Creative Discovery Museum Day Camp

We hadn't initially planned on signing Jack up for camp this summer, especially when we looked at the options where we live. There are some amazing day camps but they all seemed to be $300+. Then a friend mentioned that they were sending their 4-year-old to a day camp at The Creative Discovery Museum and it was only $80 for the week. That seemed a lot more reasonable for a young kid.

We have been members of The Creative Discovery Museum for the last three years and I felt good about letting Jack spend some additional time there, plus he would already know one person. So we signed up, arranged to carpool, and off Jack went to his very first day camp.

Jack had a blast during the week. The only negative was really for me, with a pick-up time of noon, day camp really threw off my schedule for the week. But being a parent is at least partially about sacrifice, so I gave up my Y classes for the week (two weeks later I am paying for it, but that is another story).

Each day of camp was based on a different animal's TV show. With corresponding snacks and crafts. I think Jack was familiar with everything except Horton Hears a Who. He had a fantastic time and we would definitely consider signing him up again next year.

Day 1: Peppa Pig

This is an example of their snacks: 

ham, cheese, crackers and raisins to make a pig face

 Jack and his buddy show off their craft: pig snouts.

Day 2: Daniel Tiger

They made slime as a craft. Jack loved the slime he got to bring home. 

It was great fun until he stuck it in his hair...

 Silly tiger face.

Day 3: Pete the Cat

 Getting to check out the corn snake.

 Two little police men.

 Dressing up like a police man was Jack's favorite thing to do at camp.

 Pete the Cat craft.

 Cutting out glasses for his Pete the Cat.

 Making music...

and playing with sand.

 

Day 4: Horton Hears a Who

 Jack says this was elephant toothpaste.

 More time being policemen.

 We can never leave the museum without stopping to make bubbles.

Day 5: The Very Hungry Caterpillar

 Craft time.

 Their snacks were a sampling of food from The Very Hungry Caterpillar book.

Jack's award for the week was "Most Likely to Arrest You."

Overall, camp was a great experience. I can't believe we have a child who is old enough to attend day camp!

Summer 2016

We are a month into our summer vacation and for the most part we are keeping things low key. 

We are spending a significant amount of the time at the Y with friends, while also making an effort to do a fun weekly outing – typically involving getting wet.

We have gone to the lake and visited local pools, and Jack spends almost every evening at our neighborhood playground playing with friends before bedtime.

I am feeling less stressed out about water this summer, probably because Jack is more comfortable in the water and Isaac isn't that interested in it at the moment.

We spend a portion of every day playing at various parks, we have gone for ice cream with friends, and also spent time at the Creative Discovery Museum on days that are extra hot. 

Jack has also been attending his first day camp – and loving it.

I am so grateful to have friends who we are willing to do spontaneous outings or just hang out at the playground with us, even on hot days. 

I'm thankful for the extra hands when I do something dumb like put my baby in pull-up instead of a swim diaper (honest mistake), and the willingness to hold my baby (who is overly tired) so that his big brother can play longer.

I'm also thankful for my friend's kids who are willing to help my kids try new things like tackling a big water slide. 

Jack is getting more confidant in the water this year. We haven't had a chance to do swimming lessons again, but he is willing to stick his whole head under water and no longer minds getting splashed in the face.

Isaac on the other hand does not enjoy water in his face, but did relax enough to lay on his back in the pool while wearing a life jacket. 

We are having a great summer so far and I'm enjoying taking things slow and spending time with my kids – both in and out of the water.

Parenting: Getting Over My Fear of Water

Growing up, I spent a lot of time around water. From swimming in the Pacific Ocean to swimming in pools, lakes and creeks. I taught myself how to swim at a young age and loved every moment.

At some point that love disappeared. Well, that's not entirely true. I still love water, but I hate to be in a swimsuit. Maybe it happened in college when I gained my freshman 15+, but I quit swimming. Daniel and I would take trips to the beach and we would bike, comb the beach or kayak, but we rarely got in the water

Then Jack came along and I felt like a change was needed. It wasn't fair to keep Jack from experiencing the joy of the water just because I don't like to wear swimsuits. 

Another issue is that with kids has come a fear of water that didn't exist before. I read articles about kids drowning or secondary drowning and I want to stay far, far away from water. Then there is the fact that I have fair-skinned kiddos... I think about the sun reflecting off the water and the fear of skin cancer creeps into mind mind and again, I just want to stay far, far away.

But the truth is, being a parent brings its share of fears and I can't let those fears deter me from letting my kids experience life to its fullest. So while last summer we only went to the pool twice, this summer I am determined to take my kids more regularly.

Yesterday our small group from church kicked off the summer with a pool party. Daniel and I have two of the youngest kids in our group. Thankfully Daniel was there to help me juggle Jack and Isaac. He spent the whole time in the pool with Jack and Jack loved it. I got in with Isaac for a bit and he was a bit more ambivalent about the experience.

I got teased for having my kids covered in long-sleeve rash guards and hats – not much skin exposed. But to be fair, I had forgotten our sunblock and even though it was after 4pm, I didn't want my kids to get burnt. 

Daniel and I are pretty laid back parents, but pools are one of the few places I am going to have to work on being more relaxed, while also being super watchful.

Here's to a safe summer spent with more time in the water.