7 Key Skills Your Child Develops in Holiday Camps

When school is on a break, it is a popular choice among many families to hit the road or board a plane for a vacation. Parents are seeking new ways not only to keep their children entertained, but also to pick up a new interest or pursue a passion while school is out.

Enrolling your child in a holiday camp is a great way to keep them engaged throughout the holiday. A holiday camp can offer a variety of engaging and exciting programmes that will not only keep children out of boredom but also help them continue their learning journey in a fun way.

Best of all, your child does not need to spend the entire holiday at the camp and miss out on important events with the rest of the family. A holiday camp packs all of the excitement and learning of a traditional summer camp into a one-week experience. 

Here are seven key skills your child can develop by joining a holiday camp:

1. Attentional skills 

One of the main advantages of a summer camp is that your child won’t become overly dependent on technology for engagement and enjoyment. 

In today’s technologically advanced world, it might be difficult to keep your child away from their smartphone, tablet, or computer, especially if both parents are working. While there are studies on how screen time impacts children’s imagination, socialisation and communication abilities, it has not yet been demonstrated that it shortens children’s attention spans.

It does, however, pay to have your child involved and enthusiastic about a hobby that will undoubtedly benefit them in the future. 

Any programme you select for your child at a holiday camp is developed to keep them involved and focused on the activities as well as on interacting with other kids. These programmes also encourage them to use their imagination,  get creative and think outside the box when it comes to completing specific tasks, milestones or projects.

2. Socialisation skills

Nothing replaces real-time interaction (and learning together) with peers who share the same interests. 

Friendships and relationships are essential to a child’s growth. Children are encouraged to interact with others and form friendships during a summer camp. 

Children have more chances to form these friendships since they spend more time together engaging in different activities at a holiday camp, which makes them deeper and more enduring.

Additionally, they will establish stronger connections at home and in the community, and they will exude more confidence in how they carry themselves in front of their coaches and peers.

Enrolling your child in a holiday camp also broadens their social network and perspective on the world. Your child will interact with other children of all kinds of backgrounds and interests at a summer camp.

They will also have a great opportunity to converse and build positive relationships with their camp coaches, who serve as positive adult role models and provide support to every child during the day to ensure they are safe, comfortable and motivated.

3. Critical thinking skills

Critical thinking is one of the essential life skills needed in life. As your child grows older and gets more involved in their communities, critical thinking becomes very important in navigating every aspect of their lives. 

Children need to develop their analytic, reflecting, problem-solving and evaluating skills to tackle relationships, friendships and complex problems of the future.

What better way to continue learning critical skills outside of the classroom than in a holiday camp? 

At a holiday camp, children are given plenty of opportunities to hone their critical thinking skills through structured programmes that are delivered in partnership with experienced and caring instructors, including creating projects that satisfy their curiosities. 

4. Play skills

During the school year, all students adhere to a regimented learning schedule, which can be boring even if they choose to participate in extracurricular activities like sports, drama or music. However, in a summer camp, the schedule is more relaxed, allowing more time for free play and casual interaction with others.

Why is free play crucial to a child? How does it differ from structured play? Free play refers to letting kids play in whatever they like in a secure setting. 

Children can select their playthings, areas of interest and even the storyline during free play. They can also roam about and develop their gross and fine motor abilities.

5. Physical skills

Even if your child isn’t into sports, a holiday camp provides them with plenty of chances to go outside, enjoy themselves, and socialise with other kids away from home. 

A holiday camp provides opportunities outside of the normal school programme to allow children to explore the outdoors and take part in enjoyable sports that can improve physical fitness. 

Whether you put your child in a creative or tech programme, many camp activities include games that integrate physical activities, taking inspiration from sports, dancing and functional movements.

6. Team-building skills

Teamwork makes the dream work. The ability to collaborate with others is a valuable life skill your child can learn at a holiday camp. 

At the camp, children can learn that working in teams is the most effective approach to completing tasks. 

They will also learn to value this skill as a solution, rather than completing tasks independently, through purposeful team-building exercises. 

It can be as easy as participating in games, group projects where each person’s talent can influence the outcome, or having debates or discussions about a topic of interest. 

Team-building activities can help improve their emotional intelligence, communication and leadership abilities. Additionally, teamwork fosters a desire to get involved in the community.

7. Resilience skills

Your child needs to develop the skills they’ll need to deal with daily challenges at school, at home, or even on the playground in these unpredictable times. 

Children can learn how to overcome obstacles, deal with challenging circumstances, speak up for what is right, and manage their emotions in a holiday camp.

Learning new hobbies at a holiday camp can provide your child with positive outlets to help them cope with life struggles. They can also learn the value of effort and how determination and patience can help them achieve their goals. 

The relationships children forge at a holiday camp with other peers help them understand the importance of a strong support system to overcome obstacles.

Building Skills and Memories that can Last Forever

A holiday camp offers a fun, comfortable and safe atmosphere where children can learn the skills they’ll need in the future. Additionally, they will create priceless memories and build new friendships that can last forever.

XCL Camps offers a variety of fun and engaging programmes to continue your child’s educational journey. 

Because every child is unique, you can choose from an exciting collection of camps that will challenge and engage your child as an athlete, an artist, a scholar, a techie, or an all-rounder. Here are some of our popular camps :

• Star Chef Academy Mentored by Michelin-star restaurant chefs, your child will have a unique opportunity to learn how to cook simple and delicious meals from scratch!

• Is your child made for the small or big screen or dreams to be a social media superstar? Stage Drama is an engaging performance camp that can help your child build confidence, develop public speaking skills and boost self-esteem.

• Our XSports – Football programme is conducted by Coerver® Coaching, a global football coaching programme recognised as the World’s Number One in teaching football skills.

• Our XSports – Basketball programme will be conducted by Proform Basketball Academy coaches led by Head Coach Noel Pollock, who played professionally in the top division of the English Basketball League. 

Your child will have the opportunity to learn fundamentals such as dribbling, shooting, passing, teamwork, general fitness, introduction to game play, and for advanced learners, some game tactics.

• More than just an online gaming camp, our ESports programme focuses on building soft skills such as teamwork, communication, and leadership skills through popular games such as Pokemon Unite and Mobile Legends Bang Bang. It will also help your child to  prepare for real-live tournaments and learn how to conduct as an esports player.

At XCL Camps, our core values are centred around providing the most nurturing experience that will help every child develop their skills during school breaks. If you are looking for a holiday camp in Singapore, visit XCL Camps website to learn more about our exciting and engaging programmes.