Soak Up the FUN at Bay Area Summer Art Camp

by Heidi Doerfert

We know you’re about to stare down a few months of open itinerary to fill  (deep breath) and since a person can only handle so many visits to the trampoline place, Dragonfly Designs would love to help you pull this off! Our weekly Bay Area Summer Art Camps are an artistic adventure, offering similar (if not more) benefits as a traditional camp:

1. Unplug from Technology
2. Express Creativity
3. Boost Confidence 
4. Reduce Stress & Anxiety
5. Meet New Friends
6. Be Adventurous 
7. Gain Independence
8. Learn New Skills
9. Increase Focus
10. Make Lasting Memories.

The added bonus? No bug spray or tent pitching required. Your kids will have so much fun they won’t realize how much they are learning. And, you can feel good about the positive effects that engaging in artistic activities has on a child physically, emotionally, socially, and cognitively. Pablo Picasso once said: “Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” Imagine your kids just being kids – no pressure to perform, the freedom to use their imaginations and express themselves creatively, the self-confidence gained in making something they can take home, and making personal connections with our caring, trained instructors and campmates. According to Romper, children benefit both socially and emotionally from a group setting because they “see everyone working together.” We’ve thoughtfully designed our camp themes to appeal to all interests and include active and friendship-building games to get everyone relaxed and ready to have a blast!

This unusually chilly/rainy winter weather is making us long for the warm rays of California sun! When you think back to when you were a kid on summer vacation, no doubt images of leisurely days, staying up late, splashing in a pool and (blissfully) not lifting a #2 pencil for three months come to mind! A good way to describe the feeling of summer is unscheduled freedom. These days, our kids can be on a pretty tight and hefty schedule. A full day of school followed by sports or extracurricular activities and then an evening of homework is pretty typical. Aside from this, children ages 8 – 15 can spend upwards of SIX to NINE hours looking at screens and devices. Every hour spent scrolling social media or watching tv is an hour not spent getting exercise, engaging in imaginative play, and socializing (in person!) with their family and friends.

A 2018 OnePoll/Groupon survey found 58% of parents are stressed over how to keep their children entertained and occupied over break and worry about too much screen time. Gail Bell of ParentingPower also attributes some of that stress to the fear of children falling behind or not being “busy.” We tend to overschedule because we are afraid of no schedule! So, how can we still enjoy those coveted ‘lazy days of summer’ while obtaining meaningful experiences, connection and creativity? Most experts recommend striking a balance. Go for a combination of downtime, scheduled activity that combines fun and learning, and physical movement/exercise.

There’s no better time than now to give your child an unforgettable camp experience! Dragonfly Designs is celebrating our 18th anniversary this year. Click here to read about our camp programs and to register. We also offer a Sibling Discount!