As Covid continues, it becomes more and more crucial to attend to our children’s mental health. All the uncertainties and unknowns have burdened all of us over the past 2 years. Planning a summer full of fun, healing, structure, with peers and activities that your child prefers is the perfect antidote.
HOPE
As we look ahead to a summer in which we all aspire to return to some semblance of normalcy, once again, camp will be needed more than ever because it can help us find our footing yet again. And we all need something to look forward to as Puxatawny Phil saw his shadow and we have another 6 weeks of winter!
Safe
Camps have a ton of rules and regulations they must follow from hiring, staff training, covid protocols, and overall child safety requirements. There is no better place to know your child is safe then at a good summer camp.
Friendships: Meet New People
Teachers will be the first to tell you that our children have suffered most from the Pandemic socially. Not being around peers, even for a year, has had an impact on all children’s social and emotional development. The way you learn how to be appropriate socially and what the unwritten rules are of friendship are is by direct interaction with your peers up close and personal. The rules and subsequent growth are just not the same through a screen. So send your child to camp and let them play catch-up. Watch them make new friends. Embrace the camp community as a perfect learning space from all that was lost these past, isolated couple of years.
Active
Nobody sleeps better then after a full day of being physically activity. And most camps have plenty of that. Not to mention that being outside and moving your body leads to happy feelings and overall well-being. It’s a Win-Win!!
Independence and Confidence
Camps know how to teach your children how to do things for themselves and by themselves, when appropriate. This type of knowledge leads to confidence which is all part of your child’s necessary social-emotional growth and development. In other words, learning a new skill at camp, even a small one, will trickle down to your whole family. Your child will be more secure about trying new things, about doing things for themselves, and again, the whole family benefits. Camps value teaching children how to become more independent and confident; as these skills go hand in hand.
Structure and Routine are Good for all Living Things
No matter what type of child you have, everyone thrives with routine and structure. Some need more than others and that’s something to take into account when choosing the right camp for your kid. Please have them involved in the process of which camp to attend: you need them to be invested and want to go. Even if you are not working from home or in an office, your children still need stuff to do. No matter what they may say, they will grow and be the most happy with planned activities and opportunities to socialize and learn. Hence camp fits all those requirements!
Unplug from Technology
One thing almost all summer camps require is for your child to put the tablet, phone, and/or computer down. Unless it’s a technology camp of course. We can all use a break from the increasing dependence we have on our devices due to virtual learning and work. Studies show that your brain is negatively impacted by the expectation that you constantly be available through a device. Old fashioned play has become a thing of the past. Brains need to be able to be spontaneous and unconnected. Again, camp fits the bill.
