Kids & Camp | Central Jersey | Feb 2024

Kids & Camp

5 Ways to Plan for a Healthy Summer Camp Experience

As you research and plan for summer camp, prioritize your child’s health with these tips by Advocare The Pediatric Group in Princeton, NJ:

1. Immunizations: Ensure your child is up-to-date on vaccinations recommended for their age to prevent the spread of diseases.

2. Health check: Schedule a pre-camp check-up with their pediatrician to address any chronic health concerns and ensure they are fit for camp activities.

3. Allergy awareness: Inform camp staff of any allergies your child has and provide necessary medications or instructions for their management.

4. Hydration and sun protection: Pack sunscreen, hats, and refillable water bottles to keep your child protected from UV rays and hydrated during outdoor activities.

5. Emergency preparedness: Provide camp staff with emergency contact information and discuss any medical conditions or special needs your child may have.

Advocare The Pediatric Group is a fullservice pediatric office in Princeton, New Jersey. Established in 1955, The Pediatric

Group has been serving the Princeton Area and surrounding communities for nearly seventy years. The practice cares for patients from birth to college graduation and is accepting new patients.

Our main philosophy shared by the five practitioners is to be available to our patients as they navigate the challenges of childhood and young adulthood. We have office hours seven days a week and a doctor’s call-in hour

for questions seven days a week between eight and nine AM. We perform routine well exams, see patients when they are ill, and manage a host of behavioral problems including anxiety, depression, ADHD, and concussion.

The practice is happy to welcome its newest practitioner, Dr. Joshua Kanji. Dr. Kanji studied at Fordham University, before seeking a medical degree at St. George’s Univer-

sity. He completed his pediatric internship and residency at Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse, New York.

You can contact Dr. Kanji or any of the practitioners at Advocare The Pediatric Group by phone at 609-924-4892, by fax at 877-409-2156, or by email at thepediatricgroup@advocaredoctors.com. For more information, check out our website at www. advocarepedgroup.com.

Enroll Now for Summer Camp at Apple Montessori Schools!

For more than 50 years, Apple Montessori summer camps have offered the perfect blend of fun and learning. Our nurturing camp staff provides educational, action-packed, funfilled activities that ensure children continue to advance and avoid summer learning loss while building new friendships and creating joyful memories.

Camp activities are designed to build each child’s confidence and independence and facilitate a smooth transition into the fall.

Campers enjoy coding, robotics, music, drama, art, sports, daily Montessori lessons, special events, field trips and much more! Most locations offer daily on-site swim lessons with Red Cross-certified instructors. Campers also have access to our certified outdoor classroom to connect children to nature while they learn.

This summer, Apple will be celebrating some of our country’s greatest landmarks and exploring a new location each week as part of the 2024 theme: Roadtrip USA. Campers as

young as 2 ½ will go sightseeing in Washington, D.C., chase dreams in Utah, find magic in Florida, and more.

Apple Montessori has 18 schools throughout New Jersey, including newly opened locations in East Windsor & Hillsborough. Visit applemontessorischools.com/programs/summer-camp to learn more about our summer camp & schedule a tour.

We hope you’ll join us for a summer to remember!

Surprising Benefits Writing by Hand

by Linda Lanza

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Writing is part imagination and part rules of the road. Every writing system uses a series of basic language elements to express ideas and facilitate communication.

No matter what field you work in, professional recruiter Nick Corcodilos says. “The way you use language reveals who you are, how you think, and how you work. And that will affect your career profoundly.”

Virginia Berninger, professor of educational psychology at University of Washington, cites evidence that “handwriting engages the mind, and that can help children pay attention to written language.”

Dr. Berninger notes that writing by hand activates motor parts of our brain, “but what’s very critical is the activation of a region of our brain, the fusiform gyrus, where the visual and language come together.”

A study led by Karin James, professor of

psychological and brain sciences at Indiana University, found that when kids practice handwriting, they activate their brain’s reading circuit.

Additional peer-reviewed research published in Frontiers in Psychology in July 2020 highlights the cognitive benefits of this sensory-motor integration, combined with the fine and precisely controlled hand movements when writing by hand.

The report concludes that “it is vital to maintain both activities in a learning environment to facilitate and optimize learning.”

The evidence is clear that writing by hand, has a “really significant effect on our cognition,” which can impact our livelihood. Besides all that, it’s personal, creative, and fun!

Linda Lanza is a local writer and expressive arts specialist. Find information about her private English lessons to help your child do their best work in school, at https://www.inkwings.com/services/privatetutor/

Kids Discover Their Potential at Summer Camp

By Andy Pritikin

Life is hard. We know this, and yet so many children grow up sheltered from hardships, as their well-meaning parents unknowingly hold them back. In Adam Grant’s book, “Hidden Potential,” (2023) he lays out the importance of children working through tough situations, to build the character skills needed to be a successful adult.

Grant explains, “Character is often confused with personality, but personality is your basic instincts for how to think, feel, and act.”

It’s more than having principles. Character is the learned ability to live by your principles.

While I’m not advocating suffering, children do need to experience and learn from the inevitable challenges they encounter, in order to strengthen their inner-resilience. “Successful people of character are able to overcome life’s hurdles because they learn how to get comfortable being uncomfortable.”

Starting something new – Summer Camp, college, or a new job, can be an impactful challenge. Of course, kids would rather sit home and stare at their screens! But we know better, and it’s our job to teach kids to push beyond their perceived limits and cultivate the confidence and courage to abandon their comfort zone.

Facing fears, and confronting discomfort are skills that if not strengthened in childhood, may never be gained as an adult.

In the alarming new book about A.I., “The Coming Wave,” (2023,) author Mustafa Suleyman explains how during times of exponential technological growth, “those that survive are the ones best able to adapt.”

Like it or not, technology is replacing everything it possibly can, making interpersonal HUMAN skills the priority for future generations.

Yes, Summer Camp is a lot of fun, but equally as important, are learning and honing character skills like meeting new people, trying new things, speaking up, and asking questions. Toss in some extreme heat, and the opportunity to experience life without digital screens, and Summer Camp can prove to be a seriously impactful, building block of experiences.

Andy Pritikin is the owner/director of Liberty Lake Day Camp in Bordentown NJ, past president of the American Camp Association NY/NJ, and host of “The Day Camp Podcast.”

YMCA Camp Mason Princeton Ballet School: Nurturing Dancers of All Ages

At YMCA Camp Mason our camp experience is transformative, helping build the skills and values kids need to grow and thrive. For nearly 125 years, we have welcomed campers to be a part of our caring, diverse, inclusive community. We strive for excellence, relevance and innovation and believe that every child deserves the opportunity to discover who they are and what they can achieve. Our proven programs and caring, trained counselors engage and encourage young people and deliver meaningful and memorable experiences year after year.

We could go on and on about the benefits of YMCA Camp Mason, but our campers say it best!

“I made so many new friends and now I know I can do anything!” – 14 year old

Our schedule allows campers to try new things and improve their skills while developing confidence, gaining a sense of independence, having fun and making lifelong friends.

“I come to camp for all of the great activities.” – 13 year old

We offer archery, swimming in our Olympic size outdoor heated pool, boating, arts and crafts, drama, music, a climbing tower, zipline,

dance, digital photography and movie making, basketball and court sports, a skate boarding park, mountain biking, hiking, aerial silks and countless other activities. Campers can even sign up for FREE off-site trips to explore the fantastic natural surroundings of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, less than 10 minutes from our camp. There is something for everyone!

“At camp I can be myself.” – 9 year old

98% of parents report that their child felt a sense of belonging at camp, and 93% indicated their child’s self-image improved. We connect youth with positive role models who teach and live our values of caring, honesty, respect, responsibility, integrity and inclusion.

Join us at YMCA Camp Mason for the BEST SUMMER EVER! If you are ready for your child to thrive, build a positive sense of self, grow in empathy and caring and experience a sense of discovery, then please take a moment to take a look at our website at www. campmason.org, call 908-362-8217 or email shani@campmason.org for more information or to register.

Princeton Ballet School, the official school of American Repertory Ballet, nurtures dancers of all ages, providing them opportunity to develop their technique and artistry in a rewarding environment. Enroll today! Summer programs begin June 24.

The Princeton Ballet School Summer Intensive (ages 13 and up) attracts students from all over the globe to study with distinguished and inspiring faculty. Princeton Ballet School holds auditions throughout the United States and accepts video auditions from national and international students for the advanced program.

Students in the Advanced Intensive are also considered for the school’s year-round Trainee program, the direct feeder into American Repertory Ballet’s second company, ARB2, which is also ideal for post–high-school students looking to launch their professional careers. As an educational institution certified to provide F-1 visas, Princeton Ballet School has the ability to accept international students from nearly any-

where in the world for its Summer intensive, Trainee program, and ARB2.

The Summer Intensive Intermediates program, for ages 11 and up, is modeled after Princeton Ballet School’s acclaimed Advanced Summer Intensive and offers the same personalized ballet training, alongside jazz and new choreography.

The Summer Intensive Juniors program is for children ages 9-11,with a focus on musicality, basic technique; building strength and flexibility; increasing coordination; and dynamics of movement — all while having fun with friends!

Princeton Ballet School also offers fun and rewarding Children’s Summer Courses, beginning with Hand-in-Hand classes for 3-year olds to explore the world of rhythm and dance. All levels of classes for children ages 4-12 are offered throughout the Summer, no previous dance experience required!

For more information, please call 609-9217758 or visit arballet.org.

SummerQuest 2024 @ Princeton Montessori School

SummerQuest at Princeton Montessori School is an exciting summer camp experience designed to provide children, Toddlers

through age 6, with an enriching summer - full of discovery, creativity, and abundant fun both indoors and out. Our Toddler and

Princeton Day School Summer Programs

PDS Summer Programs offers seven weeks of academic, athletic and enrichment programming on the school’s 106-acre campus. Built-in scheduling flexibility allows parents to create half day or full day options that will be memorable experiences for campers. Camp facilities utilize our entire campus

including our STEAM Centers and classrooms, state of the art athletic facilities, our organic garden and one of a kind ropes course. Campers from all local schools are welcome to attend!

For more information visit pds.org/summer or email summerprograms@pds.org.

Primary programs offer age-appropriate fun in a safe and caring environment.

Sessions begin June 20th and run through August 15th. Full-Day and PartDay options are available. Care options are available from 7:30 AM through 6:00 PM. Early Bird Savings! Register for full summer by April 15 to save 5%. (Savings applied to program session fees).

Toddlers - 18 months through 3 years

Each day features engaging activities for toddlers led by Princeton Montessori School’s experienced American Montessori Society (AMS) certified teachers who are developmental specialists. Whether enjoying the beautifully designed, light-filled classrooms, singing, playing in the sandbox, or hearing a story, it’s all summer fun!

• Fun in the sun! Abundant outdoor play time and splash activities.

•  Appreciation of the outdoors with frequent nature walks to pick flowers and caring for the garden.

• Consistent and familiar daily schedule.

• Lunch program available for an additional fee. Hot meals are prepared daily.

Primary - 3 to 6 years

This summer, let your child’s creativity be inspired with opportunities for fun! Your child is sure to enjoy the day with exciting daily activities that include art, music, science, cooking, and nature as well as guest visits. Ample time outdoors will be combined with daily activities in our beautiful air-conditioned classrooms. Fitness activities, outdoor games, and water play days are all part of the experience. Sessions are led by Princeton Montessori School’s Early Childhood teachers who are American Montessori Society (AMS) certified. Full-day children participate in swimming lessons once a week at Princeton Fitness & Wellness Center. Allow your child to be inspired this year with a summer they will remember forever!

Lunch Programs are available for an additional fee. Option to sign up for daily delivery from Catering Solutions and/or Wednesday pizza lunches.

See our website for program-specific schedules. http://princetonmontessori.org/ summerquest/