Why Can’t Children Under 4 Attend Summer Camp In Ontario?

02/07/2016

Many parents are in a panic as they need to rethink their summer care plans for their children under the new Child Care and Early Years Act 2014 (Bill 10). This new provincial legislation prohibits children under 4 from attending day and overnight camp.   The act came into effect on August 31, 2015 but is making a buzz in the media lately because of it’s implication for March Break and Summer Camp.

In order to accept children born after July 1, 2012 camps must now have their Day Nurseries License. These rigid requirements (like having child sized toilets, napping facilities, no proximity to water and ECE staff) are impossible for many Toronto camps. In fact, a recent Toronto Star article claims 43 Ontario camps (servicing over 3000 children) have been affected.

One of the things many parents find frustrating is that the age cut-off doesn’t match the age cut-offs used for Junior Kindergarten (which takes 3 year olds who turn 4 before Dec 31^st.) Most parents use Camp as the way to manage their childcare needs over the Summer. With day camps no longer an option, many parents are scrambling to find day “care” for their kids over March and Summer Break. This is especially challenging in Toronto where there are virtually no traditional daycare spots available.

If you are unhappy with what the new rules could mean for you, you can email your local MPP and let them know that the revisions to the Child Care and Early Years Act are impacting your family negatively. The Ontario Camps Association has created a letter that you can copy and paste. Click here to download it.

The new legislation also contains many positive changes for home daycare requirements. You can view them here.