Did you know that about 14 million US children and adults enroll in a summer camp each year? Many attend an overnight camp, while others participate in a day camp.
Either way, summer camp is an excellent way for kids to learn and have fun during the school break. Parents also benefit because they know adults are looking after their little ones. So, it’s a win-win situation for both parties.
However, summer day camps offer more than just a way for children to pass the time. Instead, they can bring long-lasting physical, emotional, mental, and social benefits.
So, if you’re still on the fence about having your little one attend day camp, this guide is for you. Keep reading to discover the top benefits your child can obtain from such a program.
1. Can Help Foster Social Skills
Research suggests that social competence in childhood can carry on to adulthood.
For example, one study looked at kindergarten students with traits in social competence. The researchers then compared them with kids who displayed weaker skills. They found the former to have a higher likelihood of attaining higher education.
Those social skills, in turn, include sharing, being cooperative, and helping other kids.
Those are the same skills that day camps can teach children. Camps, after all, are communities where kids learn to work with each other. Moreover, adult mentors supervise them and help them build relationships.
2. Better Social Skills for Stronger Friendships
As campers improve their social skills, they can communicate better with others. That can then help them get out of their shells and comfort zones.
Then, the more the kids interact with others, the likelier it is for them to find like-minded people. The connections they make at camp can then blossom into long-lasting friendships.
3. Provides Many Ways to Feel a Sense of Achievement
Day camps offer physical indoor and outdoor activities, such as traditional sports. Moreover, some summer day camps provide physical education and art and science projects. Others even allow parents and kids to choose what goes into their daily schedules.
In any case, those programs give young campers a way to learn what it feels like to start and finish something. Completing an activity, in turn, can provide them with a sense of achievement.
4. Offers Opportunities for Enhancing Self-Esteem
According to psychologists, accomplishments are the key to building one’s self-esteem. Having self-esteem can then enable a person to value themselves. Thus, it’s vital in gaining self-confidence and a feeling of competence.
Now, remember that day camps provide children with many achievable tasks. Whether it’s a science project, a sports activity, or a game, kids who finish them can feel accomplished.
Thus, one of the benefits of summer camp or day camp is that it can help young campers improve their self-esteem.
5. A Fun Way to Bridge Summer Learning Loss
There’s evidence that achievement levels in students drop following the summer break. This phenomenon, also known as summer learning loss, can affect students of all levels. One study even found that over half of students lost an average of 39% of what they learned during summer break.
Fortunately, some overnight and day summer camps for kids offer personalized learning programs. These academic-based camps often include Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) classes. Others have educational opportunities in writing and reading comprehension.
So, to help keep your little ones from having a summer slide, consider letting them join a camp. That way, they can get a little extra help, retain what they’ve learned, or get ahead of the game.
6. Aids in Reducing Screen Time
Children 8 to 12 years old spend about four to six hours a day staring at screened devices. While such gadgets entertain them, their prolonged use may have adverse health effects.
For instance, researchers say that the light emitted by screens can affect sleep. It appears to impair melatonin, the hormone that induces sleepiness. Unfortunately, children seem to be more susceptible to those effects.
Another negative impact of too much screen time is the risk of vision problems. For example, it may cause digital eye strain (DES), with symptoms like dry, red, and itchy eyes. It can also cause eye fatigue, eye pain, and sometimes, even headaches.
Since you don’t want your little ones to experience those health woes, why not have them join a day camp? That way, they can disconnect from the digital world and plug into the outdoors instead.
Moreover, camps can provide kids with memorable, real-life summer experiences. Those are things they won’t usually obtain from social media.
7. Packed With Opportunities to Stay Active
In 2020, an estimated 39 million kids younger than five years old were obese. That’s on top of the 340 million+ children and adolescents who were overweight or had obesity in 2016.
Those are scary figures, especially since weight and health go hand in hand. For instance, kids with obesity are likelier to have hypertension and high cholesterol. They’re also at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, weak joints, and breathing issues.
Fortunately, weight problems are preventable, starting with healthy nutrition and being physically active. Both, in turn, are some of the main focuses of day camps.
Today, you’ll find camps that offer campers healthier, more nutritious food options. For instance, they build meals around wholesome foods, such as fruits and veggies. Those healthier meals then get paired with physical activities, including games and sports.
Let Your Little Ones Reap the Benefits of Attending Day Camp
As you can see, there are many ways that a summer day camp can benefit kids. From making friends to learning new skills and staying fit, your little ones can enjoy all those and more.
So, consider enrolling your child or children in a day camp as early as now. The sooner they can attend one, the earlier they can start reaping the benefits of such programs.
Are you looking for more tips and tricks on education and parenting? Feel free to browse our other blog posts, then!
