How to Choose the Right Summer Camp for Your Child's Personality
The best camp isn't always the one with the longest waitlist. It's the one your child can't wait to go back to the next day.
Every year, parents face the same question: Which summer camp should I choose?
You open one website after another. There are sports camps, art camps, science camps, cooking camps, theatre camps, coding camps, and outdoor adventure camps. The list seems endless. Every program sounds exciting, and every brochure promises an unforgettable summer.
Then you stop and wonder if your child will actually enjoy it.
That is the question that matters most. Many parents choose a camp because a friend recommended it, because there are still spaces available, or because it looks impressive online. And if I see “lunch included,” I’ll admit it catches my attention. After months of packing school lunches, having someone else handle it for a week feels like a vacation.
Those things can help narrow down your options, but they should not be the biggest factor.
The best camp is not always the most popular one. It is the one that matches your child’s personality.
A child who loves building with LEGO might spend the week watching the clock at a soccer camp. At the same time, a child who wants to run, climb, and play games all day may struggle in a quiet art studio.
There is nothing wrong with either child. They just enjoy different things.
If you are not sure where to start, think about what your child does when nobody tells them what to do. That often gives you the best clue.
The Child Who Likes to Watch Before Joining In
Some children walk into a room full of kids and jump right into the fun. Others hang back for a few minutes.
Maybe your child likes to watch before joining a game. Maybe they have one or two close friends instead of a big group. Maybe they need a little time before they feel comfortable.
That does not mean camp is not for them.
Many quiet children end up loving camp once they settle in. They often enjoy activities where they can focus on a project instead of competing with everyone around them.
Art camps, LEGO camps, cooking camps, science camps, and nature programs are often great choices. These camps usually give children time to work at their own pace while still making new friends.
The Child Who Never Stops Moving
You know the type.
The minute breakfast is over, they are riding their bike, climbing the couch, kicking a soccer ball, or asking if they can go outside. Sitting still for long periods feels impossible. If there is a puddle, a hill, or something to climb, they have already found it.
My almost 9-year-old daughter is one of these kids. She is up by 6:30 a.m. almost every day, even on weekends. By 7:30, she is asking what we’re doing, where we’re going, and why we’re still drinking our coffee. Sleeping in isn’t part of her plans.
These children usually come home happiest after a day filled with movement. They love being active, trying new challenges, and having something different to do every hour.
Sports camps, bike camps, gymnastics, outdoor adventure camps, and multi-sport programs are often a great fit. Instead of asking them to sit through long activities, these camps let them burn off the energy they already seem to have an endless supply of. And as a bonus, they might actually be tired by bedtime... at least that’s the dream.
The Creative Child
Some children always seems to have a marker, a paintbrush, or a roll of tape in their hand.
They draw birthday cards without being asked. They turn empty cardboard boxes into forts, spaceships, or pet homes. If you’ve ever gone looking for your good scissors only to find them covered in dried glue hidden somewhere, you probably have one of these kids. I know I do. Our scissors seem to disappear on a weekly basis.
My kid is one of them. One Saturday morning she told me she was bored, so I took her to the dollar store to pick out a few craft supplies. She came home with a foam wreath and some fake flowers, spread everything out on the floor, and got right to work.
I’ll be honest, I spent the next hour wondering how I was going to tell her that maybe the wreath wasn’t quite front door material. You know how some kids’ crafts turn out. Then she finished it.
It was beautiful. We hung it on our front door that day, and it’s still there.
For creative children, the fun is usually in making something, not buying it. Give them a pile of craft supplies, some paint, or even an empty cardboard box, and they’ll disappear into their own little world. They don’t need expensive materials. They just need the chance to create.
Art camps, pottery, fashion design, animation, theatre, dance, and other creative programs give these children exactly what they’re looking for. They get to experiment, learn new skills, and spend the day with other kids who love creating just as much as they do.
One of the best parts is what they bring home. It isn’t just a painted canvas or a clay bowl. It’s the excitement in their voice as they explain how they made it and what they want to create next. Those little projects become keepsakes that remind you of who they were at that age.
The Child Who Asks “Why?” All Day
“Why is the sky blue?”
“How does that robot move?”
“What would happen if we took this apart?”
If those questions sound familiar, you probably have a child who loves figuring things out. These are the kids who ask questions you don't always know the answer to.
Maybe you’ve found them taking apart an old remote control just to see what’s inside. Or maybe you’ve caught yourself saying, “Please stop taking things apart,” because you’re not entirely sure they’ll be able to put them back together.
These kids usually enjoy solving puzzles, building things, experimenting, and learning how the world works. They don’t just want the answer. They want to know why.
STEM camps, robotics, coding, engineering, science, and chess programs are often a great fit. These camps give curious kids the chance to ask questions, try new ideas, and solve challenges with other children who enjoy the same things.
And don’t worry if your child has never built a robot or written a line of code before. Many beginner camps start from the basics. Curiosity is much more important than experience.
The Social Butterfly
Some children can make a new friend before you even finish saying hello.
You take them to the park, and within five minutes they’re introducing themselves to another child. By the time it’s time to leave, they’re asking if their new best friend can come over tomorrow.
I’ve seen just how quickly this can happen. One trip to the park turned into a friendship that’s still going strong years later. Kids have a way of finding their people when you least expect it.
For these children, camp is not just about the activities. They might enjoy soccer, crafts, swimming, or science, but what they’re really excited about is spending the day with other kids. Ask them how camp was, and they’ll usually start by telling you who they met before they tell you what they did.
Traditional day camps, community camps, outdoor adventure programs, and multi-activity camps are often a great fit. Children move between games, crafts, sports, and group activities throughout the day, so they have lots of chances to meet new friends and work as part of a team.
If your child comes home from camp every day with another parent's phone number because they've already made a new friend, you've probably found the right kind of camp.
The Performer
Does your child put on concerts in the living room?
Do they spend an hour picking out the perfect outfit for a show that only the family is going to watch? Maybe they make tickets, line up stuffed animals as the audience, or ask you to clap after every song.
Some kids are just happiest when they get to perform. They love telling stories, singing, dancing, acting, or making people laugh. My advice? Lean into it. If they are already doing these things at home for fun, there is a good chance they will love doing them at camp too.
Drama camps, musical theatre, dance, circus arts, and singing programs give these kids a place to be themselves. They learn new skills, make friends who enjoy the same things, and build confidence without even realizing it.
One of my favourite things about these camps is watching children come out of their shell. A child who barely wanted to walk into camp on Monday can be standing on a stage by Friday with the biggest smile on their face. Those moments are pretty special for parents to watch too.
The Animal Lover
Some children cannot walk past a dog without stopping to say hello.
They would rather visit a farm than an amusement park. They collect rocks, look for frogs, and get excited every time they spot a bird they have never seen before. If your family walk takes twice as long because your child wants to say hello to every dog in the neighbourhood, you probably have an animal lover.
Nature camps, farm camps, horseback riding, wildlife programs, and outdoor education camps can be a great fit. Instead of learning about animals from a book, they get to feed them, care for them, and experience them up close. For kids who love animals, that can be the highlight of their summer.
What If Your Child Has No Idea What They Want?
That is more common than you might think.
Many children have never tried pottery, coding, fencing, cooking, or theatre. They cannot know what they enjoy until they have the chance to try it.
Instead of booking four weeks of the same camp, consider starting with one-week programs. Camps that offer a mix of sports, crafts, science, and outdoor play are another great option because children get to sample several activities before discovering what they love.
Sometimes the biggest surprise of the summer is finding a brand-new hobby.
Should You Book the Same Camp as Their Friends?
It depends.
Having a familiar face can make the first day easier, especially for younger children or first-time campers. There is nothing wrong with choosing a camp where your child already knows someone.
Just make sure you are choosing the camp for the right reason.
Your child’s best friend might love soccer while your child spends every afternoon drawing comic books. They can still be great friends without enjoying the same camp.
A Few Questions to Ask Before You Register
Before you click the registration button, ask yourself a few simple questions.
Does this match my child’s interests?
Will they enjoy doing this for a full day?
Does the camp fit their personality?
Are they excited when we talk about it?
Will they have the chance to try something new?
If you answer yes to most of those questions, you are probably making a good choice.
Remember That Children Change
One mistake many parents make is assuming their child will like the same camps every year.
Children grow quickly. The child who loved dinosaurs last summer might be obsessed with cooking this year. The child who spent every weekend playing soccer might suddenly want to learn photography or theatre.
That is part of growing up.
Try to keep an open mind, and let your child’s interests guide the decision whenever you can.
The Best Camp Is the One They Talk About All the Way Home
At the end of the summer, your child will probably not remember whether the camp had the fanciest website or the biggest waiting list.
They will remember the counsellor who made them laugh, the friend they met on the first day, the game they could not stop talking about, and the project they proudly carried through your front door.
Choosing a camp that fits your child’s personality gives them the best chance to have those moments.
If you are comparing dozens of camps, it helps to see your options side by side. Looking at age ranges, interests, locations, schedules, and availability in one place can make the decision feel much less overwhelming.
The goal is not to find the perfect camp. It is to find the one where your child feels comfortable, has fun, and comes home asking if they can go back again next summer.
Camp planning is complicated enough without jumping between dozens of camp websites. That's why we built KikiPlan, a simple way for Toronto families to compare camps, organize schedules, and keep track of summer plans. Join the waitlist at kikiplan.com
