We’re in the middle of summertime, so it’s probably your last chance to sign up your children for a camp. Determining the best summer camp for your children can be a challenging task. There are many to choose from, and it’s only natural for a parent to want the best experience for their children.

In this article, we give you our favorite tips on how to pick the right summer camp for kids.

Pick the Right Summer Camp for Kids by Observing Their Interests

Determining the right summer camps for your children often requires you to examine what they like. A soccer camp may be a good fit for kids who like athletics but may not be the best choice for children more inclined towards art and vice versa. At the same time, summer camps can be a great way to get your children to explore new things.

Nowadays, summer camps are more than just heading to a generic cabin and lush, green forest where counsellors do crafts and activities with kids, culminating in a final performance for the parents. Summer camps can be one-day events or last several weeks, and they can focus on robotics, martial arts, music, sciences and even entrepreneurialism.

Use Your Children’s Interests To Help Them Grow Over the Summer

One possible way to get your children interested in summer camp and stretch their boundaries is to look for camps with both qualities.

For example, if your kids are interested in science but uncomfortable with athletics, you can enroll them in an exciting STEM summer camp like this one. Your kids will learn all about their favorite Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math subjects like building robots, programming, and cool engineering concepts.

There are likely several themed summer camps you can find locally and abroad if your child is old enough and brave enough to travel independently.

Should we ‘force’ children to go to camp?

It can be difficult to know when we as parents are pushing too hard. Growth doesn’t happen by staying in the comfort zone; however, if you stretch too far, an experience can be quite negative for a child. Unfortunately, there is no magic formula to determine if a child should or shouldn’t go to summer camp. Every child is different. Perhaps the best way is to observe and see if your children have attachment issues when you part with them for shorter periods, like at school or places like after care. Or possibly when a babysitter takes care of them for a few hours before bedtime (when they know they won’t see you until morning).

Check in with camp counsellors to ask them if your kids are exhibiting any symptoms of attachment problems. If it seems like they are getting overwhelmed, don’t be afraid to pull your children out.

Understanding your child can help you make the right decision

But remember, you need to know your child well enough to determine if they are experiencing either discomfort or trauma when attending camp. The discomfort is often necessary for growth, but trauma can be damaging. It’s the latter that you don’t want. Keep this in mind when trying to decide which — or if — summer camp is the right thing for your child.

One final note – if your kids are a bit older, see if they can go to camps as counsellors instead of registrants. It can mean a lot to the younger ones to know they have a ‘big sis’ or ‘big bro’ to be there for them when parents aren’t around. It’ll also teach the teens some great responsibility skills.

Test anxiety is a real and challenging experience for many children.

While most adults remember feeling some anxiety about tests, it’s easy to forget just how overwhelming those moments can feel for kids. Some children might even pretend to be sick or genuinely feel unwell on test days due to anxiety.

Regardless of your child’s level of anxiety, tutoring and supportive strategies can help them prepare for exams and reduce test-related stress.

Tutoring Sessions for Better Exam Preparation

One of the most effective ways to combat test anxiety is through structured tutoring.

Tutors can offer personalized instruction, breaking down complex material into concepts your child can understand. Beyond instruction, tutors help students practice the skills they’re learning, building familiarity and confidence.

When children feel prepared and have mastered the subject, their stress levels on test day can decrease significantly.

Building Study Skills Through Tutoring

Developing strong study habits is essential for reducing test anxiety, and tutors play a key role in fostering these skills. Here are some effective strategies tutors can incorporate:

1. Study in Advance
   Encourage your child to start studying days ahead of the test. Multiple tutoring sessions during the week can help solidify knowledge in their long-term memory; however, if weekly sessions are limited, tutors can create a daily study schedule to ensure consistent practice.
2. Practice Tests
   Tutors can create mock tests that simulate the actual exam environment. This helps your child practice pacing under time constraints, making the real test feel more manageable.
3. Relaxation Techniques
   Learning to stay calm is just as important as studying the material. Tutors can guide your child through relaxation exercises, like deep breathing, which they can use to manage stress during tests or other high-pressure situations.

Test-Taking Strategies That Build Confidence

Test-taking is a skill of its own, and tutors can teach strategies to make the process smoother. These strategies include:

• Time Management: Tutors can help your child learn to scan the test first, understanding the number of questions and allocating time appropriately for each section.
• Reading Carefully: Encouraging your child to carefully read questions and instructions can prevent avoidable mistakes caused by rushing.
• Skipping and Returning: Tutors can teach the value of skipping over particularly challenging questions and returning to them later, helping maintain momentum and reducing anxiety.

Using Tests as Learning Opportunities

After the test, reviewing results is an essential part of the process.

A tutor can go through the graded test with your child to highlight successes and identify areas for improvement. Feedback, including teacher comments, can guide future study sessions. This review emphasizes that tests aren’t just about grades—they’re tools for measuring learning and growth.

How Parents Can Help Reduce Test Anxiety

Parents play a vital role in reducing test anxiety. Support your child by encouraging steady study habits and creating a positive environment around testing. Here are some great tips to help parents out:

• Balance Focus on Tests: Avoid putting excessive emphasis on the test itself to prevent increasing anxiety.
• Provide Comfort: Cook their favorite meal or prepare a nutritious breakfast on test day.
• Ensure Rest: Help your child get a good night’s sleep before the test so they feel refreshed and ready to focus.

The Key to Long-Term Success

With the right combination of tutoring, practical strategies, and parental support, your child can overcome test anxiety. With these steps, they can perform better on exams and develop skills to handle stressful situations in the future.

Ready to give your child the tools to conquer test anxiety? School is Easy offers expert tutors who specialize in test preparation and confidence-building strategies.