Camps are good for other reasons, too, of course. They help develop new skills. They teach children to work with other adults and children. They provide rest and relaxation for parents as well as children. They give other siblings an opportunity to have some individual time with parents.
Camps come in all forms and sizes.
Some are better than others, and not every camp is right for every child. The key is finding a good fit between a camp and your child. Generally speaking, most people look at day camps for children younger than 9 or 10. Most children are ready for overnight camp by age 10 or 11. Usually it s best to start out with a day camp that has an occasional overnight stay, to help the child get used to the idea of sleeping away from home.