Early childhood sets the foundations for life. From birth to age five, children make giant developmental strides, more than at any other time in life. In fact, as per a study released by the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University, the brain forms as many as 700 neural connections per second before the age of five. It is a lot easier to influence the developing brain at this stage as they are open to understanding concepts. In this critical window, quality early childhood education (ECE) plays a vital role in unraveling the potential of children. Young children, who are given the right support and stimulation at the early years, are more excited to learn when they arrive at school and are ready to thrive—emotionally, academically, and socially. Habits and attitudes acquired in early childhood are fairly deep rooted. Self-confidence gained by learning in a playful manner adds to the personality development of the child. Quality ECE programmes that combine healthcare, nutrition and education can significantly augment young children’s welfare in these influential years and in the future as well, leaving a positive impact on their cognitive outcomes.

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Today as parents become more aware of the need for superior early childhood education, they are often disappointed with the limited options. In India, the existing methods of education are still reliant on rote learning. Memorizing numbers, alphabet and reciting few nursery rhymes are the benchmarks for judging the quality of education the child receives at these centres. Here the deficiency is not just the curriculum that the child is being taught, but also how he/she is being taught! It is necessary to understand that ECE not only helps the child in academics, it also offers life skills. It decides the child’s behaviour, actions as well as the approach towards their career. Instilling thinking and analytical skills are critical especially during the early years as the mind at this age is exposed to building notions.

Preschools act as an important medium here to provide quality ECE to the child and to make them school ready. Preschools lay a strong foundation for kids help them to comprehend and grasp knowledge easily, hence being prepared for the later stages of school and college life. Every child is different and hence educators at preschool must understand each one’s pace of learning and give them the liberty to choose the activities they are interested in. It is paramount that education of children is not limited to teaching those alphabets and numbers only.

Sesame Street Preschool is one step in this direction which aims to bring a paradigm shift in preschool education in India by offering high-quality educational resources and facilities to children. The learning experience is backed by the fun and furry characters of Sesame Street and its Indian adaptation Galli Galli Sim Sim. The curriculum and teaching methodology follows a unique six-step procedure of teaching children through introduction, recall, demonstration, reinforcement, reflection and application.

Preschools are great learning centres for children. They learn the social skills of interacting with other kids of their own age. They are prepared for the curriculum of the primary schools. Various activities like painting, drawing, clay modeling etc conducted at preschools help in fine motor and gross motor development of children. Oral activities like poem recitation, storytelling, role-playing, singing songs, etc help in improving kids’ oratory skills. They also develop the confidence of speaking in front of small groups. Children learn to identify the sounds of the alphabet and vice versa recognize the alphabet by listening to its sound. There are many such important lessons that kids learn at preschool. Hence, in order to develop key life skills in children, parents should proactively invest in quality preschool education programmes. 

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The Indian preschool sector is experiencing rapid growth. A study by Ernst and Young estimated the market to cross $1 billion in 2012, with a growth rate of 35%[i]. As per the latest report by Mint in Jan 2015, the education market in India, which is presently worth around Rs 5.9 trillion ($92.98 billion), is poised for some major growth by 2020.

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Considering the rapid growth of preschools in Tier III and Tier IV cities, the preschool education sector is expected to expand. In urban areas especially, a preschool is now considered a necessity by most parents. Preschools, popularly known as playschools, cater to children aged between two to four and seem to be a lucrative investment for franchisees and investors. With the entry of a number of reputed chains, national as well as international, this sector is witnessing immense growth and development.  With many of them opting for the franchise route to scale up their presence, the concept of franchising among interested and start-up entrepreneurs, has caught on fast in the last few years.

The best part about franchising is that the investment can be made in an already established business format, which enjoys its own brand value in the market. The preschool franchise model offers several advantages for a potential franchisee. Not only does it reduce the risk and gestation period associated with a business, it also provides an easy transfer of technical knowledge and the well-structured procedures and policies laid out by the franchiser. The advantage of partnering with a known brand helps in outreach and attracting more parents towards the school.  A franchisee doesn’t have to worry about research and development of curriculum as a set preschool curriculum developed by experts is provided by franchisors. The franchisee receives all the training materials, equipments, supplies, instruction manuals needed for running the preschool from franchiser. This also helps the franchisor in maintaining the standard of quality across centres. Another important thing to note is that it is quite simple and easy to obtain a loan for educational franchise business. From the franchisor’s perspective, the preschool business is not only rewarding; but also helps them quickly build up their presence in targeted geographical locations. The franchisor not only shares the brand image, but also their knowledge, experience, and technical expertise.

Many preschool brands in India are expanding its network through the franchising model which has led to a high growth rate in the industry. Sesame Street Preschool, from the family of the renowned Sesame Street- the world’s largest preschool educator is an early childhood education centre that is set to change the way children engage and learn. Sesame Street Preschool was set up with the aim to change the paradigm of preschool education in India – by offering high-quality educational resources and facilities to children across the country. It is setting a new standard for early childhood education through its unique preschool and afterschool programmes.  It is a learning experience brought to life by the fun and furry characters of Sesame Street and its Indian adaptation Galli Galli Sim Sim, India’s first educational programme just for children. Its unique approach to age-appropriate education puts kids at the centre of everything, from playful project-based activities to an environment made for rampant imagination. Its programmes introduce concepts not as stand-alone subjects but as a wealth of interconnected knowledge. When different streams of learning are taught together, children make more connections—multiplying the benefits to their education. With this interdisciplinary foundation, children grasp advanced concepts faster at the school level.

Sesame Schoolhouse’s Vice President, Ms. Mona Singh shares, “The franchise model allows us to continue to focus on our core competencies like content development, teacher training or adherence to standards of excellence. It also enables us to expand faster, especially to tier II cities where the need for high-quality education is great. We are continuously seeking franchisees that are aligned with our vision of providing superior educational experiences to children.”

Although the preschool sector offers tremendous opportunities for growth, franchisees do face certain challenges to achieve the desired objectives. Presently, preschools are primarily an urban phenomenon and rural areas are still to catch up on this trend. Also, due to lack of a proper regulatory mechanism and any guidelines or checks by the Government, unorganized players are mushrooming in this sector.

To overcome these challenges, franchisees should aim at satisfactory and fulfilling partnerships with established, credible preschool brands. They should, nevertheless, conduct a proper background research and discuss the terms and conditions carefully before formalizing the contract or partnerships in order to get the maximum benefits from this growing educational venture. A successful franchise relationship is based on constant and timely support and service, bringing benefits of visibility and optimised costs to the network that individual franchisees cannot do on their own. In conclusion, educational franchising is a rewarding opportunity for someone who wants to jet starts their business.

“Preschool Education in India”, Childology: Understanding Children, www.childology.in [accessed on 20 July 2015]

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We all have fond memories from childhood of making paper boats, chasing kites, rushing outside to catch the first drop of rain,watching ants on the march or spending hours just laying back looking at clouds and gazing stars at night. And whether we realized it or not, these experiences helped form our outlook on the world around us and shaped us as an individual what we are today. But those kinds of memories are disappearing fast for many young children today. More children today have less contact with the natural world and this is having a huge impact on their health and development.

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Children are being diagnosed with anxiety, depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), irritable bowel syndrome and migraine headaches. All this clearly indicate that our children are suffering from STRESS.Getting children back into nature is more imperative than ever — for the sake of the children and the future of our planet. 

During early childhood years,children very much need to have a large amount of sensory experiences on daily basis in order to build up strong bodies and minds. This is best done outdoors where the senses are fully ignited and young bodies are challenged by the asymmetrical and inconsistent, ever-changing environment.If children are not given enough natural movement and play experiences, they start their academic careers with a disadvantage. They are more likely to be lumbering, have trouble paying attention, difficulty controlling their emotions, use poor problem-solving techniques, and exhibit difficulties with social interactions. 

Sensory, motor, and cognitive concerns are being reported more and more in later childhood, partially because of insufficient opportunities to move and play at an early age. It’s not so important what children know about nature, rather what happens to them when they are in nature and more importantly when they are in it by themselves (without adult supervision). Scientists, doctors, mental health experts, educationalists, sociologists – are beginning to suggest that when children stop going out into the natural world to play, it can affect not just their development as individuals, but society as a whole.

The American writer Richard Louv, author of the bestseller Last Child in the Woods, has defined the phenomenon as "nature deficit disorder". Something "very profound" has happened to children's relationship with nature over the last couple of decades, he says, for a number of reasons:

• Technology has pulled our children away from the nature and they have started bargaining their outdoor time with computer, smart phones, Xbox games, television etc.
• Children's time is much more pressured than it once was (projects, assignments and exams).
• Spare time to be spent constructively: after-school activities, coaching classes, organised sports, barely any time left for free outdoors. 
• Today, parents don't even want their children to get dirty.
• Another biggest fear to today's children being allowed out even to the nearest park is the fear of unknown adults around. Which is why most parents don’t allow children outdoors unsupervised. This has significantly augmented the “Helicopter Parenting”.

However, dozens of studies from around the world confirm regular time outdoors produce considerable progress in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), learning ability, creativity and mental, psychological and emotional well being. Free and unstructured play in the outdoors boosts problem-solving skills, focus and self-discipline. Socially, it develops cooperation, flexibility, and self-awareness. Emotional benefits include reduced aggression and increased happiness. 

Nature can be used as an effective tool to get children to experience not just the world around, but themselves. So while climbing a tree a child learns to evaluate his strength, gauge risk and takes his own responsibility. Falling off from a tree teaches a very good lesson of measuring the risk rightly. As adults we should let children exercise true free play. Play that's not structured as per an adult, there shouldn’t be any specific activities, no fixed tools. Children should be allowed to set their own challenges, measure their own risks, take their own responsibility, have their own adventurous journey, and learn from them. And what they will learn we can't teach them. 

Parents, teachers and school can adopt the following methods to get children excited and get them to explore NATURE:

1. Parents can read inspiring stories to children and find activities to get the children back outdoors.
2. Start when they’re young,even babies in arms, will respond with interest to the marvel of their natural environment. Seize the moment to infusein your child an interest and admiration for nature.For example, draw attention of your child to the sound of the birds and reiterate with their names “Can you hear the crow?” “Can you hear the cuckoo?” etc.
3. Help children observeand providethem the means to discover and examine the natural world, from the minuscule world of the insects to the flora and fauna, and the night sky constellations.

a. Give your childrentheir own child-sized binocular for use during outings in nature. 

b. A journal with blank pages to keep a record of observations. As journal pages will fill gradually, childrenwill gain a sense of pride which will deepen the bond with nature.

c. Provide children with books which detail the birds, mammals and wild flora specific to the locale. 

d. Pin a large (poster-size) map on a wall at home/classroom. Children can highlight areas explored and will developknowledge of the surroundings and its attractions. 

4. Provide children a small camera to capture their discovery and later the copies of the pictures can be used for festival greeting cards to the relatives/school staff. This adds value to the child’s efforts and gives them sense of accomplishment.

5. Give each child an area to supervise; can be a small corner of the backyard or pots in the balcony or the nature wall in the classroom. Young children can just monitor the changes in this area over the seasons. Older children can take on a chore such as maintaining the nature wall, watering the plants or growing their own vegetable patch. These outwardly little acts instill the belief of individual responsibility for the care of our environment.

(Source: http://www.naeyc.org/tyc/article/connecting-young-children-with-nature: Nature wall Moss, pine cones, curly twigs or vines, different tree barks, birds’ nests, eggs, branches with lichens, snakeskin, abandoned bees’ nests, dried sunflower heads, seed pods, beach grass, shells, rocks, whelk egg cases, seaweed, horseshoe crabs, seagull feathers, Indian corn; gourds; dried plants, flowers, or leaves; coconuts; rocks or gems; large seed pods; pretend birds’ eggs)

6. Teachers, parents and children can create their own clubs that would organize weekend hikes and other nature experiences.

7. School premises should offer more natural play spaces as it stimulates learning and creativity, and improve children behavior.

With the threats facing our environment approaching a steep threshold, we must amplify our efforts to teach our children the marvel of nature. This is our best assertion that they will make wise choices throughout their lives which benefit the environment and promote the values of sustainability for the benefit of all.

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Education imparted at preschools builds the foundation for children’s learning and growth. They expose the child to a whole new world of knowledge, social connections and skills which they would need as they grow. In today’s e-age most working parents are highly dependent on preschools to in still healthy and wise habits among their little one and educate them about what’s right and wrong, as they themselves lack the time and strategies to engage with their kids.

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Urged by the immense growth potential of the preschool segment in India and the minimum start up investment required, there has been a significant rise in the number of play school franchise in India. Today one can find these early childhood education centres mushrooming in every street of India, be it the wide alleys of Gurgaon or the narrow streets of Varanasi. Pre school franchise opportunities is booming in India with a 35% growth rate for the industry. With such a positive outlook of the industry, preschools are a lucrative business opportunity for young entrepreneurs.

However, what hinders investors is the planning and hard work required to start a preschool.  Entrepreneurs often wonder whether to go for franchising route or self-owned business. While the sole ownership route of business has its own advantages, when it comes to preschool education the franchising route has definitely proven its worth. Researched curriculum, the methodology of engaging children and the reputation of the brand are the big pros for the franchising route. But before approaching any reputed preschool brand, entrepreneurs need to do some homework in advance.

You should have enough open and closed space to set up the preschool. Franchisors prefer spaces which are a little away from the main road in order to ensure the safety of young children. Mona Singh, Vice President, Sesame Schoolhouse shares, “play school franchise in India are always open to caring and committed entrepreneurs to establish and operate independent educational franchise in India. For Sesame Street Preschool we particularly look for aspiring franchisees who have a minimum of 2000 sq. feet (168 sq.mt.) covered area on the ground floor with about 1000 sq. ft (84 sq.mt.) outdoor area. Initial investment varies from INR 10 to 20 lacs depending on city and location. To make it easy for entrepreneurs to set up a franchise, we assist them with premise search. We also provide all equipment, furniture and teaching materials to ensure ease of setting up.”

It’s always advisable to get the preschool registered once established. Next, you need to plan and budget for all expenses like the franchisee fees, lease or rent for space, curriculum, salaries for staff, teachers’ training, furniture, office stationery, marketing etc. To attract kids and parents the preschool should be colourful and joyful. Hence, it’s important to plan for vibrant furniture and upholstery, indoor games and outdoor swings to engage children as they play and learn. Most of these things are often as per the franchisor’s requirements and go with the theme of the brand.

The primary decision point for parents is the curriculum of the preschool. You can follow the Montessori Method of education which emphasises on the natural learning of children and focuses both on social interaction and academics. There are other education methods also like Reggio Emilia approach and Waldorf education. These are well-researched approaches to education and most preschool brands follow a particular model to run their curriculum. While going for the franchising route, entrepreneurs need not worry about researching the content and education model as this has already been done by the franchisor. For example, Sesame Street Preschool puts kids at the centre of everything by creating an immersive learning experience that links audio and visual content, technology and the natural environment. Once the basic infrastructure of the preschool is in place, you can then invest in marketing and promotion of the school. Marketing methods may range from banners, brochures, newspaper and internet ads, etc.

Above all, love for kids is a must for entrepreneurs to planning to start a venture in preschool education. Along the way, you will surely encounter challenges which may be unique to your start up. All these can be overcome by simple planning and a long term approach. 

Come the summer and the first thought that sweeps across most parents’ mind is how to productively engage their children during the summer vacations. The second thought which hits hard is whether to enroll them for a summer camp or not. Will the camp benefit the child? How valuable are summer camps? Day camp or a sleep away camp, what one should opt for? These entire question clouds the mind of a parent every summers.

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So if you’ve ever been to a camp as a child, you will not be amazed to hear about the benefits it can have on an individual’s personal, social and physical well-being with strong carryover later in life. The profound positive effects it may have onto you as an adult, you would want your own child also to endure the same. But if you didn’t go to camp as a child, you may not realize just how good the experience is for children. You may not know why so many parents are firm to send their children to camp.

Summer camp can be one of the most gratifying, memorable experiences in a child’s life. A camp is a special place to learn and offers children experiential education that leads to self-esteem and gratitude for life. All of the outcomes—friendships for life, overpowering challenges, gaining resilience, independence and building personality; prepare them for higher, happier lives down the lane.

So here is a list of the most significant reasons to send your child to camp and offer them an opportunity to spark imagination and creativity and think beyond the text books.

Summer camps help children:

Ø  Being physically active and break monotony of day to day highly structured schedule. Children nowadays spend maximum of their time indoors and mostly sitting down, camp provides a brilliant opportunity to move. Running, jumping, hoping, exercising, dance, yoga for mind and body control, treasure hunt, water and sand play, hiking, climbing etc. Summer camps are always action packed J

Ø  Experience success, build self-esteem and grow into more self-confident children. As camps eliminate the educational, athletic and social competitiveness that contour their lives at school. With its non-competitive environment and varied occasions to thrive, camp life is a real encouragement for children. There is achievement every single day.

Ø  Build resilience whether it is a residential camp or a day camp. Camps are perfect places to help children optimize their psychosocial development. Children get to strengthen their range of coping strategies, learn to endure stumbling blocks, try new things and perceive that improvement emanates when you try alternatives. Camps help children take measured risks and ownership of their decisions.

Ø  Disconnect from technology by being away from television, cell phones, iPods, gaming consoles and the internet. They revive their creative skills and involve themselves with the real world, real individuals, real events and real emotions. Children realize, there is much more to explore in the environment around.

Ø  Cultivate life-skills, as children learn to make choices while exploring various activities. They learn to discover and augment what they like to do.

Ø  Cultivate independence by boosting them to exercise making their own decisions without parents and teachers supervising every move.  Further, the camp environment provides strong peer support that also allows children to quickly overcome their requisite for persistent parental dependence. 

Ø  Experience much needed free time to just play; unlike from the overly-structured, overly-scheduled routines of home and school. Children get to unwind, laugh, have pure fun and even get to be silly all day long.

Ø  To learn to work in teams & groups where they need to communicate, must agree to cooperate, respect each other, work together as part of a team and also learn to be a leader. Leadership skills are typically established by probing children to accomplish tasks that may not be expected of them elsewhere, while sharing resources and attention helps nurture teamwork and the want to participate. Camp builds social capital and teaches children how to be a good citizen.

Ø  Connect up with nature and helps get children back outdoors. Urbanization has detached children from the wonders of nature. Children need nature for their health and the development of their senses. Children today are not developing their senses and therefore their perception of sights and sounds and smells remain embryonic. Camps are one way to reduce this "nature deficit”. At camp, children can determine for themselves the world around them. Camp can open children's eyes and give them different experiences beyond their day-to-day lives. It can help them ask new questions and develop wonderful ideas.

Ø  Build lifelong friendships. All the fun at camp draws everyone together— singing, laughing, talking, playing, and doing almost everything together. Every day, camp creates friendships. Children meet people at camp they may not come into contact with in their everyday lives.

Ø  To try new things and drives children out of their comfort zone. Camp exposes children to new activities and experiences that they may not be familiar with. Children get the opportunity to try out different things and ascertain new interests or passions. By discovering numerous types of activities, children have a grander chance of discovering something that they excel at or that makes them contented.

Ø  To build personality. Camp provides children with the core values of a strong, moral individual by teaching them about ethics, honesty, caring, respect and responsibility. Parents frequently report that after camp, their children are more kind, understand the importance of giving, are more equipped to stand up for what they know is right, and are willing to be more responsible.

Well-run summer camp programs ensure that children have the time of their lives. It is a much needed break from the academic year where creativity, adventure, thrills, smiles and plain old good times are the priority.

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Selecting the right summer camp for your child can be a puzzling and at times overwhelming task. Since there's an apparently infinite range of choices to ponder, matching the ideal camp to your child's interests, temperament and schedule can be unnerving. The camp should fit in your budget and furthermore, as a parent, you have the responsibility of ensuring the camp you select for your child is run in a safe and appropriate mode for your child's age and aptitude levels.

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Let’s discourse the steps to the selection of the right camp which would benefit your child the most!

A.     To begin with let’s first comprehend, how the camps are categorised:

1.      Sleep away Camp/Residential Camp

Most of these camps offer an assortment of programs for children seven or eight onwards. Resident camp options comprises of coed, single sex and specialty camps that focus on a specific program. Resident camps offer varying overnight lodgings such as cabins, tents, and teepees.

2.      Day Camp

Unlike resident camps; children are slightly younger, starting at three or four-year-olds, and everybody returns home at the culmination of the day or post few hours.

3.      Specialty Camps and Programs

Children can go aboard on adventures as diverse as learning how to ride a horse, water ski, dance, backpacking, biking, fishing, rock climbing, survival and even white-water rafting. If your child has a distinct interest, there possibly is a camp that specializes in it.

4.      Special Needs Camp

A physical, medical, or mental disability is not a barrier for a camp experience. Even special needs get largely benefitted from summer camp. Some camps specialize in aiding certain groups while other camps assimilate special-needs children into the overall camp populace.

B.      Start with your child: Be certain to embrace your child in the decision-making procedure. Discuss with your child the sum you can afford to expend on summer camp. How distant the camp should be, from your home else it might invite surplus cost? Ask your child what nature of camp he/she would like to go to, a co-ed or single sex camp? How long they would like to attend or stay (in event of resident camp), and what they would hope to achieve over a summer at camp?

Accentuate that you are considering camp since you feel it would be a worthy thing for them, and not something they feel "compulsory". Together with your child, discover the camp alternatives and also review the quality of the activities and resources the camps offer. In addition, study the web sites of the camps for photographs, maps or virtual tours of the camp facilities, sample daily schedules and menus, and information about the key staff. As become better familiar with the camp experience and more involved in the decision-making process, your child will have less anxiety about going away to camp.

C.      How to find a camp?

Through friends, neighbours, your child's friends, relatives, the internet, and other social circles you should get numerous ideas and references of names or styles of camps to look at. In addition study following facts:

ü  The camp’s website. How updated is the website?

ü  What story do the photographs tell?

ü  Testimonials from older children and parents.

ü  Professional background/profile of the team or the staff running the camp.

ü  Is there a private portal for parents of children to access?

ü  Can you register and pay online?

ü  Can you view your child photographs online?

ü  Is there a Facebook page, Twitter feed, mobile app or Instagram account of the camp?

Look at them all and get a sense of what kind of place this may be. Don't be afraid to be critical, as you want only the best for your child. Usually the camp that place resources into its digital presence is a camp that cares about its repute.

D.     Review camp options available:

Ask yourself following questions while considering/ selecting a Day Camp:

ü  What is the camp philosophy or the program structure? 

ü  What is a typical day like at camp? 

ü  What is the quality of activities and amenities? 

ü  What training do the staffs receive on safety, supervision, problem solving and other concerns exclusive to be employed with young children?

ü  Is the camp price all-inclusive or are there extra charges for: transportation, snacks, field trips etc.?

ü  If transportation is offered, where is the nearest pick-up location?

ü  Is lunch served or do children bring their own lunch? Are snacks and drinks provided in case it’s an extended day program?

ü  Is before- and after-camp extended care is offered, who is with the child and what activities take place?

ü  If the camp offers swimming, are there swimming lessons or is it simply recreational swimming?

ü  If all children attend the camp all together or, are they divided into groups and assigned a supervisor?

ü  In case of a question or concern, whom would you talk to about your child?

ü  Are parents allowed to drop by for visits or is there a special parent visitation day?

ü  Is an open house offered before camp starts where you can meet your child's supervisor, other staff at the camp, and van/bus driver?

ü  What is the contentment level of children and parents from the previous years?

Questions to consider in selecting a Resident Camp:

ü  Is my child ready to sleep away from home for an extended stay?

ü  What session span will interest my child and to our family plans for the summer? (One week? Two weeks? Or more)

ü  How structured do I want the program to be? Does my child like to have lots of variation in the activity schedule?

ü  How rustic do I want the camp to be?

ü  What size enrolment will make my child feel at ease?

ü  What is the age and background of the camp staff? How is the staffs trained?

ü  What is the supervisor to the child ratio?

ü  How does the camp insure safety and security of the children? 

ü  What is the camp’s disciplinary approach?

ü  How will the camp meet my child's special dietary or physical needs?

ü  What kind of health care is provided at the camp? 

ü  If my child takes daily medication, will it be given at the camp? How medication distribution is accomplished at the camp?

ü  In case of injury or illness when parents are notified?

ü  What first aid and health training do the staffs receive? Who is the responsible adult? How do they access help if needed?

ü  How can I stay in touch with my child during camp? Does the camp allow mail, phone calls or e-mail? Does the camp have parent visitation days?

ü  Are the references of older parents available on request or shared on the camp’s website?

E.      Register early: Often times, a camp will begin pre-registry action at the end of your child’s summer session. If your child had a blast and want to go back to the same camp, check into this option. And, if you’re going first-time for a summer camp, ask when registration begins for you.

F.       Ask about discounts: For many families, camp is a goal, but the funds are a barrier. They don’t have to be! Maybe the camp you want to attend has a multiple-child discount, an early registration discount, or a deferred payment plan. Just ASK. Even if it’s nowhere on their website, call the camp administrator and confirm.

PREPARE and PACK for the camp!

It is important to prepare your child for a camp experience, whether it is a day camp or a resident camp for one-week near your town or a four-week camp out-of-city.

Following guidelines will help prepare your child for the day camp:

ü  For many children, going off to day camp may be the first time they take a bus or meet a new group of children. Therefore, if your child is travelling by bus, find out the bus route and travel it in advance with your child, pointing out easy landmarks that he/she will recognize on the route to and from camp.

ü  Involve your child in packing their backpack for camp (hat, sun protection, lunch/snack, water, spare clothes etc.) and walk to the bus stop ahead of time to get him/her familiar with the early morning routine and the contents of and responsibility for his/her backpack.

ü  Contact the camp to find out the name of his/her supervisor and bus driver with contact information.

ü  Call the camp a few days before its start to introduce yourself, share some things about your child the camp should know, and learn whom you should call about your child if you have any questions.

ü  Organize all papers that the camp will send home each day or week with your child so that daily schedules, trips, special events and important information are readily accessible.

Following guidelines will help prepare your child for the residential camp:

ü  Visit the camp, if at all possible, and meet the camp administrator. 

ü  Talk to other families who have gone to the camp in years past to familiarize yourself with what goes on.

ü  Have your child spend a weekend with a friend. No phone calls. Talk about it with your child later. How did your child feel? 

ü  Go over the daily schedule of the camp with your child so there are no surprises. Learn as much as you can about camp life. 

ü  Teach your child how to care for him/herself. The child need to know how to select appropriate clothing, make a bed with clean sheets, put clothes away, carry out chores, handle laundry, etc. 

ü  Problem solve with your child by using "what if" circumstances to prepare for unanticipated happenings. What if you lose your football? What if you don't get along with another child? What if you don't feel well? Let your child brainstorm for answers and make sure they know the "chain of command" at camp for handling difficulties. 

ü  Familiarize your child with the outdoors. Many children are unfamiliar with total darkness and night sounds. Practice walking in the dark with a flashlight. 

ü  Homesickness is fairly common. Missing home, parents, pets or friends is pretty normal. It is part of growing up and leaving home. Speak openly about it and your child will experience these feelings with less anxiety and more understanding. 

ü  Discuss communication at camp. Does your camp allow phone calls, messages, e-mails? Give your child your home and office addresses and contact numbers, e-mail Id’s etc.

ü  Communicate with camp officials. Let them know if there are special circumstances or considerations regarding your child's well-being or behaviour. 

When it comes time to pack for camp, let the child do the work!

Packing tips for day camps is as follows:

1.      Backpack

Make sure your child's backpack:

ü  Is durable and made of sturdy fabric. Also ensure that all of the zippers work properly.

ü  Has a section large enough, to hold the extra set of clothes, snacks, water, swim gear & towel for the swimming class.

ü  Has an outside zippered section for storing tissues, hand sanitizer, medicines etc. so your child doesn't have to dig around in the main section each time these items are needed.

ü  Has an outside mesh water bottle pocket for easy accessibility to water.

2.      Clothes

ü  Extra set of clothing including shorts, t-shirt, socks and undergarments.

ü  Place all in a large reseal able plastic bag; in case the child needs to change clothes and put the wet or dirty ones away.

ü  A cap or a hat; as many day camp hours are spent outdoors. Remind your child to wear a hat and sun block for sun protection.

3.      Swim Gear

Swimming is typically a weekly activity at camp, unless the camp specialises into it. Your child will need:

ü  Swimming costume -Consider purchasing two for the child to avoid the need to wash the swimming costume and towel each evening.

ü  Towels - send a decent size towel appropriate enough to wrap up in after swim time.

ü  Goggles & flip flops.

ü  Plastic bag - include a plastic bag for wet swimming costume and towel.

4.      Other Supplies

ü  Sunglasses & Sunscreen for outdoors.

ü  Hand sanitizer.

ü  Tissues.

ü  Insect repellent – apply for the child in morning itself to avoid the possibility of spraying the spray in his/here yes or other children.

ü  Prescribed medicines in case any.

5.      Food and Drink

ü  Water is the best drink for your child at camp. Not only is it the best at quenching thirst, it doesn't include the sugar and calories like other drinks. Try send two water bottles everyday along with the child.

ü  Food - most of the day camps provide meals and snacks. If yours does not, here are some suggestions:

a)  Pack a lunch and snacks in a thermal bag.

b) Avoid packing a lot of candy and sweets. Too many of these can make your child sick when outdoors in the heat.

c)  Consider that your child will more likely eat lunch inside on the floor or outside on the grass and will not have a plate or hard surface.

d)  Lunch suggestions include: vegetable sandwich, idli, wheat pasta, vegetable pulao & parantha, curd rice, bread omelette, chapati rolls etc.

e)  Snack suggestions include: cheese corn cutlets, granola bars, cereal bars, dry cereal, crackers, cheese sticks, pretzels, or carrots and vegetable dip etc.

ü  Include a small pack of wet wipes. They make after-lunch clean-up easy for your child.

6.      Label everything - use permanent marker to label backpacks, plastic bags, containers, clothes, lunch box and every other possible thing to avoid loss.

7.      Include a surprise - Write your child a note and include it in his/her backpack. Pack a favourite snack and use a permanent marker to put a big smiley face or heart on the bag. Tape a family picture to the inside top of your child's lunch box. All of these things will let your child know you love him/her and are thinking of him/her throughout the day.

Packing tips for resident camps is as follows:

Children need to know what they are taking to camp. What is in the suitcase, duffle or trunk? You need to let them help you with the packing.

ü  Every camp sends a list of things to bring to camp. Follow the list. 

ü  Don't buy expensive clothing for camp. Clothes at camp tend to get dirty. 

ü  Send easily laundered bedding that is appropriate for the climate at camp. Articles to include are sleeping bags, sheets and pillowcases, blankets, and pillows.

ü  Pack extra socks, old shoes or hiking boots. Camp is not the place to break new shoes. 

ü  Send a laundry bag, hat, rain coat/poncho, water bottle, sun block, lip balm, insect repellent, flashlight, shower supplies and toiletries. 

ü  Pack shower supplies and toiletries in a plastic bucket or "shower" container so it is easy to carry to the bathroom. 

ü  Mark the child's name on everything from clothes to toothpaste, suitcase, duffel or trunk. Use a permanent marking pen. 

ü  Make sure all medication is in the original container and clearly marked.  

ü  Let your child take a stuffed animal if he/she wants. Many children put them on their beds. 

ü  Send along pictures of your family and pets. Your child can show them to his/her bunk mates. 

ü  If available to you, pack a disposable camera instead of an expensive one. Be sure to write your child's name on the camera. 

At the end get yourself ready for your child going off to the camp. You have selected the finest camp for your child and he/she will have a superb summer full of fun, new friends, new melodies and many stimulating experiences.

Happy camping!

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