Spinoff to what daycamp did you go to

Do you think it is good for kids to go to camp?
I had no choice my mom was a working mom and rather than have us just hang out at home alone( sister was 6 years older than me) she sent us to camp. One friend had said to me one time "oh i would never send my kid to camp i would just let them play outside all day."
mind yoU she doenst have kids yet and works job where sh is not off in the summer so i dont know what she isplannignon doing when the time comes

Message edited 6/27/2007 8:38:52 AM.

Re: Spinoff to what daycamp did you go to

I'm on the fence - I think there are many benefits, and many drawbacks. I started going to sleepaway camp when I was 8 (seems young, but my two older brothers were there at camp with me). They sent me so young because I was literally BEGGING to go away, and from my first summer there, I absolutely LOVED it. I made some amazing friends, was involved in so many activities, and started dabbling in things that became lifelong interests (i.e. sailing). For the right kid, it can be a really fantastic experience, and give them an amazing amount of self-confidence and independence.

On the other hand, I envy those families that are very close and do everything together. At my old firm there was an attorney who had two teenage children, and the kids just adored their parents, spent a lot of time with them, and during the summers, they all went on family vacations together. In comparison, while I was in summer camp, my parents were running around Europe without the kids

Dh grew up in Israel where kids never went to camp - the neighborhood kids just hung out together all summer, and everyone did stuff with their parents - a much more cohesive environment.

So, I'm torn. While I absolutely LOVED my camp experiences, and have some of the best memories from them, I'm not sure if I'll send Alex. If I do, it may just be for daycamp, or for only a few weeks at a time instead of the whole summer.

Re: Spinoff to what datyc amp dod you go to

My kids will go to camp, I did as a kid and loved it, I made so many friends and it was just so much fun, new things to do everyday, and camp trips!

Re: Spinoff to what daycamp did you go to

Last year I hired a nanny to stay with my kids during the day while I worked. This year I am sending them to DayCamp.

I think that camp is SO MUCH of a better option for me - as a working mother. I love the idea that they are around other kids and that there are planned activities. They do karate, swimming, field trips, dance class, ponies, magic shows, arts and crafts... it is fun for them.

Several of the other kids there have SAHM's - but their parents like the idea of having scheduled activities and the opportunity to expand their child's social skills.

If I were a SAHM I think I would probably send them to camp - if I could afford it. I would likely only send them for a shorter day or only for 3 days a week instead of five... but I would still want them to go.

Everyday I come home from work and they attack me with stories about camp and the fun they had and what they did and what they are doing tomorrow... I was worried about sending them at first - but now I am convinced I made the right choice!

ETA: I don't think camp is in any way a replacement for 'family time'. We still hang out together when I get home and we still do 'family things' on the weekend. Camp ends mid August... and I will be taking my vacation then so that we can do some stuff as a family. But I don't believe that you have to spend every waking moment together in order to be a 'close' family.

Message edited 6/27/2007 8:58:52 AM.

Re: Spinoff to what daycamp did you go to

If I had kids I would send them to the same overnight camp I went to. I made lifelong friends and loved every moment of it.

Re: Spinoff to what daycamp did you go to

I went to a daycamp when I was younger since my mom worked and I loved it. Got to play in the pool, go to the park and play sports, do arts and crafts, sometimes watch movies, made friends. I think it is soooo much better than "Just playing outside".

Re: Spinoff to what daycamp did you go to

Re: Spinoff to what daycamp did you go to

I went to Camp & LOVED it! I always had such a great time there! I went to one camp with both of my brothers for 2 weeks out of the summer for 4 years in a row.

I started sending my daughter to day camp when she was VERY young & she went to sleepaway camp for 2 weeks when she was in 1st grade. It was a Christian camp. She went every summer to at least one camp until she was 13 then the following year she started working the summer.

Re: Spinoff to what daycamp did you go to

Re: Spinoff to what daycamp did you go to

I also went to camp - from 3 - 15. I loved it but at the same time I was jealous of my friends back home who got to sleep in and hang out. One year my friend and I talked about it, and turns out she was jealous of me.

Re: Spinoff to what daycamp did you go to

Yes, definitely. Even if you can be a SAHM, there is only so much you can do with your kids every day... for two months. I also think kids really benefit and enjoy being around other kids to do fun summer activities, in a totally different environment than school. Also they get a chance to meet other kids that don't go to their school.
I worked in a camp for a few years and it was so great to watch all the kids having fun.

Re: Spinoff to what daycamp did you go to

I was a daycamp counselor at the Girl Scout camp in Cantiague Park for 5 or 6 summers. A lot of the moms worked full time and sent their daughters there. I really loved it as a job and the girls seemed to have a great time (I hope!)

Re: Spinoff to what daycamp did you go to

My 3 year old DD is going to camp where she goes to school for 5 weeks and then I am sending her to a "real" daycamp for the last 4 weeks of the summer. I have 2 new babies and she really needs to have something to do besides bug me for 7 hours a day.. totally worth spending the money

Re: Spinoff to what daycamp did you go to

I didn't go to camp as a kid. But, I would definitely send my kid to daycamp. I don't think I would do sleepaway camp, though.

Re: Spinoff to what daycamp did you go to

We had a good mix. We would go to camp & would go sailing for a few weeks in the summer (Martha's Vineyard, Block Island, Greenport).

I think camp is a great experience for kids. It teaches them to expand their circle of friends outside of school. I also like the activities (archery, swimming, soccer).

I want my kids to do more with their day then sit around playing video games or watching TV.

Right now, I'm second guessing my decision on the camp they are in since there aren't as many activites planned.

Re: Spinoff to what daycamp did you go to

I am planning to send my kids to day camp when they are small and hopefully to sleepaway camp. I loved it. HOWEVER, we will not be able to afford to send our kids to the camps we went to so I will more than likely have to quit teachig summer school and work in the camp in some capacity so my kids can go for free. I have no issues doing that.

Message edited 6/27/2007 1:13:56 PM.

Re: Spinoff to what daycamp did you go to

I never got to go to camp and always wanted to - yes it was great that I got to spend time playing with my siblings and spending time with my SAHM, but NONE of my friends were home for the summer. If there was a happy medium, I think that I would have enjoyed it more.

I definitely plan on sending my kids to camp for part of the summer - if they WANT to go. I do know plenty of kids that had to go and didn't want to...

Re: Spinoff to what daycamp did you go to

I worked for Musiker Tours for 2 years and it was a dumping ground for kids whose parents couldn't watch them in the summer or wanted their own vacation away from their teenage kids.

Re: Spinoff to what daycamp did you go to

Absolutely, my DD will be going to camp..In fact he is starting next week in the toodler camp program...

I know I had a great camp experience with many fond memories today.. I want my children to have the great times that I had...

Re: Spinoff to what daycamp did you go to

My DH works at a day camp during the summer. The one or two times that I visited during the day, the kids seemed to be having a ton of fun. They were friends with each other. They got to do some fun activities. I can see sending them there. Now sleep away camp, I can't see. DH did it as a child and has fond memories of it, but I just see it as getting rid of your kid for weeks on end.

Re: Spinoff to what daycamp did you go to

As a teacher I will be home during the summer... I would like to do activities with my children...if they want to go and try it out- great-but if they dont like it-(I didnt) then it wont be forced

Re: Spinoff to what daycamp did you go to

I will if I can afford it. I guess we were lucky that our parents were financially able to send us to camp for all those years.

Re: Spinoff to what daycamp did you go to

I'm not into the send your kids away for the entire summer for sleepaway camp thing - that's just because I didn't go to it, however I have plenty of friends that absolutely loved it. I went to sports camps and day camps here and there - I would love my children to have the opportunity to attend camps that would expand on their talents or interests and where they could make new friends.

I think it's a balance - if they go to day camp for a few weeks- we would spend time as a family at night and on the weekends.

Re: Spinoff to what daycamp did you go to

We definitely want to send our kids to sleepaway camp-- but at $9000 per kid per summer who knows if we can swing it.

I know camp was very expensive when I went-- I have no idea how my parents did it! But, my bro never went-- just me.

Re: Spinoff to what daycamp did you go to

I had great camp experiences and I hope that my kids will have the same. As long as we can afford it and they want to go, they're going!