For better or worse, NYC private schools want to admit mature students.  From their perspective, who better to admit to kindergarten than students who are already performing at kindergarten level?

So the time to push your three or four year old ahead is now–spring and summer–before he will be under examination when he applies this fall.

In my almost fourteen years as an educational consultant, I notice again and again how much young Manhattan children mature after a summer at suburban day camp.  Something about getting on the bus, running around on a big country campus, playing new sports, making new friends, swimming and being in a completely new environment allows kids to take great developmental leaps.  Children return to school in the fall more mature physically and mentally and most importantly, almost every child I’ve worked with has loved day camp.

At suburban day camp, NYC children learn to socialize with a new group of kids outside of nursery school, and adapt to following the directions of a new group of teachers and counselors.  By the end of their four, six or eight week day camp session, campers have stronger skills and have gained great confidence in themselves and their abilities.  This can translate to an easier time separating from parents at private school interviews and ERB testing.

Over the years, I have looked at a number of day camps and discussed them with many of my kindergarten educational consulting clients.  For the summer of 2012 I am delighted to have partnered with the one that impresses me most.

This Westchester day camp

  • is close to Manhattan
  • offers a special mini-day option, allowing nursery schoolers to go home at 2:30pm rather than the more typical 4pm
  • has a long history and puts safety first
  • has many trained teachers as counselors
  • stretches kids physically, intellectually, and creatively
  • offers ice skating (!) as well as many other incredible activities

To learn more, email me, and I will connect you to the camp’s lovely director for more information and if you’d like, a special tour of camp.  Note nursery school and lower school grades at this Westchester day camp fill quickly, so secure your child’s spot ASAP.