The 7 Biggest Mistakes Parents Make When Choosing A Day Camp

Choosing a summer camp for kids shouldn’t be that difficult. However, if you are a newbie to the process, you want to make sure that you avoid common mistakes. Day camps for kids are a fun way to keep kids involved in activities when school is out or when they are not old enough to attend elementary school. Find out what not to do below so you can be successful when enrolling your child in a day camp. 

Choosing the Wrong Activity

To get started, you want to be sure to choose an activity that your child will enjoy. Children who like music might not want to attend a camp that focuses on sports. Be sure to choose a camp that offers an activity your child will like rather than just signing up for any of the day camps for kids. If your child is unhappy with the wrong activity, they will not enjoy their time at camp. 

Neglecting to Check the Camp Schedule

It is also important to be sure you check the camp schedule. You want to be sure the time frame of the camp will work with your schedule. It is often that parent’s sign up for a day camp only to find out they have to work during the time frame and are unable to bring kids to the day camp during operating hours. 

Forgetting Lunch/Snacks

When your child attends a day camp, be sure to find out about lunch or snack needs. You want to ensure you pack a drink, lunch or snacks when needed. This is essential to the happiness of your child as well as helping to not feel left out if they are the only child without drinks or snacks. 

Not Preparing Child for Camp

Parents should always prepare kids for camp, especially children who have never been to day camps before. Talk about the camp to your child and what they should expect. Only talk about camp in a positive manner and get your child excited about going. It is never a good idea to not discuss going to camp as you want your child to be prepared to be away from home, even if only for a few hours.

Missing Out on Pricing Deals

Another big mistake parents make is missing out on camp pricing deals. You can save money on day camps if you know how. Check in to early payment deals or early sign up discounts. The type of camp you are interested in will depend on the discount or special pricing you may be able to receive. 

Not Following Camp Rules

Another big mistake is not following camp rules. Be sure to go over the rules of day camp with your child but also know the parental rules. Perhaps parents are asked to stay out of the camp area until pick up time. Follow all the rules of the day camp so your child can have a quality experience. 

Missing Signups

If your child is excited about going to a day camp, be sure you do not miss signups. Most camps have a period in which kids can sign up for the next camp. If you miss this time frame, you may have to wait months before your child can be enrolled. Be sure to avoid missing the signup time frame so your child can experience camp.

Contact Zodiac Day Camps to learn more about quality day camps and find an option that your child will enjoy.

Tips For Teaching Your Child To Swim

If you are considering enrolling your child in a summer camp or a day camp for kids that teaches swimming lessons, or a summer camp or day camp that offers private swimming lessons, you should consider their age prior to enrolling them.  There is a great amount of research available out there that recognizes that children should be at least four years of age before attending a private swimming lesson, as typical children under the age of four years old are not yet developmentally able to learn and master the skill of swimming.  If your child falls into the age category of under four years of age, you might want to go with the option of a summer camp that helps them to swim and be safe in the pool, and then tackle some tips for teaching your child to swim. Zodiac offers classes starting at three months of age with parents and then classes for three years old and up without the parents in the water.  You can also work with your toddler on water safety, swimming readiness, and other fun games and skills in preparation for them to learn to swim.

Keep Lessons Short

Children have relatively short attention spans so shorter lessons, around 30-minutes at a time, are more beneficial to their learning the skill of swimming. This is especially true for those children aged 3-5 years. 

Incorporate Games and Toys

All children love games, right?!  Incorporating games and activities into your pool time or lessons can also help maintain your child’s attention.  A great way to do this is to use bright and colorful toys and flotation devices that catch your child’s eye and keep him/her interested.  

Utilize Appropriate Safety Equipment

The type of safety equipment you will need to use will depend on the age of your child.  research the Coast Guard’s guidelines on what size and type of life jacket your child needs based on his or her age and size.  Other safety equipment, such as PFD’s, can be purchased to help them feel safe in the water. You can also find teaching platforms that allow smaller children to stand in the water. 

Help Your Child to Feel Safe

Another tip for teaching your child to swim is to help them to feel safe around the pool and the water.  For the typical child, water is a scary thing at first, until they are used to it and become accustomed to it.  Some ways to help your child feel safe in the water are to hold them in your arms, remind them that you will always be there with them, stay close to them, and remind them that you yourself know how to swim and you are here to help.  Building trust in the water is key to the success your child will feel in the water. 

If you are looking for a great day camp for kids or summer camp in which swimming is incorporated into the curriculum and activities, Zodiac Kids (Change to Zodiac Day Camp) provides a variety of camps that are able to meet those needs.  Contact them today to speak to someone about what type of day camp or activity would be best for your child. Make sure to promote positive messages whenever dealing with the water and your children. If you ask them if they are scared or nervous, this can make them feel as if they should be. Always encourage them and reassure them as they are learning new skills.

Why Every Child Should Go To Swimming Programs

Swimming is a fun past time that individuals of all ages enjoy. When it comes to learning to swim, children should be introduced to this life skill at an early age. Children are more open to learning to swim in their younger years and will be able to quickly take to the water when introduced to swimming classes kids programs. There are many top instructors who can help your child learn how to swim, allowing them to be safe and have fun in the water. Check out the top reasons why children should go to swimming programs below. 

Life Skill

Learning how to swim is considered a life skill. From an early age, children are exposed to the water be it at summer camp, birthday parties or fun with family. Children need to learn this life skill so they can be comfortable in any body of water, whether it is a swimming pool, pond, river or ocean. 

Safety

One of the most important reasons why swimming classes for kids are so important is due to water safety. As a parent, you want your child to be able to tread water and be safe. When a child that has not been taught how to swim is exposed to water, be it for fun or by accident, they can easily drown. A child that knows how to react in certain situations will be safe and ready to enjoy the water. You will be able to rest easy knowing that your child can handle the water. Children are naturally curious and drawn to the water. Young children often times fall into swimming pools trying to play and can easily drown. When a child knows how to swim, this horrible hazard can be avoided. 

Friendships

As a child enjoys swimming lessons, they can begin to build friendships. Lessons will take place with other children of the same age, so your child can find new friends while learning how to be safe in the water. Schedule play dates at the pool and watch your child grow socially as they learn how to swim. 

New Sport Opportunities

Many children who learn how to swim like the sport so much they want to join a team or become involved in individual competitions. Over time, your child can develop a great skill in swimming and perhaps even compete on a state or national level. If your child enjoys swimming, let them cultivate their love and possibly become involved with their school or local swim team as an added bonus. 

As you can see, there are many reason why a child will benefit from swimming lessons. Allow your child to adapt to the water and be taught how to swim by a professional to be safe and have fun when enjoying water activities. This gives you peace of mind that your child has the skills they need, and they gain the confidence to enjoy the water activities around them. Contact Zodiac Swim School to learn more about swimming lesson programs and options for your child based on swim level as well as age. 

What Are The Benefits Of Swimming For Adults And Teenagers?

While you may just think of swimming as a past time during the summer, that is not the case. Swimming is great all year around with winter swim programs and indoor pools available in most areas. While your child is enjoying swimming lessons, you can enjoy swimming for a variety of benefits yourself. Here are a few of the magnificent benefits you or your teenagers can reap as a part of your swimming daily. 

Low Impact Workout

When it comes to aging, sometimes the years are not kind to your joints. This can also be true if you have a significant amount of weight to lose. By spending time in the pool, you can get a great workout that does not impact your joints like running or walking on a treadmill. Swimming offers great cardiovascular benefits and helps you get in a solid workout without feeling like you’re working out. 

Very Few Injuries

When you compare other teen sports to swimming, the sport has very little injuries. Comparing this with football, basketball, or even track, there are a much smaller number of injuries associated with swimming than the other sports available. 

Improvements Overall

There are many aspects of health that are improved when involved in winter swim programs. It can help to improve balance and stamina in yourself or your teen. Those who struggle with balance issues can also get assistance with swimming programs. Another area it will help to improve is posture in yourself and your teenagers. Teens usually struggle with this area, and so do some adults. This will help to keep them walking tall and prevent future problems down the road. 

Stay Fit and Active While Having Fun

This is a great way to stay active and healthy while you’re still having fun. As mentioned before, swimming lessons kids and adults help you to stay active and you don’t realize that you’re getting healthy. You can spend hours in the pool playing around and not realize the benefits of the exercise you just performed. Staying fit and active is important all throughout your life. If you start your children or teens young in the pool, they can keep this sport as a part of their healthy routine. 

Individual or Team Sport

This is also a sport that you can enjoy by yourself or as part of a team. There are swimming teams that travel or you can do individual workouts to get your active lifestyle on track. 

These are just a few of the amazing benefits that adults and teenagers alike can enjoy. Whether you are looking for swim lessons kids for your children or you need to learn yourself, Zodiac Swim School is a great place to explore swimming. You can learn important safety rules, how to prevent accidental drownings, and how you can enjoy swimming as a lifelong sport for years to come. Enjoy their winter swim programs this year to make sure your entire family stays fit, active, and healthy even throughout the cold winter months. 

Contact them today to see how you can get your family on the road to a healthy lifestyle.