What You Don't Know Can Hurt You: Finding a Quality Camp Program for Your Child

As a mother of 26 years, I know how frustrating it can be to shop for and find quality recreation & enrichment programs for children. As a provider of such programs, one of my aims is to inform and educate parents to make it as easy as possible to locate  fun, enriching activities.

In the last few weeks there has been a few questions specific to children's yoga programs & camps, so I've compiled a brief  list of tips to get you started that applies not only to children's yoga but to dance, sports, art, music & social skill programs as well. Keeping these ideas in mind can help you and your child avoid uncomfortable, un-fun and possibly unsafe situations.

What to Look For:

1- An informative & well constructed advertisement/brochure/website:

Be sure it is current, complete, easy to navigate & answers all relevant questions such as: a clear class description, updated schedules & class locations, instructor's name & experience, registration & and contact information.  Many studios will advertise that they offer programs but don't actually have any active classes on the schedule. If this is a habitual practice, interpret this as a red flag that the establishment is either very new & inexperienced or not really serious about their children's programs. Shop around and ask questions.

Are inquiries and phone calls returned to you in a timely manner? There is nothing more telling than a company or service provider that does not follow up  on inquiries within 3 days.

Another method other than word of mouth I like to use to research an instructor or camp is the social networks. Join the studio's group or page and just observe their interactions, photos & behaviors. Check out who they are linked to, including individuals & groups. Read blogs and postings. True colors will come out here because of the casual nature of social networking-you would be surprised at what you may learn.

I saw one public post on a social networking page, by a local children's yoga teacher that was an alarming & unprofessional exchange - along with other professionals (engineers & visiting hospice nurses, and even a mother of a special needs child) joking about harming a colleague with big clubs & sticks and such. Joking around is one thing, but according to this exchange, the teacher's own children gave her this advice. Alarming enough is the fact that this was even discussed publicly, and that the culprit's own children were encouraged to be involved in this, but what is even more disturbing is that this provider is now offering  a summer  "Peace Camp" for children. So the lesson here is simple:  keep your eyes and ears open!


2-Credentialed & Experienced Instructors:

Its one thing to have a children's yoga certification and another to actually have experience working with the children. Not every instructor has the patience, knowledge  & creativity enough to engage and hold the attention of a group of children for an entire 45-60 minute class. If you do not know the instructor, ask to meet and observe him or her in action prior to signing up your child. Have your child meet the teacher prior to a class to see if they are comfortable & connect with each other. Most reputable teachers will welcome this opportunity.

If you have a special needs child this is especially important to find out if the instructor in fact has knowledge and has worked with children with adaptive needs. Are the staff informed and trained on interacting with special needs children & does their program properly and sufficiently adapt and address these challenges?

It takes specific training to be able to work with children who are physically, socially or cognitively delayed, and not everyone has that training. When it comes to your child, don't be shy. Ask about their methods & their curriculum. Ask lots of questions. A qualified instructor will take the time to listen and address your concerns or refer you to someone who can. Feedback, whether positive or not should always be welcome by any conscientious instructor.


3- Independent Instructors-

There are many teachers such as myself that travel to a variety of venues: schools, studios, camps and community centers and do not work for one specific studio. In this case, please check references & background thoroughly. Does the instructor set a good example of behavior for the children? ( See above note about the "Peace Camp"...) Is he or she patient? Is she engaging to children in positive ways? Does she conduct all business with fairness & integrity? Do they show up on time and ready to work? A legitimate child service provider will have a biography, community links or references listed on their website or brochure or should  provide them immediately upon request. Also, it is imperative to find out if the person or people instructing & working directly with your child have been background checked through the state. ( I insist that all my assistants, and even photographers are background checked.)  Ask to see a current list of studio & personal references & a current certificate.

Other behaviors to observe are the yoga teacher or staff member who berates & chronically complains about the students, other programs or other instructors; and teachers who allow their co-teacher or assistants to provide all of the instruction. This is unprofessional at best and is as inexcusable as chronic lateness & being unprepared.

I remember one instructor of an arts camp I worked with who unprepared, late or a no-show daily, unless there was a chance at getting a photo in the local paper. There was always a colorful & 'compelling' story as to why. This tells a lot about the individual's character and work ethic & can serve as another indicator that either they are too busy with other projects to be effective, are not qualified to teach or do not take their work seriously. In either case, this may not be the ideal person to instruct your child.

4-Facility/Environment-

This is one of the first things I look for: is it neat, clean, climate controlled and secure? Is the equipment in good condition? Do the staff and instructors take pride in their appearance? Are you greeted promptly & courteously? This can say a lot about the overall operations of a facility and its staff as well as the quality of programs they provide.


5- Fun Factor-

Are the programs fun? If you can, talk with other parents who have experience with the facility, program or instructor-watch the children's reactions if you can and remember that a good instructor will teach useful skills in varied and playful ways-setting boundaries while still allowing for exploration & expression. This is the type of environment in which children learn the best!

While program cost may be a final determining factor as to whether you sign your child up for a program, remember : look at the quality, the time and the effort that the instructor puts into each class and figure that into the equation as well. This is part of what you will determine when you research a program.

Ultimately you will always wind up getting what you pay for.

For a list of preferred dance, yoga and camp providers in PA & NJ please e-mail: barbara@bodylogique.com


For more information on Fun Creative movement classes for children, please visit is at:

www.bodylogique.com

and on Facebook at:

BodyLogique


:)