4 Things to Know Before Sending Your Child to a Summer Day Camp in NJ

Although it is still January, many parents are already looking for summer programs for their kids. Parents start their search so long in advance for many reasons, but the main ones are securing a place in a coveted camp that will help their children grow and  massive early-bird discounts. But, as with all things in life, an early start is no guarantee for success. It takes more than a long search to find the suitable camp for your little ones—you need to know how to conduct your research in the right way.

Being someone who has been running a summer camp in NJ for the past 20 years, I have a few tips to offer on how best to secure a summer camp for your child in New Jersey that will help him or her grow.

Determine your child’s interest before sending him to a specialized camp

If your child is interested in magic tricks, not mathematics, you will do more harm than good by sending him to a math camp. In the same way, if your child is a mathematics prodigy, it is no use sending him to a sports camp. First, determine what your child is interested in and then kick off your hunt for a camp.

Tell the camp of any special needs your child may have

Is your child gluten intolerant? Or is she painfully shy? Share this information with the camp organizers before you enroll. The camp will either say they cannot accommodate your special needs, or they will make arrangements to. In either case, it will turn out to be good for the health of your child.

For children, experience matters more than results

A 4- or 8-week camp is not going to prepare your child (if she is interested in acting) for Hollywood or (if she is interested in programming) turn him into a professional coder. So expecting the impossible will bring stress, but little more. Let your child experience what they like, cooking, acting, computer programming or swimming for a few weeks and then let him decide for himself if he really wants to dive deeper into the activity.

Find the right age-group for your child

It may not be fun for your child to join a group of 11-year-olds if he  is only 7- years -old. Your child may be advanced for his age, but that does not mean he should be in a group with children twice his age. Sending your child to an age-appropriate summer camp for kid allows them to develop emotionally, mentally and physically.

When you look for a summer camp for your child, make sure it caters to your child’s interests, is accommodating to his needs and offers memorable experiences through an age-appropriate group.