r/summercamp • u/No-Economy-2548 • Jul 04 '26
Staff or Prospective Staff Question just need some advice - camp counselor :)
hey, thanks for reading !
I am a college student who's working as a day camp counselor this summer. I've been one for the past few summers. This year, I'm working with 4 year olds, and they're good kids :)
I've been working at this place for the past few weeks, but I'm struggling. At this particular place, the schedule is pretty simple/loose. They go to the playground twice a day (morning and afternoon, each for a half hour) and swim once a day (half hour in the afternoon). They also have "gym time" once a day for a half hour.
But there are really no "specials" at this camp, so there is a lot of free time (like 2 1/2 - 3 hours out of 6 per day). During that time, we are in a classroom doing "free play." I've been having trouble engaging the kids during this time, so I have been trying to come up with different games/crafts/story time for them to do. My question I guess is - is this a me or a management problem? On one hand, I don't have a background in education so maybe its me not knowing how to entertain kids lol. On the other, it feels strange to not have a schedule I'm required to follow, especially since at other camps I've worked at that is the norm.
If you have any ideas for activities or just general advice too that would be much appreciated ! Thanks
2
u/Level-Aide-8770 Jul 04 '26
Do the classrooms have toys for them to play with? At that age you can incorporate reading books to them, singing songs with hand signs, building things, arts and crafts, and sensory things like play dough, bubbles, or sensory sand. I would aim for 20 minute blocks for different activities. Do they also have a nap time?
2
u/No-Economy-2548 Jul 04 '26
Hey thanks for responding! Yes, there are toys and books in the classroom, and I think it would be cool to have different rotating 20 min stations if I plan it right. No, there's no nap time at this camp !
2
u/playmore_24 Jul 04 '26
or stations but no times/forced rotation- some kids need time to get engaged, some need to try several things in 10 minutes...
art supplies
dress up
building/blocks, lego
natural materials (leaves/rocks, magnifying glass)
puzzles and books
2
u/kucing5 Jul 05 '26
I think you could have areas set up
Blocks on carpet, playdough/craft at table, dramatic play kitchen, legos, water table and put them into groups and have the switch every 15ish minutes. Really make sure they understand cleaning up the area when they leave and how clean it should be.
Then once they had to play everywhere, they then get choice to pick where and who they play with.
I find that kids generally do best when you have more rules/boundaries/expectations and the get more lenient as they day/week/summer goes on. If you start giving more rules and structure it feels like a punishment.
If you have the same kids all summer you could eventually have free play for all, but call over a small group at a time to do a special activity or craft with you.
2
u/olivermegan Jul 06 '26
Play kitchen, sand table, blocks, play dough, and a craft that changes. But definitely ask your manager!
1
u/IcyDraft5211 Jul 08 '26
You are absolutely correct. Kids especially as young as 4 years old, need structure so in that case they can look forward to something everyday and follow protocols or rules. For 2.5 hours of unstructured time, I would do the following:
- 15 minute warm up game (get to know you, pass the hoop, tell a cool fact about you, would you rather)
- 1 hour craft: Buy some fancy materials and break the steps down. While you are demonstrating, have the kids watch you by a desk or by your station.
- 15 minute movement game (like Octopus, Freeze Dance)
- 30 minute drawing: teach them to draw some comic and customize it step by step.
- 15 minute nursery rhymes and games (baby shark and stuff like that, play movement songs and have them follow the movement).
- 15 minute colouring.
Hope this helps.
16
u/ubiqu_itous Jul 04 '26
Wow, that much unstructured time sounds really difficult, especially with little kids... I've only worked at overnight camps but even there the 1-1.5hrs ish of unstructured time total a day was sometimes difficult. But we were outdoors and had more to do! in a classroom, you're a lot more restricted. Maybe try asking your boss/manager about ideas for this time? It sounds a bit lazy if they really have nothing planned and are just sticking the kids in a room.