Day Camp Gives Moms a Break, Too!

New friends, new fun, fresh air, and a little break for both moms and kids...

Local Moms Share: “Why We Love Day Camp!”

By Amy Crelly

Why do day camp? Elk Grove mom, Evelyn Heater-Street, sums it up: “Kids get outside, and mom gets a break! You can't beat those two most glorious things!” She is thinking of signing up her little guy, Zachary, for the day camp programs at Fairytale Town and the Zoo. (He’s 4.) “This is my son’s first year old enough for day camp, and he is super-excited to go!” she says. We're sensing Evelyn is kind of excited, too.

Folsom mom, Stacy Gould, sent her son, Ryan (now 5) to a few different day camps last summer. “It was the perfect way to meet new friends, try new experiences, and practice being away from Mom all day,” says Stacy, who also has a little girl, Ella (3). “We can't wait for camps again this summer!”

Local parents have tons of camp options to choose from. Kids can learn to become chefs, study the actor’s craft, express themselves artistically, dive into nature, or play their favorite sport. But all good day camp programs have some basic things in common. “I look for a camp that is fun, educational, and well-run,” says Sacramento mom, Lori Kidd.

Last summer Lori sent her son to the Sacramento Zoo’s Little Ducklings Summer Camp. “The camp is fun—teaching songs, crafts, and storytime,” she says. “The children get to meet and touch zoo animals while learning about each one.” Educational Manager Lisa Hetherington says campers learn about nature conservation and everyday ways to help the planet, too. The Sacramento Zoo’s Camp has won Nickelodeon’s Parents’ Picks Award for Best Summer Camp, but Lori plans to send her son again this year for a simpler reason: “He loves it and wants to go back.”

green time vs. screen time
“Day camp gives the kids something to do instead of staying home in front of the TV and computer,” says Sacramento mom, Judy Arcala. This basic benefit of sending kids out of the house during summer downtime is more vital now than it’s ever been, according to LetsMove.gov, the website for First Mom Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! campaign. The site reports that kids consume about 200 more calories today—in snacks alone!—than they did 30 years ago. It also points out children need at least an hour of active play time every day. Quality day camp programs offer a solution on both those fronts, getting kids active when they might otherwise slip into sedentary snack mode out of boredom.

hands-on learning
Day camp gets kids’ minds active, too. It’s a chance to think outside the classroom and rediscover how much fun learning can be. “Children’s minds are like sponges; they need stimulation, so they don't ‘dry out,’” says Mariah Arnett, a Sacramento mom with two girls. “Summer day camp allows children to explore new territory, meet some new friends and experience active, hands-on learning,” says Mariah. “It’s a perfect prescription to recover from the winter and a long school year!”

Katie, a Sacramento mom who also has two girls (ages 6 and 3), agrees: “It’s a much-needed break from routine,” she says. “The kids get to meet new people and break out of their comfort zone. They can be challenged to try new things, and they learn from the experience. New experiences are a great way for kids to build confidence and get inspired.”
 

lasting confidence
That confidence and the skills kids learn at day camp stay with them long after summer has ended, according to Marla Coleman, past president of the American Camp Association and co-owner of Coleman Family Camps. One mother wrote to Coleman after a family ski trip in which her son got stuck at the top of a steep hill. When he started to panic, Mom asked him, “What would you do if you were at camp?”

He started engaging himself in positive self-talk, something Coleman says is “part of the camp culture.” The boy recited: “It may take time, it may be hard, but stick with it, and you’ll be fine!” He persevered, managing to ski down the hill all by himself, and spent the rest of the trip enjoying a huge sense of accomplishment.

friends forever
Another confidence boost that comes from day camp? “It gives kids a chance to meet other kids and make new friends,” says local mom, Anna Schultz Peak. At an age when social skills are jelling, or for kids not quite ready for sleep-away camp, the opportunity to keep playing and learning alongside other kids is priceless.

Camp experiences aside, it’s also nice to have kids back home in the evening. And nicer still? Hearing happy replies to, “How was your day?”