For most children, going back to school means no more wild summer camp, filled with dodgeball and messy things. But for parents with children too young for kindergarten, a “winter camp” is available.

The DeKalb Park District has started its Kindersteps program for the 2005-2006 school year. It began Tuesday.

Children enrolled are prepared for kindergarten by learning to develop their motor, readiness and literacy skills through self-assurance. These young children are also taught communication, cooperation and self-help through the preschool program.

“We want to teach children their letters, numbers, colors and shapes with games, arts and crafts and storytime,” said Colleen Belmont, Kindersteps’ program director.

Linda Derscheid, associate professor of family, consumer and nutrition sciences, believes it is beneficial for young children to be around each other in environments such as Kindersteps.

“It helps their social skills and enhances social recognizing,” Derscheid said. “It helps them understand people’s responses, social facial cues and body language cues. They also learn other kinds of skills, enhance their sharing skills and facilitate language.”

Starting at 9:15 a.m., children enrolled in Kindersteps begin with a planned activity, learn with interactive toys and have group time. Before children are picked up at 11:45 a.m., snack time, show-and-tell and exercise takes place, allowing the children to interact with one another.

The two-and-a-half hour program allows parents to choose what days of the week their child attends, obviously helpful for parents with irregular work schedules.

Also included are field trips chaperoned by teachers and parent volunteers.

Some trips are as simple as a walk to the nearby playground while others entail invitations to local community members to speak to the children. Rather than see pictures in a book, the children have the opportunity to interact with what they are learning about.

“We had a nurse come talk to the children, and also the Sheriff’s Department brought one of their dogs for the children to see,” Belmont said.

Belmont believes that the addition of a new teacher to Kindersteps will change some of the activities that previously took place by challenging new learning areas.

Andrew Williams, who was a camp director for the DeKalb Park District and participated in the Boys and Girls Club of America in California, wants to uphold Kindersteps’ goal for its children. For him, it’s all about ensuring the children’s readiness for the obstacles kindergarten entails.

Lisa Small, assistant director for the DeKalb Park District and mother of 4-year-old Jamie, has only praise for Kindersteps. “The teachers are really great and I work for the park district so I know the people here.”