Sending Your Preschooler to Day Camp


written By Jennifer Gregory

This summer many preschool-aged children will be heading to day camp.  Day camp for young children has many benefits, such as making new friends and learning to follow directions from adults other than their parents.  Many parents also opt to send their child to preschool day camp to help their child continue on a consistent routine of going to a daycare or preschool that they have gotten used to during the school year.

Depending on the type of camp, preschoolers may also get the opportunity to learn new skills, such as swimming, golf or gymnastics.  “I think she enjoyed the short-term friendships but appreciated the physical activity of learning gymnastics the most,” says Jini Archibald whose daughter attended gymnastics camp when she was three-years old.  Since her daughter had attended gymnastics lessons at the same place as the camp, both Archibald and her daughter were familiar with the facilities and the staff.  “This gave me great peace of mind,” says Archibald.

For children who do not attend preschool, day camp can be a good opportunity to get comfortable being in a social environment without parents for a short period of time.  Some parents who will be sending their child to preschool for the first time in the fall use day camp as an opportunity for their child to get comfortable being in a group with other children.  Since you can register for most camps on a per-week basis, you can also plan day camps around family vacations and other activities.

“For many three and four year olds, camp is their first experience being away from their parents. They get a chance to learn new skills and build relationships,” says Grace Ihn, a preschool camp director.

Selecting a Camp for Your Preschooler:
Day camps range from general camps with a weekly theme to camps that specialize in a specific activity, such as soccer or art.  Ihn recommends that parents think about the type of activities their child enjoys before singing them up for a specialty camp.  “If your child does not enjoy athletics, you may not want to sign them up for a week-long soccer camp,” says Ihn.  She reminds parents that if they sign their three or four year old up for a specialty camp their child will get an introduction to the sport during camp but will not be an expert at the end of the week.

When picking a camp, find out the daily camp schedule and determine if the times will work with your child’s routine.  If your child still naps, try to pick a half-day camp that ends before your child’s nap time.  Pick a camp with a later start time if your child sleeps later in the morning.  Be sure to check camp requirements carefully if your child is not potty trained.

Consider having your preschooler attend day camp with a friend.  When you register for camp, be sure to let the camp director know that she is attending with a friend so that she can keep them in the same group during camp.  Ihn finds that when preschoolers come with a friend that
they often feel more comfortable and are able to easily participate in the group activities and make other friends.

Check to see if your child’s preschool offers a summer day camp.  Many preschools have summer camps for preschool children who attended their school the past school year or will be attending in the fall.  “We recommend our summer program to our families because that way their child eases into the transition from home to school,” says Rachel Ridgeway, an Activity Director at a preschool.  “Our teachers really get to know the kids this way and then the child feels more comfortable on the first day of school.”  Be sure to ask about the programming during the summer sessions.  Preschools typically use a curriculum for camp that is similar to their school-year routing, but often have more outside activities and free play.

Transitioning to the Camp:
If your child is going to be attending camp at a new place, consider visiting the facility with your preschooler before the first day.  Find out the drop off procedures and explain to your child how the first day of camp will work.  Some camps prefer parents to drop their child off while others are open to parents walking in and helping their child transition.  Tell your child that you will be back to pick them up at a specific time and where you will be picking them up.

Ihn says on the Monday morning of a camp it is often the first time that many of the preschoolers have been away from their parents in a group setting.  She says that even those children who have trouble separating in the morning have usually adjusted by the end of the camp day and are excited to return for day two.

Ihn finds that many campers who start coming at age three or four are the ones who return when they are teenagers to be leaders in training.  “It is really rewarding to see these children grow up and become leaders for other children,” says Ihn.

Jennifer Gregory is the mom of two kids and three dogs. Her daughter’s favorite preschool day camp was “Messy Art” while son was partial to preschool sports camp.