5 mistakes parents make when choosing a camp

School's out in a few weeks and many kids will be heading off to summer camp. Still looking for the right one for your child? If so, you may want to avoid these common mistakes many parents make when choosing a summer camp, according to the American Camp Association, NY and NJ. Take a look:

Choosing a camp because your friend’s child goes there. "Keep in mind that each child is different and a great camp for one child may not be the right fit for another," said Renee Flax, camper placement specialist at the American Camp Association. "Parents should do their own camp research. Families want to make sure a camp’s philosophy compliments their parenting style." While some parents are looking for a camp that develops self-esteem through team sports and healthy rivalry, others may be looking for cooperative learning and noncompetitive activities. "Remember to involve your child in the search," she said. "The more involved a child is in the process of choosing a camp, the more successful the experience will be."

Sending your child to sleepaway camp too early. If you are considering sleepaway camp, make sure your child is interested in going to overnight camp and has also had successful overnights at a friend’s house, said Flax. "Children should also be able to do certain things like shower, brush their teeth and get dressed independently. Keep in mind that some children may not want to be away for a long period of time and that some children are happy to continue going to day camp."

Sending your child to camp with a friend. "While children (and parents) may feel more comfortable going to camp with a friend, it isn’t always a good idea," she said. "When you send your child to camp with a friend, your child will feel they have that friend to count on and might not be as outgoing in making new friends. One of the friends may also get closer to another camper and the child he or she came with could feel left out. You also might run the risk of the children not being as close when they return home after the summer."

Not seeing the camp before registering. Visiting a camp’s website is a good starting point for researching a camp, but it doesn’t replace seeing the camp in person, suggested Flax. "Touring the camp, especially the summer before when children are there, allows families to get a real feel for the camp," she said. "Going to the camp also gives families a chance to get to know the camp director. Families want to make sure they click with the camp director and feel comfortable leaving their child in his or her care."

Picking a camp that doesn’t have outside review. "When choosing a summer camp, parents want to make sure they take an active role in determining that the camp they are sending their child to is fully committed to providing a summer of fun and growth in a well-supervised and safe camp environment," said Flax. "Make sure the camp you choose is inspected each summer by the Department of Health and ask whether the camp is ACA accredited. Beyond a state’s basic licensing requirements, ACA standards address specific areas of programming, personnel, health care, emergency response, management practices and youth development."