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Summer camps
They're an antidote to boredom during the long summer break, and can be a godsend for working parents, but here, Olivia Fletcher focuses on the learning benefits of going to summer camp
There are many different kinds of summer camps in the UK and abroad for children up to the age of 16. Some work on a daily basis whereby children are dropped off each morning and picked up in the evening - a bit like school. Others are residential where children can be away from home for the entire summer or for just a weekend.
Once you've found the right camp, the rest is easy. You can trust the team of dedicated staff to keep your child's mind and body active over their stay; and to make sure he or she enjoys the experience while learning life changing skills.
So what will my child learn?
Team leaders and summer camp staff are key to creating the atmosphere within which children will thrive. They are often outgoing, energetic, and dynamic young people themselves and able to have a less formal relationship with children than school teachers.
Being in this environment alone can be an inspiration for your child, says Lawrence Bernstein from Cross Keys & Mini Minors camps.
'Children will only enjoy camp if it is fun, safe, and fulfilling,' he told us. 'Parents need to do some proper research to ensure that they send their child to a camp that ticks all these boxes.'
The best camps are often much more than fun and games - although this is the basis of many of the activities. But children will also be able to develop new skills and interests - often without even knowing.
One of the most obvious and most enjoyable experiences of a summer camp is that your child will make new friends. As a place where children 'get together' for the summer, children often meet from different parts of the world and from different backgrounds - giving them a wider awareness of the world than their usual environment.
'It's a chance for a child to live away from home but within a safe and interesting environment,' says Lawrence. 'A great camp will tend to bring out the best in any child.'
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