic growth? Please consider our Colorado Springs preschool.

Summer time is an amazing time of year. Even if you aren’t drawn to the heat, it is a wonderful time to create memories and bond with your child and/or children. The kids are out of school, the weather is (usually) sunny and warm and it opens up so much more opportunities!

Do you remember campfires, camping, fishing, and hiking with your family? Do you remember going to the pool, backyard tent camping, tubing, and theme parks? These experiences happen during summer and now it’s time to create memories with your minis. Even if you’re not overly athletic or outdoorsy here are some fun memories you can try out for yourself.

It can be as simple as going outside in the backyard to play pirates or ninjas. You can go on a bug hunt or create “rock stew” concoctions with dirt and grass and never leave your house. In my house we travel but we also create a lot of memories right in our own backyard.

Americans have had it ingrained into ourselves that we always have to be busy. We’re obsessed with the idea of having the perfect summer yet we may be missing the little moments. I know that one of my best summer memories is of a popsicle in one hand and crafts all sprawled out on the table.

I want my children to look back and remember at least some of the small things that we did together. Doing these things will give them a good grounding and make them more appreciative when times are more exciting. If you’re constantly going, going then the exciting times could end up being bland.

I want them to have happy memories of our summers together and have them be full of adventure and connections. I want them to see that even their mom and dad are willing to learn and try new things. I want them to interact with their community, with the outside world, as well as with themselves and our family. To an extent, isn’t this what we all want with our children?

The idea of entertaining your child during the summer months may seem daunting. To be in charge of entertaining someone under 5 really is a full-time job! No matter what activity you choose, children are going to remember your presence. They may not remember exactly what you did that Tuesday in June, but they will remember that you were there. They’re only little once!

~Ms. Aleyana S.
Wellness Coordinator
Lead School Age Teacher