Summer is just around the corner and that means time for barbecues, baseball and beaches.
And kids home from school, sending parents on the age-old quest for finding ways to occupy their child’s time.
Some educational experts at Washington University in St. Louis say that opportunities abound for kids aged 2 to 18, and it’s important to tailor them to the needs and abilities of the child.
“Summer should be a fun and relaxing time for children,” says Andrea Atkinson, director of the Washington University Nursery School. “Most children enjoy activities, particularly those involving other children. You should choose a program that sounds enjoyable and matches your child’s interests, activity level and appropriate age group.
“If you choose a quality program with teachers and staff who are knowledgeable, kind and enjoy their work, your children will more than likely learn and have fun at the same time. Children learn by doing, so the class, camp or program should involve active participation.”
The nursery school runs a summer camp for kids ages 2 1/2 through 5 years in two sessions (June 7-25, July 5-23), in which the children bring their own lunches and can participate in a wide range of creative indoor and outdoor activities. At the same time, freedom to explore and discover things by themselves is granted within the framework of the camp.
However, some camps are residential programs, meaning the child sleeps, eats and plays away from home for an extended period of time. Such is the case with the university’s High School Summer Scholars Program.
Designed for high school students who have completed their junior year, the program aims to give students a preview of what college life is all about.
“What we are trying to do is give students an early taste of what college is going to be like for them,” says Marsha Hussung, director of the High School Summer Scholars Program. “We want them to learn how to function in a college environment under a little more sheltered circumstances than they’d get when they go off as freshmen. We are trying to lengthen the learning curve so that it’s not all taking place when it really matters.
“We’re talking about such mundane things as getting yourself out of bed and doing your own laundry, as well as being responsible for yourself. Getting to class, getting your coursework done, all of these things that college students have to learn, we are trying to teach them when it’s not so crucial.”
The Summer Scholars Program runs in two sessions, from June 13-July 17, and July 18-Aug. 20. During this time, students live in the dorms, eat dorm food, go to class and earn college credit from mostly 100- and 200-level courses at the university.
“We conduct seminars and programs on dealing with college life, or the admissions process, or other aspects that students need to know about,” Hussung says. “And we have a higher ratio of RAs that live in the dorm to students, and we have an adult dorm director. So they are getting a little more attention and people watching out for them.
“Our program is less to me about earning credit and more about getting that college learning experience, the total package and environment.”
Because of that, it’s very age specific.
“If you try to send kids to take college courses too early, you can have students over their heads academically and psychologically at times,” Hussung says. “Then they have a negative experience and don’t do well. The last thing I want is for someone to come in and have a negative experience.”
And despite being several years younger, the same concept holds true for the kids attending the nursery school camp. It’s all about fun, learning and keeping the mind active, while at the same time not overdoing it, says Atkinson, the nursery school director.
“While it is good to keep a child’s mind and body active in the summer, this does not mean that every minute of every day needs to be filled with activity,” Atkinson says. “It is very beneficial for children to have time alone so they can read, to use their imaginations for play scenarios, to make their own decisions about what they want to do and how they spend their time.”