I love art camps; I’ve been to many of them and I’ve helped to run art camps. But these camps can get expensive and often parents feel torn between the cost of camp and all the other things that cost money during the summer. So here are ten things to consider before enrolling your child in an art camp.
1) Art camp is not a “cost effective” way to learn how to do something you want your child to do once, then stop. Art camp is for people who want their child to keep doing this thing for years.
2) Art camp is an opportunity for your child to make new friends who share similar interests, even if this means your child will have fewer play dates at home (for a time).
3) The best camps don’t just provide content but also help kids learn how to work and problem solve toward creative goals.
4) Some of the most important skills that kids develop at art camp are resilience and persistence, or grit, as some would say. This can be a huge life skill for children today—compared to when we were kids and our parents told us “You’re smart, you’ll figure it out.” Now in school if you ask a question, the teacher says “Google it.” Kids
Hello! My name is Preeti. I am a studio artist and educator.
I know that art camp can be an exciting and enriching experience for children. I have taken art classes over the years and have also taught in art camps.
Summer camps are not just about the arts. They are often about a whole range of activities that include adventure, sports and other fun activities such as canoeing, swimming, archery or kayaking.
As parents, it is important to consider your child’s interest, aptitude and ability level before deciding on an art camp or any camp for that matter. There are many camps available out there – some in person and some online – but not all camps are created equal. Some may focus on one area while others may cover a wider range of subjects that include painting, drawing, sculpture, printmaking, animation, gaming etc. While most camps offer workshops with expert instructors, not all do so at the same level and quality.
Here are 10 key things to consider before signing up your child for a summer art camp: –
Art Camps: An investment you make for your child could turn out to be more valuable than you imagined!
Art camp is a great way to get a child interested in art. But they are also expensive, so you’ll want to be sure it’s worth it. Here are some things to consider before sending your child off to art camp.
If your child has never taken an art class before, art camp might be too much, too soon. Art camp is usually around two weeks long, which means that your child will be learning a lot of new skills and techniques. That’s a lot of information for a young artist to process! So if he or she isn’t already familiar with basic techniques like how to draw and paint, then art camp can be overwhelming.
How does your family feel about spending money on art classes? If you have money set aside specifically for your child’s education and extracurricular activities, then art camp is probably fine. But if you don’t have extra cash set aside for non-essentials, then it might not be a good idea.
If your child has special needs or learning disabilities, then it’s especially important that he or she take an art class at school instead of going to art camp. School teachers are trained in working with children who have special circumstances – they are familiar with the legal requirements for providing appropriate accommodations and modifications
Here are some questions to ask yourself when deciding whether or not your child should take an art camp this summer:
Are they driven and self-motivated?
Do they have a passion for art?
Do they require little supervision and structure?
Do they take on challenges and stick with them until the end.
Do they have a strong work ethic?
Do they accept constructive criticism?
Do they have a sense of humor about themselves and their work?
Do they work well with others in a group setting?
Can they handle frustration without becoming discouraged or angry?
Are they open to trying new mediums or techniques?
Are they comfortable communicating with others verbally and non-verbally?**
I often hear from parents that they want their child to get into an art camp when school is out. The question of whether that’s a good idea or not can get pretty complex.
So, here are ten things to consider first:
1. Don’t just sign your child up for an art camp because your friend did and it sounded fun, or because your neighbor’s kid is great at drawing/painting/sculpture/pottery/etc.
2. Ask yourself a few questions before you decide to enroll your child in an arts program: Do I want my child to learn how to draw/paint/sculpt? Do I want my child to learn how to make art? Do I think the art program is worth the money? What do I expect will come out of this experience? Is there anything else I would rather my child be doing with his / her time during summer break? Does my child have any interest in learning how to make art? He might surprise you if he says no!
Do you want your child to learn how to draw, paint or sculpt better than he or she already does? If so, then yes, sign him up for a class.
If you don’t care about the quality of his artwork and
Summer art camp can be a wonderful experience for the right child. But it’s important to consider whether or not your child is ready for this experience.
For some, summer camp is a time to learn new skills and try new things. For others, it’s a time to refine an existing skill or pursue an interest that may not have been possible during the school year. Summer camp gives children the opportunity to try something new, as well as make friends with peers who share their interests.
If your child has just finished a school year in which he struggled with subjects like math or reading, you may want to wait until next year before sending him to summer camp. In addition, if your child’s primary area of difficulty was in retaining information and he struggles with memorization and retention, you may want to wait until next year before sending him to summer camp. Also, if your child had significant gaps in his education last year, such as missing more than 10 days of school due to illness or absences for family vacations, you may want to wait until next year before sending him to summer camp.
1. getting to know other artists
Getting to know other artists is a rare opportunity. The diverse backgrounds, experiences and interests of your fellow campers will provide a unique setting for sharing ideas and practicing new techniques. You’ll also find out what inspires them and what motivates them to work. These are valuable tools for you to use as you develop your own art practice.