Don’t leave anything out for holiday camp

Ah, those wonderful holiday camps! For many children, they offer the opportunity to make new friends, discover new places and new activities. Thanks to holiday camps, your children will return home with unforgettable memories that they’ll keep all their lives! For parents on the other hand, holiday camps can be a headache if the organisers don’t provide a list of clothes and accessories to include in the suitcase. DPAM has prepared an almost comprehensive checklist so you can see your children off with peace of mind, equipped for a stay at a holiday camp for about ten days.

Clothes to take to a holiday camp

Here is the list of clothes that DPAM recommends putting into your child’s suitcase so that he or she has a pleasant holiday. Ensure they take the following items with them:

• 1 or 2 swim suits or trunks;
• 5 pairs of shorts/Bermuda shorts, especially if they are going somewhere sunny;
• 2 or 3 pairs of trousers, light or thick pairs, according to the location and altitude of the holiday camp;
• 2 or 3 jumpers or hooded zip-up sweaters, especially practical for little ones who have a tendency to lose their things – they can unzip their sweaters when they feel hot without needing to take them off completely;
• 9 pairs of socks, number to be adapted to the length of stay ;
• 9 pairs of underwear, here too, the number to be adapted to the number of days’ holiday
• 1 pair of pyjamas, whose thickness and length you’ll adapt to the weather conditions or climate of your child’s holiday destination;
• 1 tee-shirt or tank top per day of holiday camp. Also add a few long-sleeved tops to avoid sunburn;
• 1 jacket and/or waterproof jacket for rainy days;
• 1 pair of trainers for sports and outdoor activities, as well as, the pair of sandals your child will be wearing for the trip if it’s sunny;
• 1 pair of water sandals with non-slip soles for water activities;
• 1 hat or cap, especially important for summer camps;
• 1 pair of sunglasses.

Of course, the choice of clothes your children will take on holiday camp depends on the season and where your child is going. In the mountains, even in the middle of summer, add some warm clothes and more trousers and jumpers than listed above, as well as, a pair of warm pyjamas because nights can be cold at higher altitudes. By the beach, add more shorts and Bermuda shorts so that your child doesn’t end up wearing the same ones all through his or her holiday.

Indispensable accessories for holiday camp

Other than clothes, your child will need some of the accessories cited below for a successful stay

• 1 bath towel and 1 wash cloth;
• 1 beach towel ;
• 1 toiletry bag containing toothpaste, toothbrush, shower gel, hair shampoo, a comb or hair brush and paper handkerchiefs;
• 1 bedsheet for a single bed (90 x 140 cm);
• 1 warm duvet or sleeping bag;
• Writing paper and pre-stamped envelopes with addresses already written for your child’s holiday correspondence activities;
• A small rucksack for outings and walks;
• A waterproof flask;
• A tube of sunscreen and perhaps some after sun cream;
• 1 dirty laundry bag;
• 1 pocket torch.

Don’t forget to label all your child’s clothes and accessories for children are not always conscious of what belongs to them. This will avoid any misunderstandings or oversights during holiday camp. And now… happy holidays!