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My wife and I believe it would be very beneficial to send our 13 year old son to sleep away camp for 2 weeks. Would be good for him and us as the relationships are intense. He loves being at home where his routines are established and comfortable, and does not want to go at all. He went to a day camp last summer and he tolerated that. Should we just choose the camp and send him? What do you recommend?
Families have been sending their children to sleep away camps for over 150 years. It is a long-standing family tradition and rite of passage for many children and families. Research shows that children who had high quality camp experiences report a connection to nature, willingness and perseverance to try new things, and gain social awareness and independence. If the camp experience is a good match for your child, they are likely to learn new skills and things about themselves.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that parent choose camps that aligns with child’s developmental stage and interests to best support learning and increased self-esteem. Understanding the camp’s approach to homesickness and family communication is also an important consideration to preparing your child and supporting their adjustment to the new environment and expectations. Practicing self-care skills before camp and helping your teenager engage in selecting activities and supplies in another way to prepare them. Children who need extra supports at school will likely need similar accommodations at camp. Preparing both the child and camp staff is important to increasing a successful learning experience.
Not all children need to leave home for a week to receive similar experiences. Extracurricular activities such as sport, drama, music, technology, and science day camp also provide great learning and developmental experiences for children.
For more information link to the American Camp Association National Camp Impact Study | American Camp Association.
