When summer becomes an opportunity to grow

Looking for a summer camp in Fuengirola usually starts with a practical question: where do I leave the kids while I work? But if you also want that time to be a coherent extension of what they experience at home or at school, things change. I tell you from experience: we accompany families who come from Fuengirola to Sotogrande just because they want a camp that is not a simple “child parking lot”. And it works. Last summer a family from Fuengirola confessed that their 5-year-old daughter came back every day asking for more yoga and less screens. That is Montessori.

At International Montessori School Sotogrande we organize our summer camp during the first half of August. We are not physically in Fuengirola, but many families from the Costa del Sol make the trip because they know that here play is still the engine, but without rigid schedules or catalog crafts. Real autonomy is not built with worksheets, but with decisions: do I water the plants or prepare the bread dough? Summer is the perfect time for children to discover that they can do things by themselves.

What makes a Montessori camp different?

A traditional summer camp in Fuengirola usually revolves around directed group activities: everyone paints the same boat, everyone sings the same song, everyone snacks at the same time. A Montessori camp, on the other hand, prepares the environment and lets the child choose. It sounds simple, but it involves a very careful design of spaces and the role of the adult.

At our summer camp in Sotogrande, the guides do not direct, they observe. They set up art stations with watercolors, experimentation tables with water and sand, reading nooks under a canopy, and a small garden where cherry tomatoes can be picked. Then the children decide, move, repeat. The adult only intervenes if there is a real risk or if a child asks for help. This fosters autonomy and concentration, even in July. They learn to wait their turn if another child is using the material, develop patience, and resolve conflicts with the guide as mediator, not judge. The key difference is that the child feels in charge of their time.

Activities you will see at a Montessori camp (and won’t find in a traditional one)

When you stroll through Sotogrande in August and peek into one of our outdoor classrooms, you don’t see rows or blackboards. You see mixed-age groups —from 3 to 9 years— collaborating. Some care for aromatic plants, others prepare lemonade with lemons from the tree, others build a tower with logs. There is no competition or prizes. Satisfaction comes from finishing something by oneself.

A concrete example: last year a 7-year-old girl spent three consecutive mornings perfecting a thread bracelet. No one interrupted her, no one said “that’s enough.” On the fourth day she gave it to her mother. That level of concentration is typical in a prepared Montessori environment and almost impossible in a conventional camp where they change activities every 45 minutes.

Activities are organized in rotating but optional corners: practical life (pouring, sweeping, folding fabrics), sensory (textures, smells, sounds with instruments), art with natural materials, garden and cooking. We also include yoga and mindful movement, and nature walks to observe insects or collect leaves. No screens. Time in front of a tablet is replaced by contact with reality. According to data from the Spanish Montessori Association, this type of camp significantly reduces separation anxiety and improves self-regulation in children aged 3 to 6.

Trilingual environment without pressure

At IMS we are a trilingual school Spanish-English-German. In the summer camp we do not give language classes, but the team speaks several languages naturally. That means children absorb vocabulary without stress. Last year a boy from Fuengirola who only spoke Spanish started using English words by the third day, asking for water or saying thank you without anyone imposing it. Bilingualism through gentle immersion is one of the Montessori keys: language is acquired because it is needed to communicate, not because it is studied.

Children who already speak more than one language feel valued and help others. This mix creates an environment of respect where accents don’t matter. Furthermore, songs and stories are offered in all three languages, and children choose which to listen to. Without exams or pressure, summer becomes a linguistic springboard.

Is the trip from Fuengirola worth it?

Many parents wonder if it is worth the 20-30 minute drive to Sotogrande each day. The short answer: yes, if you are looking for something more than a place to drop off your child. Families who repeat tell us that the journey becomes a transition moment — chatting about how it went, anticipating what they will do, singing together. And upon arrival, children enter a privileged natural environment, away from noise, with green spaces and safety.

Furthermore, by organizing the camp only in the first half of August, demand is high and the atmosphere is intimate. It does not become overcrowded. That allows almost personalized attention. If you coordinate with other families from Fuengirola, you can even carpool. The logistical effort is worth it when you see your child return calm, dirty with soil and proud of what he has done.

How to prepare your child for a Montessori camp

If your child has never been in a Montessori environment, it is good to anticipate what they will find. Talk to them about how they will be able to choose their activities, that there will be other children of different ages, that there will be no grades or punishments. Explain that the guides are there to help them, not to order them around. Visiting the school before camp helps a lot to reduce uncertainty.

At home, foster autonomy in the weeks before: let them dress themselves, pack their backpack, choose their clothes. The more capable they feel, the more they will enjoy the experience. And on the first day, trust. Adaptation is usually quick because the Montessori environment is designed to welcome the child as they are.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it necessary for my child to have studied before at a Montessori school?

No. The camp is designed so that any child, no matter what system they come from, feels comfortable. The guides are trained to accompany the adaptation process and the activities are presented so attractively that the Montessori inertia catches on quickly. Many children without previous experience become the most enthusiastic.

What ages can participate?

We accept children from 3 to 9 years old. The mix of ages is intentional: older children develop leadership and empathy, younger ones learn by imitation. We only ask that 3-year-olds have achieved bladder control.

How are meals and naps handled?

Lunch is done as a community, with fresh food adapted to possible allergies or restrictions. Children participate in setting and clearing the table. For the little ones, we offer a rest space with mats and stories; they are not forced to sleep, but they must respect the silence of those who rest.

What if my child does not adapt?

It is very rare, but if a child shows persistent discomfort, we talk with the family. Usually, it is enough to adjust the transition period: have them come fewer hours the first days, or bring a comfort object. Montessori flexibility extends to emotional management as well.

Key Conclusions

A summer camp in Fuengirola with a Montessori focus goes beyond entertainment: it is an investment in autonomy, concentration, and respect for the child’s pace. The trip to Sotogrande becomes an advantage when the child enters a prepared environment that they won’t find in their area.

If this summer you want a real alternative to screens and directed activities, sign up for the waiting list for our summer camp. Spaces are limited and many families repeat. Call us or write to us and we’ll tell you what a typical day is like, no filters.