Any parent who’s ever seen Meatballs, or any other raucous depiction of overnight camp, might want to think twice about sending their child away for a portion of the summer. But the experience can be truly amazing for a kid, especially with the myriad specialty camps and their bounteous facilities. Overnight camp can be a growth experience in which a child can learn more independence, an opportunity to acquire or hone skills (such as a sports or acting), and make friends from places beyond their immediate neighborhood or school. It can also facilitate a kid’s appreciation for the cushiness of home.

While many of the tips recommended for choosing a day camp apply here, these are a few particular suggestions (and a couple of general ones for emphasis) to make the decision on overnight camps easier.

What to consider about overnight camps

1. Is your child ready?
   In weighing the options for what used to be called “sleepaway camp,” first decide whether your child is ready for it. Are they the right age and maturity level? Some kids can start going away at age 7 and others won’t be ready until they are 12, but many children start around 9 or 10 years of age.

    

2. How far/long do want them to go?
   Then, think of how far you want them to travel and how long you want them to be away. Going across the country might be tough for the younger ones and one week away may be sufficient for them as well. But two weeks or more can provide children can provide a rich experience for those above 10.

    

3. What are the costs?
   Price is another major factor in choosing a camp. What can you afford? What’s included in the price? Expensive doesn’t necessarily mean great and there are a lot of moderately priced overnight camps out there. On average, the weekly rate for overnight camps can range from $300 to $1,000.

    

4. What’s the camp look like?
   If you can, tour the camp, preferably with your child. You can check out the facilities for yourself to see if it’s safe and fits your child’s needs. While you’re there, meet the camp director to find out his/her vision, how many years they’ve been in operation, what they counselor to camper ratio is, whether they have licensed drivers or not, and what their safety/medical/emergency preparation is like.

    

5. What are the specialty options?
   These days, overnight camps offer every activity under the same – well beyond the traditional hiking and lake fishing. There are camps that teach kids to scuba dive, manage horses like a cowboy, and even debate like a lawyer. Staffing is the key to the quality of such places, so check out the counselor credentials before making a choice.

    

6. Who else can help you decide?
   Especially helpful in this part of the decision-making is the American Camping Association (ACA) accreditation. This organization checks out countless standards of safety, facility quality, and more. In the West, another group, called the Western Association of Independent Camps (WAIC) asks members to hold to high standards as well.

    

7. Who knows best?
   You do. Certainly, get your child’s input, but as a parent, think with your gut. Can you picture your child here? Is it a little challenging for them or will it terrify them? It wouldn’t hurt to listen to Allan Sherman’s classic comedy song “Hello Mudder, Hello Fadder.” In the song, a kid with fears of malaria and man-eating bears learns to love his overnight camp experience. Chance are, your child will too.

While they’re at camp

1. They’ll be well taken care of
   Once you’ve decided, your camp will provide you with a list of what to pack and what medical preparations you may need to make. While your child is at camp, they’ll be well fed and sheltered (though the beds might be a little rustic), so don’t worry.

    

2. They might get homesick
   You should also discuss with your child the issue of homesickness and what you plan to do about it. Most kids miss home, so prepare yourself for pleading phone calls to pick them up. Decide on the circumstances under which you would go get them and consider making them stringent, such as a medical or serious emotional issue. This is a growth experience so pain can be part of the process of getting to the real fun.

    

3. Don’t change much
   While your kid is away, don’t rearrange the house around or do anything like bringing home a dog. This would make coming home hard for your child and might make them not want to leave home again. But in this time they’re away, do think about documenting what your child was like at this age. Plan a scrapbook to keep letters to home your kid might send and pictures they might take. Some camps even post digital photos that you may download as keepsakes.

Choosing an overnight should be done carefully, but realize there is no guarantee it will turn out perfectly once you do make a selection. Chances are, though, your child will have a massive amount of fun and learn even more about themselves.

About The Author
Gregory Keer is a syndicated columnist, teacher and on-air expert on fatherhood. His Family Man ™ column appears in publications across the country, including LA Parent, Boston Parents’ Paper, Bay Area Parent, Long Island Parenting News, Metro Augusta Parent, and Sydney’s Child in Australia. Keer’s concurrent column, Today’s Family Man, is found at his online fatherhood magazine, FamilyManOnline.com. He also writes for Parenting magazine, the Parents’ Choice Foundation, and Parenthood.com. On television, Keer has appeared on morning shows and cable specials. He is the father of three sons and husband to Wendy, a professor in child development.

Question:
Our local public pool offers swimming classes for parents with babies. This sounds like fun, but I’m wondering: Is this something I can do safely with my eight-month-old baby?

Learn about it
Swimming classes can be a fun experience to share with your baby and with other parent-baby pairs. The term “class” in this context shouldn’t mean that your baby will “learn” anything. Until a child is over four years old, any swim program should be viewed as simply a pleasurable way to introduce your baby to the fun of being in the water.

At what age can you take a baby in a pool?
As long as the water and weather are warm enough, you can take any baby over a few weeks old into a pool while in your arms. The younger the baby, of course, the more closely you’ll need to monitor the reaction to the water, and the more careful you’ll need to be about the chill that can occur when wet skin hits cooler air. Keep in mind that your baby will chill before you do, and if your baby is shivering or his lips look blue, he should have been out of the water some time ago. Quickly wrap him up and warm him.

How can I make our swimming experience safe?
The one most important rule for swimming with a young baby is to always keep him in your arms when he’s in or near the water. Always.

How can I help my baby enjoy his first swimming experiences?
When taking your baby for a swim, make sure he isn’t hungry or tired so that he and you can both enjoy the water. Avoid taking a swim immediately after your baby has been fed.

Very young babies don’t really need any floats or swimming aids, since they will not be out of your arms at any time (right?). If you decide to let your older baby float around in a baby boat or swim ring, always keep in mind that these are not designed for safety or protection; you should keep your hands and eyes on your baby at all times.

Follow your baby’s lead. If he seems happy and curious, then move him around in the water. If he seems nervous or frightened, don’t push him beyond his comfort zone. Some babies take time to warm up to the idea of a big body of water, even if they love to splash in the bathtub at home. You may even find that your baby takes numerous trips to the pool or beach before he’s even willing to get wet. Be patient!

How do I choose a class?
Ideally, look for an instructor who has knowledge of child development in addition to swimming. A teacher like this can gear the class activities to the proper developmental abilities of the babies in the group. It’s important to work with a teacher who understands children and can be sensitive to a baby’s fear or uncertainty of the water, and who doesn’t expect a baby to do more than what he is comfortable doing ¾ even if that means just dangling his feet in the water for the first few lessons, or even just looking at it from a deck chair!

What should your baby wear?
At the beach, your baby can wear a diaper, a bathing suit, or a birthday suit ¾ whatever you and he are comfortable with. Many parents keep their babies in a t-shirt to protect against the sun. If your baby is a walker, you might want to invest in some aqua socks to protect little feet against sand, rocks, and shells and to prevent slipping while walking poolside. If you are in a pool, disposable or reusable swim diapers are a great option. These don’t swell up like a sponge, but they do retain the unmentionables that other swimmers would rather not see floating in the water!

Protect your baby from the sun and chemicals
If your swimming extravaganza is taking place outside, be certain that you protect your baby from the sun with a hat and (if the baby is older than six months) sunscreen. This is very important, since the sun’s rays are magnified when reflected off the water.

Be cautious about emerging your baby in a pool that has a high level of chlorine as this may irritate his delicate skin.

Après swim
Remember, just like you, your baby will probably be ravenous after a swim so plan to feed him soon after you’re out of the water. A breastfeed, bottle-feed or snack will keep your baby happy. And a snuggly feed after a swim is extra warm and cozy for both mom and baby.

An important warning
No matter how many swim classes your baby has had, and no matter what his comfort and skill levels while in the water are, and no matter what kind of swimming float he is wearing, you should never, ever leave your baby unattended while in or near water ¾ not for even a second. Babies are unpredictable. They easily can fall into the water and drown even in water just a few inches deep. Swimming lessons for babies have nothing whatsoever to do with reducing the risk of water hazards. As a matter of fact, they can increase the risk of water accidents when parents are lulled into thinking their baby is safer because he has had swimming lessons ¾ which is not the case. Plus, swimming lessons, if they are successful, dispel your baby’s natural wariness about water and make it more likely that he’ll explore on his own if given but a second. You are many years away from watching your child swim independently while you sit on the beach in a lounge chair.

Copyright Elizabeth Pantley. (McGraw-Hill, 2003)

About the Author:
Elizabeth Pantley is the author of several books, including Gentle Baby Care : No-cry, No-fuss, No-worry — Essential Tips for Raising Your Baby, The No-Cry Sleep Solution: Gentle Ways to Help Your Baby Sleep Through the Night, Kid Cooperation (with an introduction by William Sears, MD), Perfect Parenting, as well as her latest The No-Cry Sleep Solution for Toddlers and Preschoolers and is also president of Better Beginnings, Inc. She is a popular speaker on family issues, and her newsletter, Parent Tips, is seen in schools nationwide. She appears as a regular radio show guest, and has been quoted in Parents, Parenting, Redbook, Good Housekeeping, American Baby, Working Mother, and Woman’s Day magazines. Visit Elizabeth’s web site http://www.pantley.com/elizabeth.

A 2003 study by Partners for Passenger Safety (www.chop.edu/carseat) found that 100 % of children below 1 year of age and 96% of 3 year olds involved in traffic collisions had been using a car seat or booster seat at the time of a crash. However, only 59% of 5-year-olds, 14% of 7-year-olds, and 9% of 8-year-olds were restrained at the time of the crash. Most people are well aware of the need for infants, toddlers and small children to be in a car seat that is appropriate for their age and weight. Regrettably, few parents understand that most children need booster seats until they are age 8-11, depending on the child’s size and how the vehicle seat belt fits.

California law requires that children ride properly restrained in the back seat until they are at least 6 years old or weigh 60 pounds. California is one of 33 states that require use of a booster or other child restraint beyond age 4; some states have increased the requirement to age 8. NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) recommends that ALL children age 12 and under ride in the back seat. A recent study suggests that children ride in the back seat longer – until they are at least 15 years old.

By law, older children must also ride properly buckled up. Regardless of age or size, if the seat belt does not fit correctly because the child is too small, too thin or just not mature enough to sit in a seat belt correctly, the parent or driver can be fined more than $350. Even more tragically, the child could be injured or killed if there is a car crash. So, before you move your child out of a booster seat, try the 5 Step test. Ask your child to sit using the vehicle lap and shoulder belt without the booster. If you answer “NO” to any of the questions below, your child still needs to ride in a booster seat.

5-Step Test

1. Does the child sit all the way back against the auto seat?

2. Do the child’s knees bend comfortably at the edge of the auto seat?

3. Is the shoulder belt centered on the shoulder and chest?

4. Is the lap belt as low as possible, touching the thighs?

5. Can the child stay seated like this for the whole trip?

Booster seats come in a wide array of shapes and sizes, including high back, backless and high back with removable back. The backless booster might be a good choice for carpools and play dates. It may be preferred by an older child since it cannot readily be seen from outside the car.

For more information or a low cost car seat or booster, call Safely on the Move at (619) 594-0784 or toll free (866) 700-7686 or visit www.safelyonthemove.sdsu.edu.

About the Article:
This information provided by the San Diego State University Foundation.

With summer coming many of us see ladybugs everywhere. Why not create some special ladybugs you can keep on the porch or even inside in some special places?

This is a fun craft that kids can do. They may need some help with putting the tape on to evenly paint a straight line, and you also may want to handle the permanent marker (for putting dots onto the ladybug) – but otherwise should be able to negotiate the project just fine on their own.

This craft does involve painting parts of the ladybugs and then leaving it overnight (or for at least four hours) to dry. This is very important to make sure the paint sets. This is the perfect craft for a weekend project to do with children – by the end of the weekend the bugs are done. Just know going into it that this is not an instant project so children won’t be disappointed.

Materials You Will Use:

• Rocks that can fit into the palm of your hand. Select oval or rounded rocks. Can use larger rocks if you wish to.
• Red and black tempura paints
• Paintbrushes with assorted widths – medium to fine sized points
• A black permanent marker
• Masking tape
• Scissors

Optional: gold or silver metallic paint pen (these are often toxic and are not child safe, if using with a small child be sure they do not put this in their mouths!)

1. Clean your rocks with warm soapy water and dish detergent. Let rocks dry.
2. Paint rocks red and allow them to dry. Drying may take four hours, or they may need to dry overnight. It is very important to let rocks dry completely before going onto the next step.
3. Take a piece of masking tape the width of your rock. We will now paint the ladybug’s head on. Place the masking tape on about 1/3 of the way onto the rock, creating a head. Now use your black paint and paint a head for the ladybug. Keep the tape on while the black paint is drying. *** When placing tape onto your ladybug, you only need to press the side that you will be painting onto the ladybug, so do not press the entire piece of tape down. Only press the side that will painted down.By using the masking tape – you are creating very clean and even lines. Your ladybugs will have a very tidy look to them.
4. Next we will create the black stripe down the ladybugs back. Take two pieces of masking tape and put them on the ladybug’s back, allowing for a thin stripe of red between them. Depending on how large your rock is, this could be 1/8th of an inch or even 1/4 of an inch. Paint this stripe black and allow the tape to remain on until dry.
5. Now it is time to draw dots on the ladybug’s back. You can use paint or even the permanent marker. It is your choice. Most ladybugs have many dots, but for space’s sake you will probably want to put three or four spots on each side of the ladybug’s back. Once this is dry you are done!
6. If you have several children making ladybugs consider writing their name in metallic paint pen along the side of the ladybug’s body. Your bugs are ready for summer!

About The Author
Abigail Beal is the author of two zines Creative Crafts Teacher – for crafts teachers and Gift Wrap Goddess Wraps – all about gift wrap. To subscribe: groups.yahoocom/group/GiftWrapGoddessWraps/ or groups.yahoo.com/group/CreativeCraftsTeachers. creativecraftsteachers@yahoo.com

Baby Showers -There has been a time in some of our lives where we have said – if I had my life to live over again there would be no kids, and then you think about the laughter and joy babies bring and those thoughts change to – I would not change my life for any thing. If a new baby is on the way then back into our thoughts they come where friends of the expectant mum gather to hold a Baby Showers party.

Special occasions as such are celebrated between close friends and family of the mother and father-to-be. Baby Showers is a popular way to welcome the good news of a pregnancy. These types of parties differ in many ways because of the host`s preferential taste in what she or he would see as the ideal way to celebrate the new edition on the way.

Baby Showers can be grand or on a more low key – depending on the budget. Common activities or themes on these occasions will always evolve around the baby. The venue or home where the party is being held will be decorated accordingly to a particular topic if there is to be one, Decorations may include balloons, streamers, cuddly toys and baby bits and bobs. You will find at Baby Showers all attendee`s appetite and bellies will be filled with scrumptious edibles laid on by the host – a running buffet or a sit down meal – the choice is yours.

Guests on arrival always have a pre-conceived notion before entering the venue on what they think the Baby Showers party is all about. Well to add a touch of uniqueness to this celebration you need to keep the guest guessing and surprise them with something totally different so that their experience when coming into the room is a jaw dropping one.

Shower parties can still have baby bits around the room but not as much if you were to direct the Baby Showers celebration around the expectant mother. You can add a little unique fun by showing home video clips of how mum-to-be looked in her holiday bikini and how those days of looking like a bay watch babe are over for a little while. Decorate the room with gifts of maternity wear this will help the future mum with cost – so instead of having to splash out on her self she can spend it on more important essentials like a pacifier and more pacifiers for those sleepless nights a head.

Even though the Baby Showers party on this occasion is about mum – still have the room bright and colourful.

Remember if the Baby Showers party is to be held while the future mother is heavily pregnant she may tire with so much commotion. Another thing to remind your self of is the choice of goodies laid on to eat which may not be agreeable to her digestive system while carrying her baby. (This does not apply to all)

You can direct all the energies of your Baby Showers party around the expectant mother while at the same time dedicating a corner of the room for the new baby on the way with colourful cuddly teddies – baby bottles and baby care essentials.

Even though happy occasions like Baby Showers are fulfilling and rewarding the new mums have to feel good about themselves – unfortunately this is not the case for some mums – although happy with the new baby on the way they can feel down with losing their figure and other niggly concerns. But there is a way to make mum the happiest person at this Baby Shower party – all you have to do is ask all the guests that their gift favors be a small money donation to help mum get back into that holiday bikini by sending her to keep fit classes – of which I hasten to add she will need to keep up with the demands of a new baby.

This will also save the guest a headache on deciding what to buy for their gift favor.

Remember bikini mums the joy and laughter that a new baby brings will make this all so worth while.

About the Author:
Higly reccomended for all baby essentials by mothers who have had success with planning their baby showers is http://www.good-baby-showers.net Mum get back in shape http://www.want2yoga.com.

It is well known that there is a tight connection between the mother and the child, sensations are transmitted between the two, and if you want your baby to feel comfortable, you must perfect a few aspects with regard to the proper clothes. What you like, he / she likes too; consequently, it is advisable to dress the baby just as you dress yourself. But be careful, when your baby does not move yet, he / she gets cold easier. For this reason, it would be best for you to be equipped as well as possible, even in summer, and always try to have an additional article of clothing with you in case the sun hides behind the clouds…

During the day:
If you cannot stand long sleeves, especially when it is hot, the baby cannot stand them either! But in case weather conditions are unstable it is better to have a supplementary protection waistcoat with you.

As a rule, the clothes which come in direct contact with the skin should be cotton made. In this case, avoid body articles with caps and use body undershirts which stop below the waist and allow air to circulate. Also, it is better not to dress the baby in dark clothes because they preserve heat. The child’s head should be always covered, especially when sun is powerful. If light is intense it is indicated for the baby to wear a pair of sunglasses of the best quality. The T-shirt is indispensable in order to protect the baby from air currents when the baby’s skin is perspired, but during summer you can seize the opportunity and leave the baby with the bottom and legs naked.

For sleeping:
When there are around 24 degrees outside, do not let the baby sleep in the “sleeping bag” anymore and dress him / her in pyjamas. When there is over 27 degrees, you can dress the baby in a body, he / she won’t catch a cold!

About the Author:
Copyright 2006 www.BabiesPlaza.com, All Rights Reserved. Find a great deal of articles about feeding, baby care, birthdays, gifts and baby shower tips by visiting Babies Plaza.

Disclaimer: Please remember that you should always put sunscreen on your baby when out in the sun.

Question:
My baby is only three months old, and summer is just starting. I’d love to enjoy some beach time with her, but I’m wondering about her being out in the sun at such a young age. Is this okay? Is sunscreen safe for her?

Learn about it
Babies have very delicate skin, so they are especially vulnerable to the dangerous effects of the sun. Babies burn much more easily than adults, and sun damage done during childhood can affect skin health for a lifetime. You can take your baby outside, but you would be wise to take precautions to protect her from the sun.

Protecting your baby’s delicate skin
While protecting your baby from the sun is important, it’s unrealistic to think that you’ll never be outside with your baby on a sunny day! Here’s how to keep your baby safe while enjoying the outdoors:

Keep her out of direct sunlight, particularly when the sun’s rays are the strongest, between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm. Sit under a tree, an umbrella, or in the shade of a building, or put your baby in her stroller with the canopy over her head.

Put a wide-brimmed hat on your little one whenever you’re out in the sun. Your baby will get used to wearing a hat if you start when she is little. If your baby is older and resists keeping a hat on, you’ll need to use your powers of persuasion and distraction to keep the hat where it belongs.

Professionals often recommend dressing your baby in a long-sleeved shirt and long pants; these can be lightweight as long as the material is tightly woven. You can determine how much sun will come through clothes by holding them up to a bright light. The tighter the weave, the less light ¾ and sunlight ¾ that will come through the fabric. This can be tricky because she may get warmer dressed like this, so pay attention to how your baby feels and looks, and if you put her in shorts be extra vigilant about the time she spends in the sun.

Consider adding sunglasses with UV protection to your baby’s summer wardrobe.

What about sunscreen?
In general, avoid using sunscreen on a baby younger than six months old. There are exceptions, however, and you should defer to common sense. For example, if you want to let your baby explore the beach, but hot weather prevents you from keeping all of her skin covered, it is fine to use a small amount of sunscreen on the areas not covered. (Be careful not to put lotion around her eyes, and keep the lotion away from her hands, since they may end up in her mouth.) Slight exposure to sunscreen is better than damaging, painful exposure to the sun.

With babies older than six months, always use sunscreen when going out into the sun. First, test a patch of sunscreen at home and wait for a few hours, or even overnight, to be sure your baby doesn’t have an allergic reaction to the lotion. Read the label on your sunscreen to determine how often it needs to be reapplied ¾ its effectiveness does wear off.

Choose sunscreen formulated especially for children. Read the label to make sure the lotion protects against both UVA and UVB rays. Sunscreen should have an SPF (Sun Protection Factor) of at least 15 and should be waterproof if your baby is going to be getting wet. If your child is fair skinned, if you are going to be spending a long time outside, or if you just want more sun protection, opt for a much higher SPF. Alternatives to typical sunscreens include non-chemical varieties available in health food and body lotion stores, and zinc oxide (good for the face and shoulders).

More sun facts
Keep in mind that sand, water, concrete, and snow all reflect the sun’s rays, making them even more potent. And don’t forget that the sun’s ultraviolet rays are almost as strong on a cloudy day as on a sunny one.

You’ll also want to keep on eye on your baby to make sure she doesn’t develop heat exhaustion. You can protect her by keeping her in shady areas, and having her stay well hydrated.

What if my baby does get sunburn?
Even with the best planning, sometimes we get caught off-guard. If you notice that your baby has become bright pink or red from the sun, here’s what to do: