ABCs of working with younger campers: meeting their special needs.

Many camps offer programs for preschoolers. In addition to dealing with toilet training and severe homesickness, younger campers have special needs. Try some of the following ideas to make these children's first camp experiences positive ones.

Arts and crafts projects should be simple. Avoid complicated directions. Mix shaving cream and liquid watercolors for a foamy paint. Add Kool-Aid to a play dough recipe for scented fun - just be sure campers don't eat the play dough. Set out buckets of water and brushes so the children can "paint" the camp.

Books take on new meaning if you make flannel board figures to embellish the story. Use stick puppets for certain characters and let children act out the story. Be dramatic and use a variety of voices.

Create opportunities for safe choices. Offer juice or milk for lunch. Let campers decide which activities to do or which games to play. Young children feel good about themselves when they have a say in what they are doing.

Draw together. Provide a variety of scented markers, chalks, and colored pencils. Draw self-portraits or a group picture of the camp director. Don't worry if the drawings are unrecognizable. Comment on the large bold strokes or variety of colors campers use.

Encourage creativity. Let children mix their own paints, make up words to songs, and create marshmallow and toothpick sculptures. Ask their advice in minor problem-solving situations.

Find out as much as you can about each child. Young campers feel secure when you know the name of their dog and best friend. Ask them to tell you about themselves and what they like to do.

Set involved in their activities. Preschoolers need your physical support and encouragement while participating in games and projects. They feel lost during free time and usually wander aimlessly. To feel secure, they need you to be close.

Have fun! Young campers seldom you, "This is boring." They enjoy being with you and doing whatever fun activities you have in mind. Heat a rock in the oven and melt crayons over it. (Be careful when choosing rocks; some types can explode when heated.) Mix a batch of unflavored gelatin and let the children dye the gelatin with eyedroppers filled with food coloring.

Instigate jokes and innocent fun. Young campers have never enjoyed the skits and silly songs we take for granted. Tell knock-knock jokes or pretend to trip over a bug - they'll love it!

Jump. Young children need to move. Have jump rope contests; jump over mud puddles; jump into a pile of pillows together. Jump up and down when a camper puts his face in the pool for the first time.

Kindness goes a long way. Show campers you care by greeting them warmly. Listen to their stories and provide plenty of sympathy for their scrapes. They need positive, kind role models.

Learn to appreciate their pictures, hugs, and small gifts. Young children are quick to show you their affection.

Make things together. Build sculptures from wood scraps or create a giant castle out of refrigerator boxes. Construct a fort out of branches and old blankets. Make a model of camp from building blocks.

Never forget that young campers need more structure and supervision than older campers. They might try to drink paint or wander off alone. Even after several weeks of camp, they might get lost finding the restroom.

Offer age-appropriate activities. Provide plenty of dress-up clothes, scrap paper, and supplies for open-ended activities. They enjoy "parallel play," working side by side with other children without total interaction.

Plan more activities than you need. Younger campers have short attention spans and have been known to complete a 20-minute craft project in 43.2 seconds.

Quiet times are important. Campers are easily overstimulated in a lively camp environment. Provide opportunities for resting and listening to soothing music or quiet stories.

Reward positive behavior. Acknowledge children who follow directions and cooperate.

Surprise them! Give campers an impromptu ice cream party or let them paint you with watercolors. Stick peppermint sticks in lemons for a surprise lemonade snack. Put ice cubes in a water play table and see what happens.

Turn everyday events into fun experiences. Walk to the dining hall as penguins or look for trolls on a nature hike. Clean the cabin while pretending to be a popular cartoon character.

Utilize their energy. Try a morning power walk or race around the building five times. Walk backward to the lake. If campers will need to sit for an upcoming activity, play an active game beforehand.

Videotape an exercise program. The entire camp will enjoy watching your young campers lead the group in touching their toes and doing lopsided somersaults.

Wonder about things. Ask campers, "I wonder what would happen if we had three legs?" Let them take apart an old radio or telephone and investigate its inner workings. Encourage them to wonder and ask questions also.

Explain what is happening several times. Use storyboard pictures to depict the daily schedule. Young campers have trouble understanding time. Instead of telling campers you'll do crafts at 10:30, tell them you'll do crafts after breakfast and the morning hike. Take time to repeat a few safety rules. Explain why they need a buddy when walking to the pool.

Yes! is what most campers say when you present a new idea or game. Young children are open to trying new things, as long as you are excited about the idea also. Take advantage of their enthusiasm.

Zzz You'll need a lot of rest after working with young campers. Their energy and enthusiasm is rewarding but also tiring!

Silvana Clark is a professional speaker with more than twenty years of experience in the recreation field. She is the author of Taming the Recreation Jungle and Taming the Marketing Jungle, both available from the American Camping Association Bookstore. She has also written six booklets on training tips for directors of early-childhood programs, which are available from educational stores.