Anonymous wrote:Some kids need down time and thrive on it and do nothing all summer. It doesn't work for all kids. Some kids do actually like structure and certain activities (and it does not have to be all summer long, every single day).

But many posting on here feel they must argue that there's something wrong in that, as if any learning activity in summer is somehow wrong and bad and creates automaton kids. As another person posted -- that poster's child chose the camps and activities he is doing. My kid asks me if she can do a writing workshop each year, and she wanted to do a science camp as well this summer--she is an older kid and knows what she wants, and I don't have to push her one way or the other.

Is there something wrong with the kids themselves, then, when they want that? Not all the parents are shoving this down the kids' throats. Some kids simply like to do these things--a fact that some parents here just refuse to acknowledge; the assumption is that the parents of kids with busy summers must be hard-charging, pushy and academically obsessed. But some kids like to do more in the summer and others don't. Either type of kid can do just fine in school. My kid is not some younger elementary student who does whatever we say; she gets a say and "No" is definitely allowed, but she asks to do things like this.

It's fine either way. It depends on the kid.

A very nice post. But I don't see how someone thrives by "doing nothing all summer." And I do understand that cost can be a factor for some families, but the FCPS Parks have inexpensive camps; the Tae Kwon Do summer camps are reasonable; churches have summer camp activities. The only thing you can't do is doing nothing. And I'm not talking about academic type enrichment; my very favorite summer activity for the DCs would be to work on a farm all summer. That's what I was lucky enough to do as a kid.

Some kids need down time and thrive on it and do nothing all summer. It doesn't work for all kids. Some kids do actually like structure and certain activities (and it does not have to be all summer long, every single day).

But many posting on here feel they must argue that there's something wrong in that, as if any learning activity in summer is somehow wrong and bad and creates automaton kids. As another person posted -- that poster's child chose the camps and activities he is doing. My kid asks me if she can do a writing workshop each year, and she wanted to do a science camp as well this summer--she is an older kid and knows what she wants, and I don't have to push her one way or the other.

Is there something wrong with the kids themselves, then, when they want that? Not all the parents are shoving this down the kids' throats. Some kids simply like to do these things--a fact that some parents here just refuse to acknowledge; the assumption is that the parents of kids with busy summers must be hard-charging, pushy and academically obsessed. But some kids like to do more in the summer and others don't. Either type of kid can do just fine in school. My kid is not some younger elementary student who does whatever we say; she gets a say and "No" is definitely allowed, but she asks to do things like this.

It's fine either way. It depends on the kid.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"you know what - racehorses want to run. They enjoy it. OTH, idle hands and minds are the devil's playground."


The "useful" lifespan of a race horse comes down to about 10 to 12 years, assuming all goes well and the horse continues to place. Beyond that, its life will depend entirely on the kindness and money of its owner.

ha. I would think making a few milllion in purses, retiring early, then being put out to stud for the rest of your life would be a pretty good way to go!

If you're one of the lucky few:

Thousands of Thoroughbreds are bred for racing every year. Depending on the country, only 5% to 10% ever see a racecourse. What happens to the others? Unless they are lucky enough to find another career, they are disposed of, typically at a slaughterhouse.

Four girls, all AAP. Working parents. The girls go to camp for 8 weeks. They spend 1 week with grandparents, and we go on a vacation for one week.

One girl goes to performing arts camp. One goes to regular day camp (arts & crafts, swim, sports, etc. each day). One does soccer camp. One does sleepaway camp. We take whoever is home to the library with us once or twice a week.

It is lovely sending them to different camps because then when we go on vacation at the end of the summer they are so happy to be together and are teaching each other whatever they learned. Last summer one made friendship bracelets that matched for the four of them. Stuff like that.

Is there still learning? Sure. I tell them to double a recipe, I ask them to figure out what the tip should be for a check at a restaurant, have them navigate when we're traveling somewhere new, etc. But there's no drilling or workbooks.

Anonymous wrote:"you know what - racehorses want to run. They enjoy it. OTH, idle hands and minds are the devil's playground."


The "useful" lifespan of a race horse comes down to about 10 to 12 years, assuming all goes well and the horse continues to place. Beyond that, its life will depend entirely on the kindness and money of its owner.

ha. I would think making a few milllion in purses, retiring early, then being put out to stud for the rest of your life would be a pretty good way to go!

"you know what - racehorses want to run. They enjoy it. OTH, idle hands and minds are the devil's playground."


The "useful" lifespan of a race horse comes down to about 10 to 12 years, assuming all goes well and the horse continues to place. Beyond that, its life will depend entirely on the kindness and money of its owner.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Elementary School is not a competition. Life is, in the end, but school is not.

The best thing for the kids at 6-8 yo is to let them play with peers in an unstructured manner. Let them use the natural curiosity and creativity. And let them learn to solve conflicts. Your job is to keep them safe.

yadda, yadda yadda. Thanks for the lecture.

Anyway - 10 weeks of sumer, nine are booked up (both this year and next already).
1. an academic camp for GT kids.
2. a nature camp
3. sports camp
4. music camp
5. one week vacation at national park out west.
6. one week at the beach house
7. still thinking about Fairfax Collegeiate for a math or creative writing class

If you work full time disregare this comment.

Your poor kids! Where is the fun & down time?

your poor kids - DC chose all these; several are repeats from last year.
Where is the fun? Hiking around Glacier N.P and a week at the beachbhouse is fun.
downtime: good for letting grass grow under your feet. Fine if that's your thing.

Such smugness! Having your summer "booked" might be one option for a working parent who has the resources. Many on here, believe it or not, don't. Otherwise, I fear for your kids in the future. The seeds of creativity are planted in downtime. Those whose lives are always planned don't know what to do with it. I've seen these kids as teenagers. It's not pretty.

you know what - racehorses want to run. They enjoy it. OTH, idle hands and minds are the devil's playground.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Elementary School is not a competition. Life is, in the end, but school is not.

The best thing for the kids at 6-8 yo is to let them play with peers in an unstructured manner. Let them use the natural curiosity and creativity. And let them learn to solve conflicts. Your job is to keep them safe.

yadda, yadda yadda. Thanks for the lecture.

Anyway - 10 weeks of sumer, nine are booked up (both this year and next already).
1. an academic camp for GT kids.
2. a nature camp
3. sports camp
4. music camp
5. one week vacation at national park out west.
6. one week at the beach house
7. still thinking about Fairfax Collegeiate for a math or creative writing class

If you work full time disregare this comment.

Your poor kids! Where is the fun & down time?

your poor kids - DC chose all these; several are repeats from last year.
Where is the fun? Hiking around Glacier N.P and a week at the beachbhouse is fun.
downtime: good for letting grass grow under your feet. Fine if that's your thing.

Such smugness! Having your summer "booked" might be one option for a working parent who has the resources. Many on here, believe it or not, don't. Otherwise, I fear for your kids in the future. The seeds of creativity are planted in downtime. Those whose lives are always planned don't know what to do with it. I've seen these kids as teenagers. It's not pretty.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Elementary School is not a competition. Life is, in the end, but school is not.

The best thing for the kids at 6-8 yo is to let them play with peers in an unstructured manner. Let them use the natural curiosity and creativity. And let them learn to solve conflicts. Your job is to keep them safe.

yadda, yadda yadda. Thanks for the lecture.

Anyway - 10 weeks of sumer, nine are booked up (both this year and next already).
1. an academic camp for GT kids.
2. a nature camp
3. sports camp
4. music camp
5. one week vacation at national park out west.
6. one week at the beach house
7. still thinking about Fairfax Collegeiate for a math or creative writing class

If you work full time disregare this comment.

Your poor kids! Where is the fun & down time?

your poor kids - DC chose all these; several are repeats from last year.
Where is the fun? Hiking around Glacier N.P and a week at the beachbhouse is fun.
downtime: good for letting grass grow under your feet. Fine if that's your thing.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Elementary School is not a competition. Life is, in the end, but school is not.

The best thing for the kids at 6-8 yo is to let them play with peers in an unstructured manner. Let them use the natural curiosity and creativity. And let them learn to solve conflicts. Your job is to keep them safe.

yadda, yadda yadda. Thanks for the lecture.

Anyway - 10 weeks of sumer, nine are booked up (both this year and next already).
1. an academic camp for GT kids.
2. a nature camp
3. sports camp
4. music camp
5. one week vacation at national park out west.
6. one week at the beach house
7. still thinking about Fairfax Collegeiate for a math or creative writing class

If you work full time disregare this comment.

Your poor kids! Where is the fun & down time?

Anonymous wrote:Elementary School is not a competition. Life is, in the end, but school is not.

The best thing for the kids at 6-8 yo is to let them play with peers in an unstructured manner. Let them use the natural curiosity and creativity. And let them learn to solve conflicts. Your job is to keep them safe.

yadda, yadda yadda. Thanks for the lecture.

Anyway - 10 weeks of sumer, nine are booked up (both this year and next already).
1. an academic camp for GT kids.
2. a nature camp
3. sports camp
4. music camp
5. one week vacation at national park out west.
6. one week at the beach house
7. still thinking about Fairfax Collegeiate for a math or creative writing class

Anonymous wrote:Elementary School is not a competition. Life is, in the end, but school is not.

The best thing for the kids at 6-8 yo is to let them play with peers in an unstructured manner. Let them use the natural curiosity and creativity. And let them learn to solve conflicts. Your job is to keep them safe.

Overall good advice, but you slipped up here. Life is not a competition. Thinking it is is what makes so many people miserable.

Elementary School is not a competition. Life is, in the end, but school is not.

The best thing for the kids at 6-8 yo is to let them play with peers in an unstructured manner. Let them use the natural curiosity and creativity. And let them learn to solve conflicts. Your job is to keep them safe.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thank you for all the responses. For those wondering, I asked the question because we have met some AAP families that send their kids to academic camps for most of the summer. I found it strange and wanted to know how common this was. Some other families have their kids in all kinds of music and sports camps. We have not signed up for any camps and I worry if my DC will be at a huge disadvantage.

Not at our center.

OP here. Thank you for all the responses. For those wondering, I asked the question because we have met some AAP families that send their kids to academic camps for most of the summer. I found it strange and wanted to know how common this was. Some other families have their kids in all kinds of music and sports camps. We have not signed up for any camps and I worry if my DC will be at a huge disadvantage.