Search

Categories

Word Count


Issue

June 2023

Categories


Create a DIY summer camp in your backyard


(NC) Summer camp is sometimes thought of as a rite of passage. It’s a time and place to make lifelong memories, have oodles of fun and develop independence, confidence and new skills. But don’t sweat if your kids aren’t attending this year - there are plenty of easy and affordable ways to create their very own summer camp experience at home.

Pick a theme
Choosing a theme is great way to get kids excited and it can join separate activities together into a cohesive camp experience – plus it just makes everything a lot more fun. Space camp, magicians, an enchanted forest, under the sea, a pirate ship, theatre camp or your very own Olympic games. Choose a theme your kids will be excited about.

Select activities to develop skills
Once you have a theme in place, pick some activities. Look to inspire fun, encourage play and expand their growth and development. This doesn’t have to be costly or complicated.

There are tons of online resources and tutorials that have easy instructions and printouts for activities that work on developing social, physical and behaviour skills. These are fun events that also secretly help kids practice things like hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills and balance.

Choose games to grow
Host your own Olympics with games such as obstacle courses, hopscotch or throwing a ball to develop balance, coordination and body awareness. Train your child’s brain with a backyard laboratory for science experiments such as a sandbox volcano, water balloon parachutes or solar oven s’mores.

If your little ones are dealing with a learning disability, physical challenges or other health and wellbeing challenges, a health professional can assist with developing activities that are fun, accessible and engaging and developmentally appropriate.

Find more information about working with occupational therapists and how to verify their registration, through the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario at coto.org/ot.

 

 

Attention Editors: This content is reserved for distribution in Ontario only. 

 


Media Attachments Related Posts Terms of Use

All News Canada content is provided free of charge. Any source/sponsor of the information must also be identified as presented. For articles, credit of usage must be attributed to News Canada with "(NC)" at the beginning of an article or "www.newscanada.com" or "– News Canada" at the end. Images are only to be used with corresponding editorial copy. Usage of News Canada content constitutes your acceptance of these terms and an agreement between you and News Canada.

Disclaimer: Comments and opinions in News Canada content are those of their respective contributors only. The views expressed do not necessarily represent the views of News Canada Inc., its management or employees. News Canada Inc. is not responsible, and disclaims any and all liability, for the content of comments provided by contributors.