My twin five year old girls started camp this week. It's 8:30am - 3:30pm Monday - Thursday and 8:30am - 5pm on Friday. My kids are used to going to a very active preschool from 8:30 - 3 daily so the schedule isn't anything new. But they have been EXHAUSTED the past four days when I picked them up. I can't even imagine how tired they're going to be this evening when I pick them up after a full day field trip to a local lake for swimming and hiking.
It's probably a combination of being outside more and being more active... but I wasn't expecting my kids to fall asleep at 6:30pm every night! Have all of your kids been super tired when they started camp? Did they get used to the activity level and get a bit less tired after the first week?
Yes. Even my 9 year old! She'll come to me in the evening and say "Grandma, is it bed time?" My answer, no matter what time it is is "Yes"
my 24yo niece who just moved to Albuquerque last month is working at a summer camp. She's been a camp counselor/director for years now..... & is shocked at how exhausted she's been each night! It really took her by surprise.....
She enjoys her job, but is greatly anticipating the start of the school year!
Yeah.
Camps TRY to wear kids out. Preschools and schools try to pace (because you can't learn when falling asleep). Different modes of operation!
My mum used to live when I was in summer daycamp because it was the only time I SLEPT!
Homeschooling my ADHD kiddo I operated on the same principle.
Fair warning: if this is a summer long camp... Their stamina will increase.
What you are seeing is the difference between the video game generation and their grandparents' generation.
Your summer camp kids are getting about the same exercise at summer camp as their grandparend did in every day play/life. So they are all tired out by the time the day is over. That's why this country has an obesity problem they didn't have 50 years ago. 50+ years ago "fun" involved getting up and going outside and running and playing. Now they only exercise their fingers and wrists playing X-box games.
If you put them on a scales you will probably see weight loss from the beginning of summer to the end of summer camp.
I hope your kids have lots of fun. Good luck to you and years.
Yes! My 5 yo has been absolutely exhausted. He falls asleep sometimes in the car before I can get home. I am also having a terrible time getting him out of bed in the morning. I have pushed back his bed time a bit, but it doesn't seem to matter.
I am interested to hear the other experiences.
Hi E....Some thoughts:
1. New social situations can be tiring for little people and big people alike!
2. the heat :)
3. Lots of outdoor activities can be tiring.
4. Going to sleep early is actually not a bad thing. The best sleep for kids is to go to sleep between 6-8....(according to Dr. Marc Weissbluth and others....)....
hope this helps.
jilly
My son is the same way. Since school got out June 1st it has been non stop activity, noise and dirt around here. He is falling asleep faster this summer than when he was in school! imo it gets worse as summer progresses...around here it gets noisier, dirtier, louder, sandier, and stickier. All the wondefulness that comes with having kids out of school :)
Oh Yes, my 8yr goes to a summer camp from 9-4 Mon-Fri plus he plays baseball 5 days a week (3 days of practice and 2 games a week). So, by the time we get home in the evening, he is more than ready to go to bed.
But he did the same last Summer and about a month or so into it, his body adjusted to the schedule. So, enjoy it while you can.
