A fun, activity-filled summer camp can keep your child engaged and learning over their break. As a parent, when searching for a quality program for your young one, you’ll need to do some sleuthing to determine which camp is the best fit. To help you plan for the summer, here are a couple of questions to ask yourself and each camp before making your decision.

Ask Your Child’s Summer Camp These Questions Before Enrolling

1. What’s Your Philosophy?

Your child will spend a significant amount of time in their summer camp, so ensure that their values align with your parenting style and personal beliefs. For instance, do you want a camp that focuses on athletics, the arts, or a balance of multiple subjects? Would you prefer a set schedule, or more independent activities? Consider what type of setting is the most beneficial to your child and what you want them to take away from the experience.

2. Are Parents Allowed to Visit?

Every camp has a different policy for parental visits. Some programs let you drop by whenever you want, while others ask you to call ahead or don’t allow visits. Decide whether you’ll want to visit your child over the summer, then ensure that the location you’re choosing can accommodate that.

3. What Does a Typical Day at Camp Look Like?

Summer camps should be full of activities that teach skills such as cooperation, problem-solving, and athleticism. Read through the programs listed on their websites or call to make sure the camps you’re considering include plenty of educational, social, and outdoor activities or supervised field trips to keep your child active and entertained. 

4. What’s Your Student-to-Staff Ratio?

A low student-to-staff ratio ensures that there are enough adults to supervise your child and give individual attention to every camper. The younger the age group, the fewer children should be assigned to a staff member. The ideal ratio for preschoolers to adults, for example, is six to one, while school-age kids can have a 10 to one ratio.

5. What Are Your Safety & Disciplinary Measures?

Summer programs need to be prepared for all medical, safety, and disciplinary scenarios. Ask them to outline their health and safety guidelines, as well as their rules for behavior and methods for enforcing them. Make sure you’re satisfied with their policies, which will give you peace of mind about leaving your child in their care over the summer.

Children and parents love the summer program offered by Cherokee Academy at Clayton. Located in Canton, GA, this child care center offers summer camps full of enriching activities, including supervised trips to museums and ball games and outdoor activities. They also promote early childhood development with quality child care, preschool, and after-school programs. Learn more about them online, or call (770) 479-4404 to ask about their camps.