Through a Child’s Eyes: What Summer Camp Looks Like to a 5-Year-Old Hi! My name is Mia, and I’m five years old. Want to know a secret? Summer camp is my most favorite thing ever. I get to go to Joyous Montessori every day, and it’s not like regular school — it’s way more fun. I get to learn, play, and laugh with my friends and teachers all day long. Mommy says I’ve been sleeping better, making more friends, and even eating more vegetables (but I still like cookies best). Let me tell you what summer camp really looks like… from my eyes! Mornings Full of Sunshine and Hugs When I walk into Joyous Montessori, I see lots of happy faces. Miss Anna always greets me with a big smile and a hug if I want one. The classroom smells like crayons and pancakes (sometimes it’s just my imagination, but still). I hang my little backpack and run to the morning rug. We start with a song and everyone gets to say how they’re feeling. I said “sparkly” yesterday. My friend Liam said “wiggly.” It’s okay to feel anything here — that’s what I love. STEM Activities Are Just Cool Magic Tricks After morning songs, we do something called STEM, which Mommy says stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. But to me? It means building towers with blocks and making volcanoes that actually explode. Once, we even made slime and watched it ooze like gooey jelly. I got to wear goggles like a real scientist and mix colored water to make rainbows. It felt like a magic show I was doing all by myself! Arts & Crafts: The Place Where Unicorns Are Born My favorite thing? Craft time. I can draw, paint, glue, and sparkle-fy everything. One time, I made a rocket ship with stickers and glitter. Another day, we painted outside under the trees — even the wind helped us by blowing our paintings dry. The teachers don’t say “color inside the lines” — they say “make your own world!” So I did. I made a flying unicorn with three eyes. Everyone loved it. Outdoor Play Means Running Wild and Free After snacks, we go outside. Outside time at Joyous Montessori is awesome. There’s a huge play area where we can run, climb, dig in the sandbox, and race our friends. The teachers even joined us for a freeze tag! Once, we went on a “bug safari” and found a caterpillar. I named her Wiggly Wanda. Being outside makes me feel like an explorer. I even learned that trees “breathe,” just like we do. Isn’t that cool? Games That Make My Brain Do Happy Cartwheels Sometimes, we sit in groups and solve puzzles, play matching games, or build stuff together. These aren’t boring games — they’re fun, and they make me think! If I get stuck, a friend helps. If they get stuck, I help. We also do yoga and breathing games when we need a break. It helps my body calm down when I get too giggly or excited. Feeling Safe, Loved & Super Brave The teachers here are like superheroes. They always listen when I have big feelings and help me understand them. One time I missed Mommy a lot, and Miss Sarah sat with me and told me a story about a little star who missed her sky. I felt better after that. Joyous Montessori makes me feel safe. Like, I can try new things without being scared. I even talked in front of the whole class last week. I was nervous but everyone clapped! Mornings Full of Sunshine and Hugs When I walk into Joyous Montessori, I see lots of happy faces. Miss Anna always greets me with a big smile and a hug if I want one. The classroom smells like crayons and pancakes (sometimes it’s just my imagination, but still). I hang my little backpack and run to the morning rug. We start with a song and everyone gets to say how they’re feeling. I said “sparkly” yesterday. My friend Liam said “wiggly.” It’s okay to feel anything here — that’s what I love. STEM Activities Are Just Cool Magic Tricks After morning songs, we do something called STEM, which Mommy says stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. But to me? It means building towers with blocks and making volcanoes that actually explode. Once, we even made slime and watched it ooze like gooey jelly. I got to wear goggles like a real scientist and mix colored water to make rainbows. It felt like a magic show I was doing all by myself! Arts & Crafts: The Place Where Unicorns Are Born My favorite thing? Craft time. I can draw, paint, glue, and sparkle-fy everything. One time, I made a rocket ship with stickers and glitter. Another day, we painted outside under the trees — even the wind helped us by blowing our paintings dry. The teachers don’t say “color inside the lines” — they say “make your own world!” So I did. I made a flying unicorn with three eyes. Everyone loved it. Outdoor Play Means Running Wild and Free After snacks, we go outside. Outside time at Joyous Montessori is awesome. There’s a huge play area where we can run, climb, dig in the sandbox, and race our friends. The teachers even joined us for a freeze tag! Once, we went on a “bug safari” and found a caterpillar. I named her Wiggly Wanda. Being outside makes me feel like an explorer. I even learned that trees “breathe,” just like we do. Isn’t that cool? Games That Make My Brain Do Happy Cartwheels Sometimes, we sit in groups and solve puzzles, play matching games, or build stuff together. These aren’t boring games — they’re fun, and they make me think! If I get stuck, a friend helps. If they get stuck, I help. We also do yoga and breathing games when we need a break. It helps my…