By Rachel Flanagan
With summer break comes a burst of new activities for families, including summer camp for kids, plus a plethora of sports and academic opportunities. That means you and your children meeting and interacting with new counselors, coaches, tutors and others.
There are more than 12,000 camps in the U.S. today, according to the American Camp Association. How do you know your child will be in the good hands of reputable people throughout the summer? How can you know if they're really who they've represented themselves to be? Are there red flags to watch for?
When it comes to selecting family- and kids-focused activities, from day camps to swim meets, finding the right provider that takes the appropriate precautions to ensure children's' safety can seem overwhelming. Are you confident that you know everything you need to know about who will be watching, teaching, coaching, playing with and mentoring your kids this summer?
Remember that it's well within your right as a potential customer to inquire whether an organization like a summer school, camp or day care runs background checks on their employees. If they don't, or don't have policies around requiring checks, it could be a potential red flag.
Parents can take some simple steps to keep their children safe.
Ultimately, having access to credible, trusted information can help keep alleviate any concerns you might have about new summer service providers, and keep your attention focused on what matters: Enjoying a fun summer with your kids!
Rachel Flanagan manages corporate branding and recruiting at Whitepages [2], an identity verification provider and people search engine.
Links:
[1] https://www.acacamps.org/
[2] http://www.whitepages.com/
[3] https://www.momsteam.com/health-safety/general-safety/injury-prevention/health-and-safety-tips-for-your-familys-summer-vacati
[4] https://www.momsteam.com/health-safety/preventing-sexual-abuse-at-summer-camp-five-tips-for-parents
[5] https://www.momsteam.com/successful-parenting/summer-camp-benefits-kids-in-lots-ways
[6] https://www.momsteam.com/identification-bracelet/summer-camp-worries-id-bracelets-can-help
[7] https://www.momsteam.com/successful-parenting/summer-sports-camp-checklist-parents