I almost cried the last day of school because summer was so freaking horrible last year. Camps stressed my son out and he took it all out on me. He would cry and cry and cry. This year is much better.

Anonymous wrote:I get my 6 year old home from all day camp and he instantly asks if we can go to the park, take his bike out, or play soccer. He has always been kinda relentlessly energetic though.

+1 This is mine as well.

Anonymous wrote:I feel bad for these young kids having to spend their summerslike this. Such a pressure cooker of workaholic parents forcing constant structure on these kids who should be outside playing with friends, using their imagination, hanging out with parents, looking up at the clouds, riding bikes all over the neighborhood. Now they go to all day camps, year round sports, tutors, and more. Childhood is gone.

Holy cow this is just wrong.

When I was a kid, my mom SAH. And most of the summer was just hanging out and playing, with the occasional swim lessons and other activities. Which was all fine, but not the utopia you seem to think it was. When I was about 10 my parents decided to let me try summer camp. I LOVED it, and wished I'd been able to go before then; I went until I was too old to go.

Both DH and I WOH, so DS (also 6yo) is in camp during the summer. He loves it and looks forward to it. Being outside and all the physical activity really suits him. Today he was excited about exploring a creek, riding horses, swimming in the pool, and playing with his friends. He's happily tired at bedtime.

If OP's child is exhausted at the end of camp (and that's what it sounds like), the many previous suggestions (immediate snack, downtime, etc.) are all good.

Anonymous wrote:Camps are pressure cookers? Maybe Harvard summer school, but not day camps around here.

FYI I am in my 40s and went to all day camps and shocker of all shockers started going to sleep away camp when I was 8! And I loved it!

My 8 yr old is currently at sleep away camp. If the pictures are any indication she's never going to want to come home. It was raining today at camp. The pictures show puddle jumping and mud pie making. I'm hoping there is a shower tonight!

I get my 6 year old home from all day camp and he instantly asks if we can go to the park, take his bike out, or play soccer. He has always been kinda relentlessly energetic though.

Camps are pressure cookers? Maybe Harvard summer school, but not day camps around here.

FYI I am in my 40s and went to all day camps and shocker of all shockers started going to sleep away camp when I was 8! And I loved it!

My child's all-day preschool teacher hands the children a little square of whole-wheat toast with butter and chocolate sauce on it. It's got sugar for a little instant "zip" and some fats for a longer burn. It's small enough that it doesn't interfere with dinner, just gets the kids home. Plus, it motivates the kids to get ready fast to get their little treat.

What a smart teacher!

So do what she does. Watered down juice and a cheese stick? A quarter whole wheat bagel with PB or cream cheese? Whatever floats your little person's boat. Enjoy!

Anonymous wrote:I feel bad for these young kids having to spend their summerslike this. Such a pressure cooker of workaholic parents forcing constant structure on these kids who should be outside playing with friends, using their imagination, hanging out with parents, looking up at the clouds, riding bikes all over the neighborhood. Now they go to all day camps, year round sports, tutors, and more. Childhood is gone.

The camps are not all structured and pressure cookers. My dd is in nature camp where they get to explore the outdoors and go swimming. Isn't that what summer should be about? I can't afford to stay home otherwise we would have no home to live in.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel bad for these young kids having to spend their summerslike this. Such a pressure cooker of workaholic parents forcing constant structure on these kids who should be outside playing with friends, using their imagination, hanging out with parents, looking up at the clouds, riding bikes all over the neighborhood. Now they go to all day camps, year round sports, tutors, and more. Childhood is gone.

WTF? Not all camps are highly structured. A lot of them are outdoor play camps -- mix of swimming, goofy craft projects, lawn games, singing songs etc.

At DD's camp, only some of the activities are prompted by the adults (structured games of kickball, learning new camp songs, doing a particular craft, half hour swim lessons). The rest of the activities are more open-ended. The kids have free swim time in the pool, they organize into their own sports/games, make up their own crafts with whatever materials are around (hilarious!), and make up their own songs and "spy games".

The whole thing reminds me a lot of my childhood summers, actually. And I had a SAHM. It's really not that different.

Which camp is this? Sounds great!

It's a JCC day camp. Our local YMCA camp is similar or possibly better, but less convenient for us.

But we're not in the DC area. Smaller city. Still lots of options here (including museum camps and structured STEM camps) but lots of lower key options, too. Aren't there YMCA/JCC/Town Recreation camps in the DC area?

Thanks! There are camps through those organizations around here, but the quality and activities vary widely. That's why specific recs are great.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thx again for the suggestions and support. She went to full day Kindergarden this last year...and I am remembering how hard the first couple of months were while she adjusted.

OP this discussion got a little off the rails. In my opinion, here is the key to finding your solution. Also, there are ways to decompress other than TV.

OP here...would love to hear suggestions other than TV for decompression. I have no problem with TV but am interested to hear what works for you.

When my 5 year old gets home from camp at 3:15 she gets a snack. Some days she wants to talk about her day and some days she's not ready yet. Then she has veg out time, which can be coloring (very mindless and sort of soothing), building something with blocks or legos, or some other mindless independent activity that does not require too much energy, or some days TV. After that she usually has much more energy!

And a lot of the posters here are just over the top. I am a SAHM and my child goes to day camp for at least a month of the summer. She loves it, and it's where all her friends are. She's too young to be "riding her bike all over the neighborhood" as someone else put it. She may as well be playing with and having fun with other children! It's camp, not Kumon for 8 hours a day! They swim, do crafts, and play fun games. I still have memories of the camps I attended, and I had a SAHM too.

Seriously, how in the world did his thread devolve into pain Olympics?????

Thanks to all the PPs who have advice that can help out parents who a re finding themselves in this situation this summer. Good luck to all.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For most of history kids have done hard labor since the age of around six. These lazy summer days you talk about were possible only the past 50 years or so, and only among well-to-do families. Everyone else was working. Summer camp is not a soulless prison.

Bullshit. My parents were lower middle class (and that's being generous) and very blue collar (like, rough neck blue-collar). We had glorious summers at home with friends, neighbors, babysitters, and grandparents (which, I recognize since we lack it here, not everyone has the latter).

Camp is not a prison, you're right. But, if you're describing your kid as a nightmare, then it's probably not the best fit for him/her at that time.

You were better off than you thought. I worked from age 11 on.

Um, no, I wasn't. I worked at 11 took. I babysat. I picked strawberries. By 13, I was earning $1.50/hour at a local version of dairy queen, working 5-11 p.m. shift. But, nice try.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel bad for these young kids having to spend their summerslike this. Such a pressure cooker of workaholic parents forcing constant structure on these kids who should be outside playing with friends, using their imagination, hanging out with parents, looking up at the clouds, riding bikes all over the neighborhood. Now they go to all day camps, year round sports, tutors, and more. Childhood is gone.

WTF? Not all camps are highly structured. A lot of them are outdoor play camps -- mix of swimming, goofy craft projects, lawn games, singing songs etc.

At DD's camp, only some of the activities are prompted by the adults (structured games of kickball, learning new camp songs, doing a particular craft, half hour swim lessons). The rest of the activities are more open-ended. The kids have free swim time in the pool, they organize into their own sports/games, make up their own crafts with whatever materials are around (hilarious!), and make up their own songs and "spy games".

The whole thing reminds me a lot of my childhood summers, actually. And I had a SAHM. It's really not that different.

Which camp is this? Sounds great!

It's a JCC day camp. Our local YMCA camp is similar or possibly better, but less convenient for us.

But we're not in the DC area. Smaller city. Still lots of options here (including museum camps and structured STEM camps) but lots of lower key options, too. Aren't there YMCA/JCC/Town Recreation camps in the DC area?

Anonymous wrote:My 7 yr old is in a very physically active camp and has been exhausted this week. He immediately takes a shower when he gets home and eats something. I usually limit screen time but have been encouraging TV this week in the evenings.

This parent is exhibiting some smarts: bend with the circumstances.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel bad for these young kids having to spend their summerslike this. Such a pressure cooker of workaholic parents forcing constant structure on these kids who should be outside playing with friends, using their imagination, hanging out with parents, looking up at the clouds, riding bikes all over the neighborhood. Now they go to all day camps, year round sports, tutors, and more. Childhood is gone.

WTF? Not all camps are highly structured. A lot of them are outdoor play camps -- mix of swimming, goofy craft projects, lawn games, singing songs etc.

At DD's camp, only some of the activities are prompted by the adults (structured games of kickball, learning new camp songs, doing a particular craft, half hour swim lessons). The rest of the activities are more open-ended. The kids have free swim time in the pool, they organize into their own sports/games, make up their own crafts with whatever materials are around (hilarious!), and make up their own songs and "spy games".

The whole thing reminds me a lot of my childhood summers, actually. And I had a SAHM. It's really not that different.

Which camp is this? Sounds great!