“He is still so young.  I’m not sure how we will handle the long bus ride to and from camp each day and being in such a big camp with so many different activities with so many older children around.”  Said…me!

My oldest son, Dylan, is turning 3 next weekend.  There are many developmental milestones that come with turning 3.  He just recently got a big boy bed, he uses the potty, and he’s even started taking showers.  But perhaps the biggest milestone that I, the camp director, find myself not even ready for is the fact that this summer Dylan will be old enough to go to J&R Day Camp.

I’ve only been waiting my ENTIRE LIFE to have a child old enough to send to camp.  And yet here I find myself contemplating the decision.  The decision to sign your child up for camp is a big one for any parent.  There is so much that goes through our minds as we consider whether or not our children are ready.

People keep asking me whether or not Dylan will go to camp this summer.  I love the idea of him going to camp, but I’m not sure if he’s ready.  So, how will my husband and I make the decision?  How will we know if he is ready?

And how will you know if your child is ready?  Let’s address some concerns that will help us all decide whether or not our children are ready for day camp.

Is my child potty trained?
Children should be completely potty trained in order to come to camp.  Now is the perfect time to start since camp is still a few months away.  What better time than now while we are all hunkered down at home during the pandemic. Camp can often be a motivator for children to potty train.  If you start now, chances are they will conquer it by the time summer rolls around!

Does my child take a daily nap?
How would my child’s behavior change if they don’t nap?
Camp days are full of fun.  Campers swim and do lots of different activities every day.  While our youngest campers spend more time indoors and have a slower paced schedule than our older campers, there is no nap time.  Camp is a more robust environment than a preschool setting, so children should be well adapted to not napping by the time they come to camp.  It is not unusual for our youngest campers (and sometimes the older ones too!) to take a catnap on the bus ride home from camp and our bus staff are trained to help campers transition off the bus at the end of the trip.

Does my child have difficulty separating from me?
Dylan still gets a little clingy when it’s time for me to leave him.  And while he won’t really be leaving me if I am at camp with him, it is certainly heartbreaking for me during the other times when I leave him, especially if there are tears.  Children are resilient!  Some  need a few minutes to acclimate while others take days or even a couple weeks.  Once they do adjust and allow themselves to let go of the feeling of not wanting to leave your side and start to engage with the activity, other children and counselors, they amount of fun that they will have is boundless!  On this note, it is important to note that for this age group, the first week of camp can be a rocky transition.  From our experience, after that first week, once campers adjust to the new routine, that’s when the real adventures begin!

How does my child follow directions?
Camp is filled with opportunities to learn new things, meet new friends, and experience a level of independence that they haven’t experienced before.  At J&R, we spend a lot of time as a community and set boundaries and rules that help everyone get the most out of their time with us.  Many times throughout the day, campers are given simple directions that will set them and their fellow campers up for success.  Having the ability to follow those directions is important.

Does my child show interest in going to camp?
When you mention the idea of attending day camp, what is your child’s reaction?  If they show signs of excitement, take it as an sign that it is time to register! What if your child is too young to understand the concept of day camp and what it really is?  Look for other signs like eagerness to try something new or make new friends.  Or show them some videos from our Vimeo page at https://vimeo.com/jandrdaycamp

If your child has most of these qualities, then they are ready for J&R Day Camp.  We want your child’s first experience at J&R to be meaningful, enriching and fun.  And when your child is ready, our highly qualified, nurturing staff will be ready to guide them, help them develop and welcome them into our camp community.

We’ve already decided that Dylan will at least go for a one week as a trial run at the end of the summer.  Every child is ready for camp when the time is right for them.  I look forward to making the best decision for my child and helping other parents make the best decision for theirs.