Here are some tips and recommendations from the nation's leading child care and education provider, KinderCare Learning Center.
Establish Your Family's Goals and Interests
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Ask your child about his or her interests. Discuss potential types of camps and identify the area or areas he or she is interested in.
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Camp for Kids Near YouIdentify Your Needs
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Realistically evaluate your schedule and needs. Consider the program's ability to be flexible. Can the program accommodate extra hours, days, or weeks of care should you need them? Ask for the program's definition of a "full day." Some full day programs only operate hours such as 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
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Camp for Kids Near YouLook for Camps That Have Variety
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Your child will want variety day-to-day. Look for programs that have a range of activities, experiences, and opportunities.
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Camp for Kids Near YouBalance Learning and Fun
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For your child, summer is a break from school and learning. But in order to keep your children from losing the valuable information they received during the semester, find a program that incorporates learning activities in a fun way.
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Camp for Kids Near YouRemember all Domains of Development
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Children need daily experiences in all developmental domains: social, emotional, physical, and intellectual. Look for a summer program that incorporates activities across all domains. Your kids will enjoy the program because it has wide-ranging topics and is more interesting over time.
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Camp for Kids Near YouInsist on Health and Safety Basics
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Look for centers or programs that are licensed and meet stringent health and safety requirements for the care of children. Some summer programs do not participate in state and local licensing or regulatory programs based on exemptions as recreational or seasonal offerings. Be warned that these programs may not meet basic health and safety guidelines.
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Camp for Kids Near YouVisit the Program and Preview the Summer Activity Plans
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Look for well-organized activities, thoughtful preparation, and a safe and inviting environment for your child.
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Camp for Kids Near YouMeet the Program Staff
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Meet the program manager and as many of the staff members as possible. Also, ask about the program's plans for including families and communicating with you about daily and weekly activities.
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