Summer wellness programs for children are among the most important and effective initiatives for strengthening their health, enhancing their resilience to adverse environmental factors, and ultimately preventing illnesses. These programs are essential for nurturing a physically robust generation of young people.
In our country, there are various forms of summer wellness activities for children. The group of children’s wellness institutions includes summer camps, pioneer camps, family resorts, and children’s tourist bases.
At the countryside retreats, groups of preschool children (ages 3 to 6) enjoy their time. The organization of leisure activities for this age group focuses on a balanced schedule that caters to their developmental and functional capabilities. The primary principle of this schedule is to maximize the time children spend outdoors. Even meals and nap times are held outdoors whenever possible, on terraces and open verandas. Children wake up at 7 AM, and they have one hour allocated for morning hygiene and exercises. Younger children (ages 3-4) spend more time preparing for their morning routine than older children (ages 5-6), with the younger group spending about 10 minutes on exercises, while the older group has 20 minutes. Preparing for breakfast and having breakfast takes 45 minutes for both groups (from 8 AM to 8:45 AM). After breakfast, children spend time outside near water bodies, enjoying fresh air and sunshine, swimming in lakes or pools. Lunch preparation and lunch occur from 12 PM to 1 PM. Before their nap, children engage in hardening procedures. After their nap, they participate in quiet games, take walks, and prepare for their afternoon snack. They have their snack at 5 PM, followed by sports games until dinner, which is served at 7 PM. After dinner, children again play quiet games, listen to fairy tales, and then prepare for bed. Younger children go to sleep at 8:30 PM, while older preschoolers go to bed at 9 PM.
In recent years, organized family vacations for children (ages 3 to 16) at resorts and wellness centers have become increasingly popular. Surveys indicate that this form of recreation has received the highest praise. There are plans for the widespread development of such facilities. Family vacation institutions come in two types: separate and joint accommodations. Joint accommodations allow children to stay in sleeping quarters with their parents. In this arrangement, families are given a separate room, and the rest schedule for parents and children is quite similar. Children spend the entire day with their parents, which means they may not always adhere to the prescribed schedule for children. Typically, the children’s routine aligns with that of their parents. Meals and leisure activities are shared, so the wellness of the children heavily relies on the attention and knowledge of their parents.
There are also other forms of service for children during joint vacations with parents, such as separate sleeping quarters. This allows for a more rational rest schedule tailored to the children’s age and functional characteristics. Special zoning of spaces and areas for children and adults is planned.
For successful wellness outcomes, strengthening children’s health, and enhancing their resistance to various illnesses, the proper organization of daily routines, particularly meal schedules, is crucial. The routine for children in family wellness institutions should align with age-appropriate physiological norms. This includes sufficient nighttime sleep, mandatory daytime naps, four meals a day, and necessary physical activity.
Pioneer camps are located in suburban recreational areas and resort regions. They are categorized as seasonal or mixed-type camps (operating year-round with increased capacity during the summer). Vacationing in pioneer camps is one of the most effective ways to promote children’s health and prepare them for the new school year. The scale of pioneer camp construction in our country is significant, with hundreds of such facilities opening each year, providing over 100,000 spots in total. Annually, more than 7 million schoolchildren enjoy their time in pioneer camps across the country. These camps create excellent conditions for children’s wellness, taking into account the functional specifics of life organization in a natural environment, age differences, health status, group accommodations, and more.