[monkeybum]

My 5yo is not really a swimmer - hates water on his face even in the bath, is quite scared of swimming, etc. He's been in lessons since he was a baby, but they are just too far and few between to make much difference.

I grew up with a pool and was known as "the fish" growing up as you could not get me out of the pool. However, I have a very strong fear of my children drowning, esp since my son is so scared of the water. We plan to get him in to private lessons ALL summer this year if we can, but I think it will be a long time before I am really comfortable with someone ELSE taking him swimming.

Unfortunately, I WOH Full Time, including all summer. He is now in Kindergarten. What the HECK do I do with him all summer? All of the camps I can find have some kind of swimming almost every day, (with ratios of 8:1 and 10:1

. They also go on these far away (like an hours drive or more) field trips to various places. I'm just totally not comfortable with that.

He has been in daycare since he was a baby and moved schools for kindergarten, but it was a gradual process and I had a chance to interact with the teachers and develop some trust before I could leave him on his own. We have never even had anyone babysit him other than grandparents, let alone leave him all day for weeks on end with strangers who want to take him on crazy field trips and take him swimming.

It just feels wrong to me to let him be so far away from me, in a strange place, where he will know nobody, where I won't know the people supervising him, (they will likely be College / University kids).

I'm having a nervous breakdown just thinking about it and it's only April.

What do you other WOHM do with your kiddlings during the summer if you are working??

HELP!!!

 

[nextcommercial]

Can you start looking for a home daycare that will have older kids for the summer?

I was going to stress the importance of swimming lessons, but, you already do those, so I think the best way to protect him at this point, is constant adult supervision around pools.

I would feel nervous about sending him to a summer camp too. He may learn to swim because of the camp. Or he may end up trying to do something he's not ready for just because the other kids are. He might even hate that part of summer camp.

 

[Alyantavid]

I'm not sure. My son's 7 and has been in swimming lessons but isn't a good swimmer yet. The only option for school kids around here is the Boys and Girls Club and they frequently take the kids all over the place, including the swimming pool. 2 teenage kids watching that many small children just makes me nervous.

 

[Carita]

do you know any of his friends' parents? My mom for the summer would have us taken care of my YMCA (yes there was a pool, but I stayed out of the pool, reading) or friends with kind or some other thing. I think one summer she paid my sister's friends parents (which were also neighbors) to watch us.

 

[tm2840]

I so understand! Kindergarten (5/6) can still be a pretty young age; I know both my kids are/were too "immature" for the day camps sponsored by the parks and rec and so forth at that point in their life. Too many kids, too much chaos... although, I just realized I have NEVER heard of anyone's child being seriously injured or traumatized by attending a camp like that. Hmm...

Find out as much as you can about the camps from people who have attended them before. Some of them may be more supervised and structured than it sounds from the description. The only reason I don't panic the entire time my son is with his "martial arts camp" at the lake, or the pool/waterpark is because I *know* the rules imposed by his instructor. None of the kids are allowed in water higher than the chest-height of the shortest one there (they have to stay together completely) and they wear matching swimming suits for fast head counts. They go into the water at specified times, then get out and do something else as a group, then go back in for a while.

I'd be tempted to look for a summertime home daycare situation if you don't find a camp setup that feels safe to you. May not be as much fun, may be (a lot!) more expensive, but it's your sanity you may be saving!

 

[~pi]

Quote:

Originally Posted by monkeybum All of the camps I can find have some kind of swimming almost every day, (with ratios of 8:1 and 10:1 . They also go on these far away (like an hours drive or more) field trips to various places. I'm just totally not comfortable with that.

Are you looking for a full summer camp or a series of week/two week day camps? I don't know much about the former, but FWIW, I used to run a science summer day camp with one week and two week sessions, and we didn't swim at all.

Have you looked on the Toronto today's parent resource pages?

There must be SOME that don't have daily swimming. E.g., I don't think the Science Centre's camp has swimming.

Good luck!

 

[Evan&Anna's_Mom]

If you aren't comfortable with daycamps, you will likely need a summer nanny. At least that way you can make sure your child is doing things that you are comfortable with and will have a chance to screen for those things that are important to you. I know lots of teachers who fill their summer budget by being a summer caregiver. Or college students if you are comfortable with someone a bit younger. Of course, that will be more expensive than daycamp. Maybe you could find another family with similar aged child to split with?

FWIW, last summer was my 5 YOs first "summer day camp" summer and she had a blast. Some camps included swimming, some didn't. Unless you are in a smaller community, there should be some different options available if you look. Maybe a specialty camp that doesn't emphasize water so much? Check museums for camps -- they probably won't be so swimming oriented. Of course, if you are uncomfortable with college aged counselors, that won't be any different.

I always felt comfortable with the setup and I'm completely OK with my kids traveling around the city by school bus for camp, so those were not issues for me.

 

[BunnySlippers]

Don't send your child to camp!

I used to work in daycare...you have no idea of how many kids I have seen lost, unsupervised and/or doing dangerous things- while under the supervision of a camp. It's really scary and I am surprised there have not been all that many drownings or abductions, seriously.
Ill never send my dd to camp while she is young, just because of what I have seen, or heard counsellors talking about

As to what to do with him? gah, I don't know, what about home daycare. Get the givernment subsidy to make it affordable and pick one who does not leave the house much and has a fenced yard

 

[Evan&Anna's_Mom]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BunnySlippers I used to work in daycare...you have no idea of how many kids I have seen lost, unsupervised and/or doing dangerous things- while under the supervision of a camp. It's really scary and I am surprised there have not been all that many drownings or abductions, seriously. Ill never send my dd to camp while she is young, just because of what I have seen, or heard counsellors talking about

This is a terrible overgeneralization. Yes, I'm sure that there are camps where the supervision could be better. And it is true that, just like with daycare providers, there are some counselors who are better than others. But to say that ALL camps and dangerous and poor is nonsense. The fact is that there aren't a lot of serious problems like drowning and abductions should serve to demonstrate that this is an overblown claim.

At least a camp there are lots of adults around to make sure that no one is molested-unlike at a home daycare provider where there may only be one adult. OK, yes, that is snarky and I realize that this is just as unlikely as a camper drowning at camp. But it illustrates that there are advantages and disadvantages to all childcare options. And that saying one situation is automatically bad while another is good is inaccurate. ALL childcare situations should be thoroughly investigated.

And, just for the record, there are so few stranger abductions a year that the idea that you have to worry about this every second is absurd. Unless you are involved in a nasty custody battle or unsavory business, it just isn't going to happen. At camp or at daycare or at anywhere else.

 

[BunnySlippers]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evan&Anna's_Mom This is a terrible overgeneralization. Yes, I'm sure that there are camps where the supervision could be better. And it is true that, just like with daycare providers, there are some counselors who are better than others. But to say that ALL camps and dangerous and poor is nonsense. The fact is that there aren't a lot of serious problems like drowning and abductions should serve to demonstrate that this is an overblown claim.

Actually it is not an over-generalization

and yes crap happens at private/home daycares as well, but some of that can be avoided with a provider who chooses to stay at home.
I also never said there was high incidence of abductions and drownings I said I was surprised there was not...
Id tell stories, but Im not in the mood.

and BTW- kids get molested in the publicly run daycares as well. One of the daycares here was ousted a few years ago. It also happens at schools and churches. whats your point?

 

[GuildJenn]

Quote:

Originally Posted by monkeybum My 5yo is not really a swimmer - hates water on his face even in the bath, is quite scared of swimming, etc. He's been in lessons since he was a baby, but they are just too far and few between to make much difference. I grew up with a pool and was known as "the fish" growing up as you could not get me out of the pool. However, I have a very strong fear of my children drowning, esp since my son is so scared of the water. We plan to get him in to private lessons ALL summer this year if we can, but I think it will be a long time before I am really comfortable with someone ELSE taking him swimming. Unfortunately, I WOH Full Time, including all summer. He is now in Kindergarten. What the HECK do I do with him all summer? All of the camps I can find have some kind of swimming almost every day, (with ratios of 8:1 and 10:1 . They also go on these far away (like an hours drive or more) field trips to various places. I'm just totally not comfortable with that. He has been in daycare since he was a baby and moved schools for kindergarten, but it was a gradual process and I had a chance to interact with the teachers and develop some trust before I could leave him on his own. We have never even had anyone babysit him other than grandparents, let alone leave him all day for weeks on end with strangers who want to take him on crazy field trips and take him swimming. It just feels wrong to me to let him be so far away from me, in a strange place, where he will know nobody, where I won't know the people supervising him, (they will likely be College / University kids). I'm having a nervous breakdown just thinking about it and it's only April. What do you other WOHM do with your kiddlings during the summer if you are working?? HELP!!!

Our Montessori (Scarborough) has a summer camp! I bet others do as well. No swimming.

 

[Ceinwen]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BunnySlippers Actually it is not an over-generalization and yes crap happens at private/home daycares as well, but some of that can be avoided with a provider who chooses to stay at home. I also never said there was high incidence of abductions and drownings I said I was surprised there was not... Id tell stories, but Im not in the mood. and BTW- kids get molested in the publicly run daycares as well. One of the daycares here was ousted a few years ago. It also happens at schools and churches. whats your point?

It is an overgeneralization

I worked at high quality summer camps for close to eight years. Many of them were more strictly run than daycares... Of course there are substandard ones, but to start a post with 'Don't send your child to camp because they're all xyz...' isn't fair.

So, I guess the lesson here is to investigate your chosen camp(s) very well, and seek out the opinions of parents whose values you trust and ask what they think.

My dd (age 6.5) will be in daycare this summer. So far it doesn't even look like there are many off site trips, which is fine with me.

One week she is doing dance camp at the academy where she dances year round, one week with her father (my ex) and one week with my parents.

 

[BunnySlippers]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ceinwen It is an overgeneralization I worked at high quality summer camps for close to eight years. Many of them were more strictly run than daycares... Of course there are substandard ones, but to start a post with 'Don't send your child to camp because they're all xyz...' isn't fair. .

Well geez, when you put it like that

I guess it was...

I guess I did not mean to include the entire world in my generalization. I am however in the area of OP, and really..dont. do. it.

 

[Ceinwen]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BunnySlippers Well geez, when you put it like that I guess it was... I guess I did not mean to include the entire world in my generalization. I am however in the area of OP, and really..dont. do. it.

Hey, if you have inside info - OP run with it!

Sometimes what we've seen and been exposed to can definitely color our opinion.

 

[Evan&Anna's_Mom]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BunnySlippers and BTW- kids get molested in the publicly run daycares as well. One of the daycares here was ousted a few years ago. It also happens at schools and churches. whats your point?

That is exactly my point -- there are bad camps and good camps. There are bad daycares and good daycares. As well as church sunday schools and schools. As I said, parents should investigate ANY childcare situation before accepting it. But to say that all of any type is bad is just plain wrong, as is your implication that any home care option would be better.

I'd be uncomfortable even with "all summer camps in XYZ town" are bad unless you have something to back up the fact that you know them all. And at that point I'd have to assume we are talking about a very small town. I concede that I live in a large urban area and there are literally thousands of summer camps to choose from. I'm certain that some would probably match the OPs needs. Unfortunately, I don't think she lives anywhere near me.

 

[~pi]

The OP is listed as living in Toronto, which has 2.5 - 6 million people, depending on where you draw the boundary. It is not a small town, and there are hundreds or thousands of camps.

 

[GuildJenn]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ~pi The OP is listed as living in Toronto, which has 2.5 - 6 million people, depending on where you draw the boundary. It is not a small town, and there are hundreds or thousands of camps.

I can vouch for there being some very good daycamps in Toronto, both from personal experience (although that's dated, having been in the 70s) and having worked in one for a summer in the mid 90s. But I do get the OP's concerns with a 5 year old, and I would look, myself, for something like our Montessori's 'camp' where it's the professional teachers and the school is basically both looking for a way to stay open year-round in a cost-effective way and to reach out to the community. I forgot to mention that ours does do a few field trips, but pretty locally - shoe museum, rom, that sort of thing.

 

[~pi]

I know, I was responding to this:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evan&Anna's_Mom I'd be uncomfortable even with "all summer camps in XYZ town" are bad unless you have something to back up the fact that you know them all. And at that point I'd have to assume we are talking about a very small town.

I.e. As Evan&Anna's Mom points out, it's a little ridiculous to suggest that all camps in the city are so awful that, "It's really scary and I am surprised there have not been all that many drownings or abductions, seriously." (Scare tactics much?)

I totally understand the reluctance to put a 5 y.o. in camp; I'm just a little suspicious about an assertion that all camps in the city are horrendous programs.

 

[cchrissyy]

I'm sure you'll be able to find some quality camps without swimming.

most camps around here are based in the private schools, the YMCA, the other communtiy centers and regional parks. and sure, some swim a day a week but not all do, and even those have respectable safety-conscious policies. For instance my 5 year old at science camp last summer had a "swim day" where he played in the sand and never even got wet above his knees. They watch those kindergardeners like hawks, and they are as concerned with safety as I am!

I think you just need more local leads

 

[mistymama]

My 6 year old wont tolerate water on his face either - I don't know if you are opposed, but getting some really good, expensive well fitting goggles worked wonders. He could tolerate water on his face as long as his eyes were protected. He picked up swimming at the end of last summer and those goggles made ALL the difference.

I don't work full time, so ds and I do go to the pool and waterpark all summer. But I do work part time and need morning childcare. So I have enrolled ds in science camp about 6 different weeks this summer. We are doing half day, but full day is an option. He did two camps last year and LOVED them - can't stop asking when it's time for camp again.

They are well supevised with fun, hands on activities & no water!

I'm sure there are options like that in your area - this project we are doing is through a children's science center/museum. They even have the option of before and after care for working parents.