I would love to get opinions from moms and dads.?

Question

I have been thinking about starting a day camp for 3-5 year olds, as like a preschool/kindergarten prep. It will be a one week camp, and more than likely held at a park (a park with a large pavillion in case of rain and bathrooms) if I can get a city permit. The only thing is, I am only 17, so I don't know if parents would trust me enough to have the camp. I do have CPR certification, including infant CPR, basic first aid training, and also 5+ years of childcare experience. I would be doing this camp with at LEAST 3 other people helping me, and would hopefully have 10-15 campers. The other people that would be helping me would be one other teenager (with 4+ years experience) and 2 junior counselors with younger siblings, to be extra sets of eyes and hands. I also might have another teenager help. I am hoping to hear from some parents with children in this age bracket. If you want more information to give me your thoughts, feel free to email me!

Thank you very much,

Danielle

Answer 1

Nope sorry. Would not send my 3,4 or 5 year old and leave them outside at a park all day(not even a few hours) with teen aged kids. I mean if i wanted them at a park i would take them myself. Which i do. For free. I think you have good intentions to want to start your own little business, but try something that doesn't involve children. My husband use to work at a rec center and was in charge of the day camps. Its really hard work. And they had kid ages 5 Thu 12. I mean there was always someone getting hurt during play time. GOOD LUCK!!!

Answer 2

i say go for it the only thing i think that you need to start small. not with that many kids and remember in a open area one adult to three kids in that age group because you will have potty breaks with them learning how and they can run real fast

Answer 3

No offence, but I woudn't send my kids. I would completely trust you to babysit, but not in a setting like this.

Answer 4

I gave stars to 3mom and also had this to input:

I didn't like the idea of it being in the park the entire time.  If you were able to aquire a building and occasionally visit the park as an outing for about 1 hour that would be different.  As harsh as it may sound, 3mom is right on top of it with the legal aspects of doing a "day camp."  You'd really have to have all those items taken care of and a booklet for each parent outlining all the activities, procedures for accidents, meal times, and displinary actions.  You would also need the parents to fill out registration forms that have personal information on it such as addresses, contact numbers, doctor numbers, medical insurance numbers, and shot records.  Another thing I would want to see as a parent is an adult coordinator that will be on site every day that has been screened through social services for handling children.

Answer 5

like someone else said, no offense... but i wouldn't send my 3 year old son.

you say you'd like to have 10-15 kids at once. do you realize what a task 10-15 three and four year olds would be?  there aren't even that many kids in a normal preschool class. i know at my sons school, there are 9 kids in his class and he has one lead teacher as well as a teachers aide.

ok, you'd have help. but i'd still say it's a huge task.

not to be mean, but maybe you could start a babysitters club instead. see how that works out before you try to start a camp.

i do, respect you for obviously wanting to do good things for children.  kudos!

Answer 6

If you were a stranger to me, I would not send my daughter if I found out your age and lack of experience/education.

Answer 7

yes, you will be fine...show the parents your certificates and the list of persons going with you to help out and their phone/cell number for contacts...

Answer 8

I would trust you more if you were a little older you should just start planning. Work at a few daycares, take a few college classes, go to some seminars.

p.s- CPR certification is a good thing but not a very big deal.

Answer 9

What is your educational training if you are promoting kindergarten prep?  What type of insurance or liability would you have if a child was hurt in your care?  What is the plan in the case of an emergency?  How will you manage if one or more of your assistants was unable to attend on any given day?  Do you have clearances on file to work with children and do all the people who would be involved also have them?  In a public park, what steps would be taken to secure the area from strangers and others who may also have access?   Why are you running the camp, is it to make money?  

Sorry to seem like a downer but I looked at this as if I would send my own daughter and these are the questions that popped into my mind.