The Best Age for Attending Summer Camp
You may send your children to camps based on the positive experiences you had during your time. The activities you enjoyed, the independence, and ultimately the friendships that began at
summer camps. However, parents often find it hard to discern when their children are ready to go camping and the experience's impact on their development. Fortunately, camping has evolved since
1861, when the first camp was pioneered. Here is everything you should know about the benefits of camping and the best age for your child to begin attending summer camp.
Benefits of Summer Camp
Regardless of your child's age, summer camp is a place for character development and lots of fun. Whether it is weeks of intentional skill-building or summer entertainment, your child will find it all at the camp. An
accredited summer camp program can benefit your child in the following way:
- Camping activities can boost your child's self-confidence
- Attending summer camp can help your child appreciate nature
- Outdoor summer camp activities can promote the child's mental and physical well-being
- Attending summer camp can improve the child's cognitive and fine motor skill
- A variety of summer camp activities can help your child develop their social skills
- At summer camps, children can realize their talents or develop new skills and hobbies.
The Best Age to Start Attending Summer Camp: Entering Kindergarten (Ages 5 to 9)
Kindergarten children in this age bracket can benefit a lot from attending summer camp. These children are at the stage where they are primarily guided by intuition. Summer Camp activities will expose them to independence as they transition from the preoperational stage. Exposure to fun-filled activities at summer camps is where children challenge their thinking, have fun, and acquire new skills in a low-pressure environment. Many children in kindergarten learn better in a fun-filled, low-pressure but structured environment. Summer camps will help them build their social skills away from electronic gadgets.
Allow Children to Continue Attending Summer Camp Through to 10th Grade
Preteen years bring many changes in children's overall development. Children about 10 to 13 years old experience physical and emotional changes. Summer camp exposes them to activities that improve their critical and logical reasoning skills. Allow your children to face challenges that can help them improve their overall personality. They interact with peers with a common interest outside school and the home environment. Attending summer camp can equip the 10th grade with practical and social skills that will prove helpful in minimizing
risky behaviors in their teen years. Camps can mold future mentors by involving teens in camping activities that help develop their teamwork and leadership skills.
On the Bottom Line
The exact age to begin summer camp varies depending on your child's readiness, maturity levels, and individual abilities. Another critical factor is the parent's readiness to send their child to camp. Nonetheless, there are many types of camps with accredited programs and well-trained counselors who can help your child adjust and enjoy their summer camping experience.
